Captain Poll – Gameweek 5

The Gameweek 5 captain poll, canvassing your opinion on the likely favourites and differential options for the armband in Gameweek 5, is now live.

You can find the poll in the middle column of the homepage or at the bottom of the homepage on mobile. Remember, we are looking for your vote for the player you think will be most effective, regardless of whether you own them or not.

Alexis Sanchez (11.0) and Eden Hazard (10.3), the two most popular candidates to replace suspended captaincy stalwart Sergio Aguero, failed their audition spectacularly in Gameweek 4.

The 13.9% owned Sanchez was rested for the Southampton tie ahead of Arsenal’s midweek Champions League game with Paris Saint Germain and brought in just one Fantasy Premier League point from a brief appearance off the bench. Meanwhile, Gameweek 4 poll leader Eden Hazard, who sits in 34.9% of FPL teams, failed to pick up any attacking points for the first time this season, away to Swansea. The Chelsea man also only managed a single FPL point after receiving a yellow card.

Nevertheless, both could reward those who keep the faith. Hazard takes on Liverpool in the Friday evening kick off and already has two goals at Stamford Bridge this term and has fired in 10 goal attempts on home soil, compared to six away. Liverpool, it is worth noting, have failed to register a clean sheet so far this season.

An away trip to Hull City could also ensure Sanchez follows up his Gameweek 4 disappointment with a positive haul. The Chilean scored and registered two assists away to Watford in Gameweek 3.

Both Arsenal and Chelsea also offer alternative options. With a brace against Swansea, Diego Costa (9.8) is now the only forward to bring in attacking points in every fixture so far. He certainly has form on his side ahead of Friday night’s game and is now part of 21.7% of FPL teams.

Santi Cazorla (7.6), who is on penalties and has been drafted in by more than 26,000 FPL managers so far this week, could be another popular selection. His second penalty of the season, against Southampton, takes him to fourth in FPL’s overall points table. Mesut Ozil (9.6) is another candidate. Despite failing to deliver attacking returns in Gameweek 4, he was Arsenal’s most creative player that match and scored during the Gunners’ last away trip in Gameweek 3 at Vicarage Road.

Midfield captaincy options are in abundance amongst Manchester City and Liverpool’s ranks.

Robert Firmino (8.4) and Sadio Mane (8.9) brought in three goals, an assist and five bonus points between them in their humbling of Leicester at Anfield in Gameweek 4.

Kevin De Bruyne (10.5) took centre stage for Manchester City with a goal and assist in the win at Old Trafford. The surprising differential, who has an ownership of just 6.1%, looks a prime candidate for the armband when City host Bournemouth on Saturday.

The 14% of FPL managers who own Raheem Sterling will also be considering the 8.2 priced England winger, despite his lowly one point return in the Manchester derby at the weekend. That was his only match without a goal or assist all season and his last home game, against West Ham in Gameweek 2, saw him bring in 15 points via a brace of goals.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.8) may well offer the most reliable source of captaincy points, away to a Watford side that has conceded eight goals and fail to register a shut-out this campaign. No player has generated more goal attempts than the Manchester United striker this season, who with a 63% ownership is FPL’s most popular player by a clear distance.

A final name worth mentioning is something of a forgotten man in previous captain polls, however, with his first goal of the season, against Stoke in Gameweek 4, Harry Kane (10.9) could be on the verge of a prosperous run of form.

Not only has he a favourable tie, at home to Sunderland, but Spurs look set to welcome back their influential midfielder Moussa Dembele, who as the theory goes, helps get the best out of the England centre forward. Should Kane score again this weekend it surely won’t be long before his 14.3 FPL ownership rockets.

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