With the final international break of the season now finally behind us, we turn to our usual pre-deadline members’ article, which focuses on the captaincy dilemma for the Gameweek 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 with the armband conundrum.
The Captain Poll
Diego Costa leads the way in our Gameweek 30 Captain Poll as Chelsea welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge.
Set to be assessed after sustaining an ankle problem during training with Spain, the frontman has been backed by 17% of voters as he looks to extend a consistent run of form that has produced a goal or assist in 11 of his 12 home appearances.
Eden Hazard is expected to be available to face the Eagles after a calf complaint. A far more explosive option in front of his own supporters, the Belgian leads Costa by five double-figure hauls to zero at home.
Selected by just 4%, he’s shaping up as a major armband differential as the Blues look to overcome a defence that’s chalked up three straight clean sheets.
Romelu Lukaku and Sadio Mane earn 13% and 6% votes respectively ahead of Saturday lunchtime’s Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Although the Everton frontman has bagged 11 goals in the last ten Gameweeks, it’s worth noting that just one of those strikes arrived on the road – indeed, Lukaku has scored just twice in his previous six away outings.
Mane has bagged double-figure hauls in two of his last three at Anfield, producing 16 and 13 points against Spurs and Arsenal respectively. The Senegal international has five 10+ points returns in front of his own supporters, as has Robert Firmino, who has persuaded just 1% to consider his armband potential.
Leicester City’s recent renaissance has persuaded over 12% to consider Jamie Vardy for a home clash with Stoke City. Having found the net for England over the recent international break, the Foxes frontman has continued the form that delivered three goals and a pair of assists in his last three league outings.
Just under 1% are looking to Riyad Mahrez, who has notched in back-to-back Gameweeks and faces a travel-sick defence with one clean sheet in their last seven road trips.
Swansea City’s home clash with Middlesbrough earns the consistent Gylfi Sigurdsson 7% backing.
With attacking returns in eight of his ten outings under Paul Clement, the Icelandic international will be fancied to breach a ‘Boro backline with just a single clean sheet in their last nine road trips.
Alexis Sanchez (3%) and Sergio Aguero (5%) are shaping up as major captaincy differentials for the Gameweek ahead.
Fully recovered from the ankle problem that forced him off at West Brom last time out, Sanchez – who has delivered points in 13 of his last 15 league appearances – stepped up his form with a goal and assist for Chile against Venezuela.
Aguero has a reasonable two goals and assist in his last four league outings and faces a Gunners defence that has conceded three times in all but one of their previous four.
Despite scoring 11 times in the last 12, Dele Alli is deemed as a differential, with only 5% considering the Spurs midfielder for the captaincy ahead of a trip to a Burnley outfit that’s conceded just 12 goals in 14 home matches.
It’s a similar story for Bournemouth’s Josh King, who earns less than 1% backing after scoring eight times in as many matches prior to visiting St Mary’s.
With Manolo Gabbiadini ruled out, Dusan Tadic could profit against a Cherries’ defence that have conceded 31 times on their travels. The Saints playmaker has a goal and three assists in his last three league outings and recorded a goal and two assists in Serbia’s win over Georgia over the break.
