Captain Poll – Gameweek 16

Harry Kane (11.2) may have mustered just a single shot away to Manchester United on Sunday but he’s still set to challenge at the top of our latest Captain Poll.

Chances should certainly be far more plentiful for the Spurs striker when Hull City drop by White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

Mike Phelan’s Tigers have conceded 17 goals on the road this campaign, while Kane has scored a brace in his last two home outings.

Teammates Christian Eriksen (8.3) and Dele Alli (8.1) also failed to impress at Old Trafford, but against such a travel-sick side, are surely worthy of armband consideration.

Eriksen, in particular, appeared in fine fettle prior to Sunday’s Old Trafford disappointment, having scored three goals and assisted another in in the two matches prior to the Red Devils defeat.

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (11.7) was another disappointment over the weekend, fetching just an assist and 5 points from Arsenal’s 3-1 victory at home to Stoke City.

However, away from home, the 34.8% owned Chilean is a different beast: he’s scored more goals and accrued more shots on target and created more chances for teammates than any other FPL midfielder.

The Chilean looks destined to rival Kane at the summit, particularly with the Gunners facing an Everton defence that has failed to keep a clean sheet over their last five outings, with just a single shutout in their last eleven Gameweeks.

With the hosts in such poor form Mesut Ozil (9.6) and Theo Walcott (7.9) may also gather interest. Both impressed in the Stoke City victory with a goal apiece. Indeed, Walcott registered more shots than any other player over Gameweek 15 although, with Arsene Wenger hinting at rotation, he may yet find himself kept in reserve at Goodison Park.

Given that they host Watford,  Manchester City may also provide a host of strong contenders this Gameweek, despite their 4-2 humbling away to Leicester City on Saturday evening.

However, interest in Kevin De Bruyne (10.8) is set to be muted with the Belgian now without a goal since Gameweek 5. He’s also failed to return an assist in his last three outings following Saturday’s defeat.

Pep Guardiola’s option of fielding Nolito as a false 9 may also force us to overlook the 8% owned Kelechi Iheanacho (6.8), who was hooked after just 57 minutes at the King Power Stadium.

His replacement on Saturday, Yaya Toure (£7.5m), could now present a short-term differential. The Ivorian would seem poised to start and get a run at a Watford defence that is without a clean sheet in their last five Gameweeks, conceding 13 goals.

Question marks remain over the reliability of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (10.5) away from Stamford Bridge, which may just temper interest in the 38.4% owned Chelsea midfielder ahead of his trip to Sunderland. On the road, he has scored just twice, compared to six goals at home.

In marked contrast, Diego Costa (10.9) has emerged as one of this season’s most reliable performers both home and away.

It would be no surprise to see FPL’s most popular player among the poll’s frontrunners after delivering attacking returns in 13 of his 15 Gameweek starts. Sunderland, meanwhile, have conceded 14 goals at the Stadium of Light, with just one clean sheet from seven matches.

West Ham offer a trio of differential armband options this week due to a home fixture with a Burnley outfit that has shipped 15 goals across their six away trips.

That could garner votes for the 9.4% owned Dimitri Payet (9.1), who has delivered attacking returns in each of his last three Gameweek outings.

Michail Antonio (6.7), is another that may attract attention, as could striker Andy Carroll (6.1).

After impressing off the bench in his last two outings, the 1.6% owned Geordie looks to have done enough to have earn his second start of the season against the Clarets.

No side has scored more than Liverpool’s 37 goals this season, but a visit to a Middlesbrough side, which has conceded just seven goals in as many home fixtures, may force a rethink for those tempted by Reds assets.

Nevertheless, the attacking potency of 20.2% owned Sadio Mane (9.3), who has four assists and a goal over the last three Gameweeks, demands our attention. As does Divock Origi (6.7), who has scored four in four in all competitions.

Swansea City’s visit to West Brom offers further alternative armband options, with backers of Baggies duo Salomon Rondon (6.5) and Matt Phillips (5.4) confident of returns, given the defensive frailties of Bob Bradley’s side on the road.

Away from the Liberty Stadium, the Swans have allowed 15 goals and earned a solitary clean sheet.

We will be back to check in on progress in the poll later this week when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.