With the second international break of the season finally behind us, we roll out our regular pre-Gameweek members’ article which focuses on the main captaincy contenders for the upcoming round of matches.
As usual, we check in with the Opta numbers from both a player and team perspective –and also analyse the Rate My Team (RMT) ratings, before identifying some differential candidates.
The Captain Poll
Harry Kane is the runaway leader of our Gameweek 8 poll as Spurs host Bournemouth.
He is yet to score in the league in his temporary home of Wembley Stadium, though Kane has notched twice in three of the last four Gameweeks and netted in both England’s recent internationals.
Earning 58% of the votes, he’s produced three goals and an assist in his last two home league outings against the Cherries, albeit at White Hart Lane.
With 1% backing, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli remain overlooked options in light of Kane’s prolific form.
The pair have scored two goals apiece in the league, though Eriksen’s eye for goal was evident for Denmark over the break, with two strikes in as many matches.
Gabriel Jesus (11%) is regarded as the best of the rest as Manchester City welcome Stoke City to the Etihad Stadium.
The Brazilian has supplied four goals and an assist in his last four league outings and has collected over 361,000 transfers as a result of Sergio Aguero’s recent rib injury.
Man City’s midfielders could emerge as major differentials, then, with Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are largely ignored as armband prospects.
Sterling has scored five times in as many appearances, while Sane has served up 29 points in his last two home matches.
Eden Hazard – another player to score twice over the internationals – earns third place with just 4% of the votes as Chelsea make their way to a Crystal Palace side that have yet to collect a clean sheet.
With Alvaro Morata ruled out, Michy Batshuayi could also profit against a defence that shipped a combined nine goals to both Manchester clubs in the last two Gameweeks.
Five goals in the first seven Gameweeks brings Jamie Vardy into contention in fifth spot as Leicester entertain West Brom at the King Power on Monday evening.
The Foxes’ frontman has netted in each of his last two home appearances – against Chelsea and Liverpool – and faces a defence with a single clean sheet in five.
Liverpool and Man United’s big-hitters are also neglected as the pair prepare to go head-to-head at Anfield.
Although they’ve been defensively dire on the road, the Reds have been more resilient at Anfield and conceded just a single goal. Meanwhile, their visitors have six clean sheets in seven.
Nonetheless, both sides boast attacking form.
Backed by 3%, Romelu Lukaku has netted in all three of his road trips for the Red Devils and has been the number one captain pick of FPL managers in all seven Gameweeks
Mohamed Salah has bagged double-digits in both his home starts and scored twice for Egypt over the recent internationals. Based on today’s comments from Jurgen Klopp, he’s also succeeded Roberto Firmino as Liverpool’s designated penalty taker.
Meanwhile, Philippe Coutinho has delivered 23 points in his last two league outings to claim over 134,000 new owners across the break.
Elsewhere, it’s a sign of his fall from Fantasy favour that Alexis Sanchez is backed by a mere 0.9% of voters.
Yet the Chilean has hinted at a return to form of late, providing back-to-back league assists before notching for his country over the break.
Sanchez produced a goal and two assists in the corresponding fixture last season.
