Our pre-Gameweek members article which focuses on the main captaincy contenders arrives once again this evening. As always, we take a three-part approach which includes the weekly poll standings, the Opta statistics and our Rate My Team projections to help steer your thoughts on the armband conundrum.
The Captain Poll
With Chelsea and Spurs out of the weekend equation, Sergio Aguero is the leading option (24%) ahead of City’s tough trip to Liverpool. The Argentine has delivered points in each of his last four Gameweeks and a midweek strike against Barcelona means he’s scored in three successive matches in all competitions. Delving into the data, Liverpool have been far more impressive on the road in recent matches – although they’ve chalked up five straight shut-outs on their travels, the Reds have kept out their opponents in just one of the last five at Anfield.
Arsenal’s home encounter with Everton sees Alexis Sanchez sit in second spot. Over 18% have backed the Chilean to end a three-match barren spell against a defence that’s just conceded twice at home to Leicester. Sanchez has scored or assisted in eight of his ten home starts, whilst Olivier Giroud – backed by 6% – has racked up three goals and two assists in his last four starts. Santi Cazorla is also in contention, with 5% looking to the Spaniard to maintain the form that has produced three sets of double figures in the last five Gameweeks.
With our options somewhat limited, a couple of misfiring options are also ranked highly. Romelu Lukaku – with a single league goal in the last 12 Gameweeks – and Angel Di Maria, who has failed to find the net since Gameweek 7, have both been selected by 11%. Stewart Downing remains under the radar, with just 4% of the votes cast as the Hammers welcome Palace to Upton Park. David Silva is backed by 3% for City’s trip to Anfield, though Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling hover around the 1% mark in spite of their visitors’ dire defensive displays.
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