Captain Poll – Gameweek 23

Last week’s runaway poll leader Alexis Sanchez (11.9) has the perfect storm of consistency, fixtures and form to remain another strong contender in our latest rundown of the most popular captaincy options.

Sitting in 37.4% of Fantasy Premier League squads, the Chileans’ last-minute penalty at home to Burnley means he has now delivered attacking returns in nine of his last ten league matches ahead of next week’s visit from Watford. The Hornets, like the Clarets, are another travel-sick side, having shipped 21 goals and earned just two clean sheets on the road.

Sanchez’ eight attempts against Burnley, more than any other player in Gameweek 22, also highlights that, in terms of underlying form, he remains a superb armband option. He’s now fired 25 attempts on goal in his last three outings at the Emirates Stadium.

Olivier Giroud (8.7), who ended a four-match scoring run with a weekend blank, offers a cheaper alternative from among Arsenal’s ranks, as does Mesut Ozil, who earned a third successive assist on Sunday.

With 12 goals in their last four league matches, Spurs’ attacking credentials are not in question. But with Harry Kane (11.1), Dele Alli (8.8) and Christian Eriksen (8.7) all at the centre of their fine recent run, the captaincy vote is likely to be split ahead of their trip to Sunderland.

Alli is the most popular of the trio, with a quarter of FPL managers currently owning the England midfielder on the back of eight goals and an assist in his last six.

Nonetheless, Kane’s six successful strikes and two assists over the same period will ensure he also garners votes, while Eriksen cannot be overlooked – he’s bagged six double-figure hauls in the last 10 Gameweeks.

Another popular candidate is likely to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.7), who like Giroud, handed his armband backers a rare blank in Gameweek 22.

The big Swede failed to deliver a goal or assist for the first time since Gameweek 15 as a result of Saturday’s result. Hull City’s visit to Old Trafford may provide the perfect opportunity for him to make amends, however, given that the Tigers have conceded 26 times on the road, more than any other team.

Team-mate Paul Pogba (8.5) could also prosper in that fixture. One goal from 15 shots in the last four Gameweeks suggests that the 11.1% owned Frenchman has been unlucky not to notch with greater regularity.

Among Gameweek 23’s most enticing differential options are Swansea City pair Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.2) and Fernando Llorente (6.1).

With penalty duties and a goal in the Welsh side’s surprise away victory at Anfield on Saturday, their 5.2% owned Icelandic schemer should attract attention when Southampton visit.

A clean sheet at home to Leicester City on Sunday was the Saints’ first shut-out since Gameweek 16, which will also give hope to Llorente’s supporters after the Spaniard’s weekend brace brought his tally to eight for the season.

Virgil van Dijk’s availability could be the key factor at play here, with the Dutchman sustaining an ankle injury in Southampton’s win over the Foxes on Sunday.

Liverpool’s home tie with Chelsea looks tough to call and, given the ease of Manchester United, Spurs and Arsenal’s fixtures, their key assets are unlikely to challenge at the summit of the poll.

For those who fancy the Blues to get the better of Jurgen Klopp’s side, Diego Costa (10.3) appears to offer the greatest potential for returns.

His strike against Hull was his 15^th of the season and ensures he remains level with Sanchez in the hunt for the 2016/17 Golden Boot. Liverpool’s failure to keep a clean sheet in five of their last six league outings also strengthens Costa’s appeal.

The Spaniard has scored eight of his 15 goals away from home this season.

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