Up next this Friday, we turn to our pre-deadline member’s article focussing on the captaincy dilemma for the ten fixtures ahead.
To get underway, we analyse the main contenders in this week’s Captain Poll, then check out the Opta numbers and current Rate My Team rankings before suggesting some differentials to help solve the armband conundrum.
The Captain Poll
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended and Harry Kane stuck on the sidelines through injury, Romelu Lukaku retains his place as the number one armband pick, earning 51% of the votes as Everton welcome Hull City to Goodison Park.
A goal and assist at home to West Brom last weekend means that the Belgian has netted in five successive home matches as he squares up to a Tigers defence that boast the joint-worst defensive away record, with 31 goals against.
Alexis Sanchez is a distant second with 20% as Arsenal make their way to West Bromwich Albion.
Although there is a concern that the Chilean may be stationed on the left if Arsene Wenger opts for the more physical Olivier Giroud up front, his record of five double-figure hauls on the road bodes well for tomorrow’s early kick-off.
Tony Pulis’ men have managed just four clean sheets at The Hawthorns, conceding against Bournemouth and Palace in their last two at home.
Diego Costa, man-of-the-moment Josh King and Sergio Aguero complete the top five.
Subject to more transfers in (155,000+) than any player in the Gameweek, the 4%-backed Costa has struggled for consistency on the road of late, scoring just two goals in his last six away matches. The Potters have been fairly solid in front of their own fans recently, conceding just twice in five at the bet365.
Aguero has scored twice in two of his last three at the Etihad ahead of Sunday’s visit from Liverpool. Furthermore, the City striker has netted in all four of his home league appearances against the Merseysiders.
King, meanwhile, entertains Swansea on the back of an 18-point home haul against West Ham, with the Bournemouth midfielder racking up eight goals in the last seven Gameweeks – more than any other FPL asset.
Swansea have managed just a single clean sheet away from home and, like Hull, have conceded 31 times on their travels.
Further down, Spurs trio Son Heung-min, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen are clear differentials home clash against Southampton.
Expected to lead the line in the absence of Harry Kane, Son registered three goals and an assist in the 6-0 FA Cup win over Millwall last weekend.
Alli and Eriksen boast the numbers to show just why they occupy two of the top five slots in the FPL midfield standings.
The former has notched ten times in the last eleven Gameweeks and has scored in three successive home appearances across all competitions, while Eriksen remains an explosive option at the Lane, with five double-figure hauls in his last eight home outings.
Despite producing points in eight of nine appearances under Paul Clement, Gylfi Sigurdsson earns less than 1% of the votes as Swansea visit a Bournemouth defence that’s conceded at least twice in eight of their last nine at the Vitality.
Only Sunderland have conceded more headed attempts than the Cherries this term, highlighting the importance of the Icelandic international’s dead-ball delivery.
Jermain Defoe’s contribution looks equally vital as the Black Cats take on Burnley at the Stadium of Light.
The veteran has played a part in ten of his side’s 14 home strikes (eight goals, two assists) and faces a defence that ranks bottom for shots conceded inside the box away from home.
