Captain Sensible – Gameweek 20

The final batch of festive matches arrives this morning, giving us just enough time to 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

Sergio Aguero tops the Gameweek 20 Captain Poll as Manchester City prepare to host a travel-sick Burnley.

After failing to get on the scoresheet upon his return from suspension against Liverpool on Saturday, the Argentine now faces a defence that’s conceded 18 times in eight road trips.

Whereas Aguero has earned 29% votes, City team-mate Kevin De Bruyne (1%) could prove a decent differential – the Belgian has supplied an assist in three of his last four at the Etihad.

A trip to Bournemouth earns Alexis Sanchez second spot behind his fellow South American.

The Chilean has served up four sets of double-figures on the road already, producing four goals and two assists in his last three away appearances.

Eddie Howe’s men have been pretty resilient in front of their own fans, earning four clean sheets – only Chelsea (six) and Spurs (five) have managed more home shut-outs.

Manchester United’s in-form Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also backed by 15% of voters as he pays visit to a West Ham United defence that’s kept back-to-back clean sheets at home, albeit against Burnley and Hull City.

The Swede’s assist at home to Middlesbrough means he’s produced points in seven of his last eight league outings, with three deliveries of double-digit returns in his previous four away appearances.

With just under 5% of the votes cast, Adam Lallana is the favoured Liverpool pick for their trip to an injury-hit Sunderland side that have just shipped four goals at Burnley.

Subject to more transfers in than any player for the Gameweek, the midfielder has bagged four goals and two assists in the last five rounds of fixtures.

Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane – in his final match before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations – hover around the 1%-mark as major differentials.

Christian Benteke and Alvaro Negredo both earn 3% votes ahead of home clashes against Swansea City and Leicester City sides that have conceded 21 times on their travels.

West Brom’s man of the moment Matt Phillips also earns 3% backing for a home clash with Hull City – the Scotland international has four goals and five assists in the last nine Gameweeks and recorded 13 points in the New Year’s Eve win at St Mary’s.

Chelsea’s trip to Spurs has understandably diminished expectations of both Diego Costa (3%) and Eden Hazard (1%), given that the White Hart Lane side have shipped just five goals in front of their own fans.

Similarly, Spurs’ Harry Kane receives just 1% of the votes despite taking his tally to eight goals in nine appearances with a brace at Watford yesterday. He’ll be buoyed by the Blues’ defensive problems at home to Stoke after Antonio Conte’s men conceded twice on New Year’s Eve.