Our regular Friday evening members’ article arrives now as we assess the main armband options for the upcoming Gameweek.
After looking over the Captain Poll, we check out the player and team Opta data and Rate My Team (RMT) ratings before considering a differential or two in light of this week’s findings.
The Captain Poll
Sergio Aguero tops the Captain Poll for the first time this season as Manchester City lie in wait for Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium.
After racking up three goals and an assist away to Watford, the Argentine has been subject to the biggest bandwagon of the season, with over 619,000 transfers in since last weekend.
Over 44% of voters are backing him to profit against an Eagles side that’s yet to keep a clean sheet in the league. Worryingly for the visitors, City won the corresponding fixture 5-0 last season.
To an extent, Pep Guardiola’s teamsheet for the midweek cup clash with West Brom has had an impact on this week’s poll results.
Given that Aguero was rested and Gabriel Jesus played the full 90 minutes, the latter is backed by just 9%. Yet he’s scored four times in the last three Gameweeks and bagged double-figures in his last home outing.
City midfield trio David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling all found the net at home to Palace last season and are shaping up as differentials.
Sterling has now scored in each of his last three league outings, while, incredibly, Silva has netted four times in his last three home appearances against Palace. He’s the most popular City midfielder in our Poll with 2% of the votes.
Elsewhere, Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku are the only other players to earn more than 1% backing.
Rested for the midweek cup win over Barnsley, Kane – who bagged a brace in his previous away appearance at Everton – hopes to shrug aside his Wembley woes to profit away to West Ham.
Kane has netted five times in his last five league matches with this weekend’s opponents, though has yet to score away to the Hammers.
Meanwhile, Lukaku owners will fancy their chances away to a Southampton defence that’s conceded twice in their previous two home matches – against West Ham and Watford.
There are number of in-form differentials to consider.
Expected to recover from a groin problem, Jamie Vardy has scored twice in both his previous home appearances against Liverpool in the league ahead of their clash at the King Power.
Meanwhile, the Reds’ Mohamed Salah has served up double-figures in three of his four league starts for the Merseysiders.
Alvaro Morata visits a Stoke City outfit that have conceded twice in their last three across all competitions. The Chelsea frontman has played a part in 71% of his side’s goals when on the pitch – no other team-mate boasts more than a 25% contribution.
He’ll also face a beleaguered Stoke defence, ravaged by injury and absentees.
Lower down the price brackets, Brighton’s Pascal Gross has served up 25 points in the last two Gameweeks ahead of Newcastle’s visit to the Amex Stadium on Sunday.
The German is the most bought midfielder in the Gameweek, with over 276,000 new owners.
Elsewhere, Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette has scored in both his home appearances in the top flight ahead of Monday’s visit from West Brom.
And Alexis Sanchez could be braced for a first start in light of Danny Welbeck’s enforced absence.
We’re also looking for signs of a return to form for Everton duo Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson as the fixtures turn in their favour.
Ronald Koeman’s side entertain a Bournemouth outfit that – along with Palace – are one of only two sides yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
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