Due to the FA Cup quarter-finals taking place this weekend, our Gameweek 28 captain poll selection is limited to players from just eight teams.
Among this reduced group, assets from Liverpool and Everton, who both have favourable home ties, are expected to dominate.
It would be no surprise to see Romelu Lukaku (10.0) at the summit after the Belgian struck his 18th goal of the season against Spurs to become Everton’s most prolific Premier League scorer.
The Golden Boot contender, who is just one shy of current leader Harry Kane, collides with a West Brom defence that boasts a single clean sheet on the road and has shipped eight over their last four away outings.
With a goal and two assists in his last quartet of matches, Ross Barkley (7.1) offers a cheaper armband option amongst Ronald Koeman’s ranks. So, too, does Seamus Coleman (6.0), for those willing to take a risk on captaining a defender.
The right back’s blank against Spurs was the first time since Gameweek 19 that he has failed to deliver either defensive or attacking returns. This consistency is likely to mean he overshadows Leighton Baines (5.7), despite the latter’s spot-kick duties.
Burnley’s visit to Anfield will likely ensure that Liverpool’s midfield provides Lukaku’s main competition.
Sadio Mane’s (9.4) goal and assist at home to Arsenal on Saturday evening adds to an impressive record in front of his own fans – only Chelsea’s Eden Hazard can match the Senegal international’s eight home goals among FPL midfielders.
Seven strikes on home turf makes Roberto Firmino (8.4), who also scored and assisted against the Gunners, another strong option. Meanwhile, Philippe Coutinho’s (8.2) four close range efforts on Saturday, more than any other Reds player, makes him another to consider. The Brazilian has recorded six attempts on goal in both his previous two Gameweeks.
Elsewhere, Swansea City’s continued renaissance under Paul Clement keeps their players in the frame for the captaincy when they drop in on Hull City this weekend.
With five goals in the Clement era, Fernando Llorente (6.4) is set to attract votes, along with set-piece specialist Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.6). The Icelander has three strikes and five assists since the new manager took the helm, returning points in seven of his last eight Gameweek starts.
Llorente, who scored a fourth brace of the season against Burnley at the weekend, is currently the top transfer target ahead of Gameweek 28, with more than 56,000 new owners since Saturday’s deadline.
Hull, under their new manager Marco Silva, are also undergoing something of a recovery, having beaten Liverpool and drawn against Manchester United since the Portuguese took charge ahead of Gameweek 21. However, with nine goals conceded over that time, the fragility of the Tigers defence is still evident.
West Ham’s visit to Bournemouth looks ripe for goals and, as a result, offers a raft of alternative captaincy candidates.
Over their last six matches, the Cherries have conceded 15 goals and failed to register a clean sheet, while the Hammers have been similarly poor, claiming a solitary clean sheet and shipping nine goals.
For Eddie Howe’s men, Josh King (5.4) looks to be the most secure route to points. The first choice penalty taker in the absence of long-term injury victim Callum Wilson, the Norwegian has scored an impressive five times in his last six Gameweeks – with a mere 3% ownership, he looks an intriguing differential candidate for this reduced Gameweek.
Among the most likely Hammers’ captaincy candidates are Andy Carroll (6.2), should he have recovered from a groin injury ahead of tonight’s clash with Chelsea at the London Stadium.
Michail Antonio (6.9), who is suspended for tonight’s Blues encounter and sits in 8.3% of FPL teams, is another valid option: he has scored eight goals and assisted another seven this term.
The Captain Poll is now live in the middle column on your homepage on desktop, or via the slide-in menu on mobile and tablet under recent comments.
We will be back to check in on progress in the poll later ahead of this week’s deadline when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.
