The Gameweek 22 captain poll is likely to be dominated by players from London clubs, with all three of Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs boasting the form and fixtures to endorse their assets.
At the start of the season, Spurs’ trip to Manchester City would have been marked down as a daunting prospect for Mauricio Pochettino’s men. But, on current form, Spurs on-fire trio Dele Alli (8.7), Christian Eriksen (8.7) and Harry Kane (11.1) will all be backed to return points to contest for the captaincy.
Pep Guardiola’s side were in disarray in Sunday’s 4-0 defeat to Everton and will surely struggle to repel a Spurs attack that have scored an impressive 14 goals over their last four outings.
Kane’s hat-trick against West Brom means he now has six goals in the last four Gameweeks and may even see him challenge for top spot in our poll.
Unsurprisingly, more than 77,000 FPL managers have swooped for the Spurs striker ahead of Gameweek 22, as the fall-out from Diego Costa’s absence at Leicester City rolls on.
Eriksen is also a strong contender on the back of a 10-point haul in Saturday’s rout of the Baggies – his sixth double-digit return in nine Gameweeks.
Alli’s away form is also difficult to overlook: he has registered six goals on the road, more than both Kane and Eriksen.
In contrast, City’s Sergio Aguero (12.8) seems unlikely to tussle at the top of this week’s poll, yet, with 11 goals this term, it could be dangerous to underestimate the 22.1% owned Argentine.
Alexis Sanchez (11.9) remains the pick of Arsenal’s assets ahead of an Emirates meeting with travel-sick Burnley.
Away from home, the Clarets have just one clean sheet and conceded 20 goals, indicating that the 36.9% owned Chilean will be granted ample opportunity to continue a run that has seen him return points in eight of the last nine Gameweeks.
Elsewhere in the Gunners’ camp, an ankle injury picked up by striker Olivier Giroud (8.7) in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Swansea City will likely temper interest in the Frenchman.
Mesut Ozil (9.5) may prove a popular alternative, however.
The German returned an assist on his comeback at the Liberty Stadium and has scored five times so far this term.
Chelsea’s obliging Gameweek 22 fixture finds them hosting a Hull City side that has shipped 24 goals on the road and earned a solitary clean sheet.
Diego Costa’s (10.4) role in Sunday’s contest remains in doubt and that is likely to see our attentions drawn to other options on Antonio Conte’s teamsheet.
On the back of just one goal and an assist in the last seven matches, Eden Hazard (10.4)’s recent performances may count against him. However, with seven of his nine goals arriving at Stamford Bridge, the Belgian remains a strong contender for returns.
Pedro (7.0) has been added to the poll on the back of two goals and an assist in four, offering a cut-price alternative to the 33.5% owned Hazard.
Pedro has returned in five of his last six home starts, providing four goals and five assists.
Liverpool and Manchester United may have battled to a 1-1 draw on Sunday, but both have far stronger Gameweek 22 fixtures.
The Reds face Swansea City at Anfield, with Paul Clement’s side having conceded 22 times on the road, with 18 goals shipped in their last six Gameweeks.
That should attract high interest in Liverpool’s attacking midfielders Roberto Firmino (8.4), Adam Lallana (7.7) and Philippe Coutinho (8.3). The latter is expected to earn his first start in Gameweek 22, following a long injury lay-off and two substitute appearances.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.6)’s remarkable consistency should also garner plenty of votes.
The Swede travels to Stoke City having provided yet another goal in Sunday’s stalemate: he has registered attacking returns in nine of his last ten Gameweeks.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku (9.5) also presents a convincing case. He scored a third goal in four outings against Manchester City on Sunday and travels to face a Crystal Palace outfit that continue to toil under Sam Allardyce.
The Eagles have conceded eight goals and have failed to earn a clean sheet since the former England manager took the reins.
Among the differential options, Bournemouth’s Junior Stanislas (5.2) once again provides an enticing option.
Owned by just 2.9%, the midfielder’s spot-kick against Hull City confirmed his status behind first choice taker Callum Wilson, as he prepares to host a Watford side that has shipped 19 goals on their travels.
West Brom duo Matt Phillips (5.8) and Salomon Rondon (6.8) have the home form to make them intriguing alternatives for the armband.
Sunderland arrive at The Hawthorns having failed to pick up a clean sheet away from home and have also conceded more headed attempts than any other side this season.
That will surely hand Phillips the opportunity to add to his four assists already accrued on home turf.
Backers of the 8.8% owned Rondon will also be optimistic he can expose a frail Black Cats backline to find a sixth home goal of the campaign.
We will be back to check in on progress in the poll later this week when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.
