Captain Sensible – Gameweek 19

With just over an hour remaining until this evening’s deadline, we roll out our usual pre-Gameweek members article.

We kick off by assessing the main Captain Poll contenders, then take a look at the Opta numbers and Rate My Team rankings before suggesting a differential or two to help with your armband dilemma.

The Captain Poll

With 39% of the votes cast, Zlatan Ibrahimovic earns top billing once again for our Gameweek 19 Captain Poll.

Having served up three successive double-figure hauls, the Manchester United frontman entertains Middlesbrough in his finest form of the season, though Aitor Karanka’s rearguard have been fairly resilient on the road, conceding just 10 times in nine away matches.

Diego Costa (20%) and Eden Hazard (6%) find a place amongst the top five armband favourites for Chelsea’s home match against Stoke City.

Hazard’s penalty against Bournemouth helped his to a 10-point return on Monday afternoon – his fourth double-figure haul at Stamford Bridge.

Costa, for all his consistency, has yet to produce more than nine points in front of his own supporters.

Alexis Sanchez will fancy his chances of bouncing back from a Boxing Day blank against West Brom as Arsenal welcome Palace to the Emirates on New Year’s Day.

The Eagles have failed to keep a single clean sheet on their travels so far, though a move to the flank at home to the Baggies means only 13% are banking on the Chilean, who had produced points in five successive outings prior to Monday’s match.

With three goals in his last four appearances, Romelu Lukaku has convinced 6% he’s worthy of consideration as Everton make their way to the KCOM on Friday night.

The only team yet to register a single clean sheet in front of their own supporters, the Tigers have conceded 18 goals at home – only Swansea have shipped more (20).

A trip to Liverpool earns Sergio Aguero just 2% of the votes as he returns from a four-match suspension.

The Argentine has been particularly deadly on his travels, though, scoring twice away from home on four of his six away appearances under Pep Guardiola.