As the only two teams set to play twice in Gameweek 36, Arsenal and Southampton players are expected to dominate this week’s Captain Poll.
Yet both sides have struggled to convince in recent matches.
Alexis Sanchez – our go-to Gunners option with the armband and the top-scoring player in Fantasy Premier League – has a single goal in six ahead of clashes with Manchester United at home and a trip to St Mary’s in midweek.
Indeed, with two goals and a pair of assists over that same period, Mesut Ozil has emerged as the unlikely form route into Arsene Wenger’s attack.
For the Saints, Claude Puel’s decision to haul off Manolo Gabbiadini before the hour-mark at home to Hull City on Saturday has hardly helped matters.
The most transferred-in player for the previous Gameweek, the Italian – who has a single assist in his last four – heads to Anfield at the weekend prior to entertaining Arsenal.
Having played 90 minutes in each of the last five, Dusan Tadic has seemed immune to his manager’s rotation at a time when both James Ward-Prowse and Nathan Redmond have endured bench-warming duties.
Yet the Serbian’s missed spot-kick against the Tigers – extending a poor run of form to one assist in his last seven – won’t have many reaching for the armband.
Ironically, Tadic is the poster boy for those considering single Gameweek players this time around – his 16 point-haul away to Watford in Gameweek 27 outshone Man City and Stoke’s main men, despite both the latter sides offering two matches apiece.
Nonetheless, although there are certain players with just one fixture that could prevail, opting only for the most reliable, in-form performers will reduce the degree of risk for those who choose to overlook Arsenal and Southampton.
With that in mind, Spurs trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen remain very much in the mix for the Friday night trip to West Ham.
Kane has three double-digit hauls in his last five starts and bagged 13 points against the Hammers back in Gameweek 12.
Alli – with a goal or assist in eight of his last nine – and Eriksen (returns in six of his previous seven) offer alternatives as Mauricio Pochettino’s side face a defence that has been breached at least twice on eight occasions at home this season.
Man City’s home encounter with Crystal Palace also heightens the appeal of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.
We’ve yet to ascertain the extent of the Argentine’s groin problem but, having found the net in six of his last seven, Aguero has upped his output over the last couple of months. A 12-point haul alongside Jesus away to Middlesbrough – a first double-figure score since Gameweek 12 – highlights his form.
Yet Jesus – the most transferred-in player in the Gameweek – could also benefit against the Eagles’ injury-hit backline. A leveller at the Riverside means that the Brazilian has netted four times in as many starts and his stock will surely be on the rise if Aguero misses out.
Nine goals in his last ten league outings ensures that Josh King is also among the main single-Gameweek contenders as Bournemouth welcome Stoke to the Vitality.
The Cherries have scored ten times in their last four at home and host a Potters outfit that have failed to score in six successive road trips, with Mark Hughes’ men perhaps another side already on the beach.
Jamie Vardy has been Leicester’s main source of FPL points since Craig Shakespeare took the helm.
The Foxes frontman has delivered a goal or assist in eight of his last nine league outings and has scored in four consecutive matches at the King Power Stadium ahead of a home encounter with Watford.
Still floundering in the drop zone, Swansea Ciry need a result at home to Everton, with Gylfi Sigurdsson vital to their survival bid.
Yesterday’s goal at United – his first since Gameweek 24 – bodes well for the Icelandic international, who scored against the Toffees earlier in the season.
With a single goal in his last eight road trips, it’s fair to say that Romelu Lukaku will struggle to garner attention. Yet it’s worth noting that the Swans boast the worst home defensive record in the top flight, having shipped 33 goals in front of their own supporters.
After taking just one point in their last two home matches against Bournemouth and Palace, Liverpool’s bid for a Champions League spot is in danger of dissolving.
Results yesterday, however, should offer fresh impetus for a weekend visit from Southampton.
If Jurgen Klopp’s men can prevail at Vicarage Road this evening, then Philippe Coutinho – with goals in four of his last five – and Roberto Firmino, with returns in six of his previous seven, are the Merseysiders’ form men.
Chelsea’s home encounter with Middlesbrough next Monday night offers armband potential at both ends of the pitch.
Eden Hazard – with points in seven of his last eight – is the Blues’ in-form asset against a defence that has conceded four times in each of their previous two away matches under Steve Agnew.
The Belgian has more goals (11) at home than any other FPL midfielder and bagged six lots of 10+ points hauls at the Bridge
Only last week, Diego Costa served up 16 points at home to Southampton – his highest haul of the season – to finish just one point behind United’s Double Gameweek 34 duo David De Gea and Anthony Martial.
Having earned a first clean sheet in 12 attempts away to Everton yesterday, the Blues’ Marcos Alonso could also be in profit.
The Spaniard – who is ranked top among defenders for both shots on goal (39) and FPL points per match (5.5) this season – will face a travel-sick attack with a mere ten goals away from home in 2016/17.
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 ahead of Friday evening’s 7pm Gameweek 36 deadline when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article, offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.
