After a fortnight’s hiatus, it’s time to roll out our usual pre-Gameweek members article, offering insight on the armband conundrum ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.
We’ll assess the main candidates on offer, analyse the Opta numbers and check up on the Rate My Team ratings before offering up a couple of differential options in light of the data analysis.
The Captain Poll
A three-match suspension prevents Sergio Aguero from having the chance to top the captain poll for the fourth successive round of fixtures.
The Man City striker’s three-match ban has prompted a two-way tussle at the Gameweek 4 summit, with Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez duking it out with 25% and 24% respectively after returning double-figure hauls last time around.
Hazard has produced points in all three of his appearances under Antonio Conte and sits at the top of the FPL player standings. Next up for the Belgian is a trip to a Swansea outfit that were beaten 2-0 by Hull in their previous Liberty encounter.
After racking up 16 points away to Watford, the Chilean has risen back to his initial price of £11.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and faces a home encounter with a Southampton side yet to chalk up a clean sheet.
The small matter of a Manchester derby means Zlatan Ibrahimovic collects just 18% of the votes cast. With Aguero sidelined for the visitors, the big Swede will be looking to steal the headlines as Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola do battle for the first time in England.
Handed a rest over the international break, Zlatan netted twice in his previous home outing and has now reached over 60% ownership in FPL.
With Sanchez and Hazard regarded as the main contenders for Arsenal and Chelsea, their respective team-mates, Mesut Ozil and Diego Costa, remain under the armband radar.
Both found the net last time around, with Costa continuing his fine domestic form by bagging two goals and an assist for Spain over the last week or so.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku also netted twice in the recent internationals and could be a real differential option with just 4% votes ahead of Monday’s trip to Sunderland.
Alvaro Negredo – the most transferred in player in FPL this season – has convinced 2% to back him with the armband as Middlesbrough prepare to entertain Palace.
West Ham duo Dimitri Payet and Michail Antonio – with just 1.7% and 0.7% – are also shaping up to be viable armband alternatives at home to a Watford side that has already shipped six goals.
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