With the last international break of the calendar year now finally behind us, we settle down to our usual pre-Gameweek members article this Friday evening.
First up, we analyse the main contenders in this week’s Captain Poll, before assessing the Opta numbers and Rate My Team rankings and suggesting some differentials to help solve your armband conundrum.
The Captain Poll
Man City’s trip to Selhurst Park ensures that Sergio Aguero is, once again, the favourite for this week’s armband.
Selected by 36% of voters, Argentine has scored twice in three of his four away appearances and faces an Eagles backline that, along with Sunderland, have yet to chalk up a single clean sheet.
Aguero played just 45 minutes of his nation’s recent couple of international, which bodes well for his pitch time against Palace.
A home clash against Swansea City earns Romelu Lukaku second spot.
Despite blanking against Chelsea’s resilient rearguard, the Everton striker – who warmed up for this weekend with two goals and an assist in Belgium’s 8-1 thrashing of Estonia – is backed by over 24% of voters.
Lukaku has been in fine form in front of his own fans, netting in three of four home appearances, and faces a defence that have conceded three times in all but one of Bob Bradley’s four matches in charge.
Eden Hazard and Diego Costa earn just 11% and 2% of the votes cast respectively as Chelsea make their way to Middlesbrough.
Subject to a huge bandwagon over the break on the back of five goals and two assists in the previous four Gameweeks, Hazard has been passed fit after sustaining a knock to the calf while playing for Belgium in midweek.
Costa has recovered from a groin problem in time for Sunday’s encounter and betters his team-mate by five goals to one away from home.
They might not have it all their own way on Teesside, though.
‘Boro have conceded just once in the last three, which includes clashes against Arsenal and Man City, and have been breached just six times in five home fixtures this season.
Alexis Sanchez collects just 6% of the votes for Arsenal’s trip to Man United.
That relatively low percentage can be attributed to doubts over his fitness prior to Chile’s clash with Uruguay in midweek.
Having returned to action by bagging a brace for his nation, Sanchez – who has three sets of double-figures on the road – visits a United defence with two clean sheets in eight.
Philippe Coutinho earns 3% of the votes for Liverpool’s trip to St Mary’s, though with minor concerns over a tight hamstring, handing him the armband carries a degree of risk. Team-mates Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane hover around the 1%-mark and could prove deadly captaincy differentials.
A home encounter with Hull City looks promising for Jermain Defoe.
The veteran’s goal and assist at Bournemouth means he has played a part in 77% of Sunderland’s strikes this season as he prepares to face a defence that’s conceded 13 times in five road trips.
Harry Kane and Kevin De Bruyne look ready-made differentials with 1% of the votes.
Tottenham’s frontman returned to action with a converted spot-kick at Arsenal and has netted in his last three league appearances ahead of a home clash with West Ham.
De Bruyne, meanwhile, has produced attacking returns in all four of his away appearances as City roll up to Palace.
