As time races toward tomorrow’s 11.30am deadline, it’s time for our usual pre-Gameweek members’ article which focuses on the main captaincy contenders for the upcoming round of fixtures.
We kick off by checking out the results of our Gameweek 20 Captain Poll before analysing the key numbers for both the armband favourites and their respective teams.
Finally, we’ll delve into the data to suggest a couple of differential picks for those willing to take a punt.
The Captain Poll
The Boxing Day fixture list hands a host of big-hitters favourable Gameweek 20 opponents to boost their armband prospects.
Harry Kane currently sits at the summit with 37% of the votes cast, as he welcomes Southampton to Wembley Stadium on the back of his three-goal explosion at Burnley.
The Spurs frontman has undoubtedly toiled at his new temporary home, with six blanks in nine appearances. Nonetheless, Kane has improved of late, scoring in three of his last five Wembley fixtures, including two double-digit scores. Meanwhile, the Saints defences has just a single clean sheet from their last 14 Gameweeks,
Liverpool’s main men will also be among the key contenders for a home match with basement-dwellers Swansea.
Up against a defence that’s shipped ten goals in their last five road trips, Mohamed Salah (25%) is undoubtedly Kane’s main rival for the armband.
The Egyptian’s 10-point tally at Arsenal was his eighth double-figure score of the season and with a goal or assist in ten of the last 11 Gameweeks, he’s one of the most consistent and explosive picks around.
Both Roberto Firmino (1%) and Philippe Coutinho (2%) are also in fine fettle.
Over their last four league starts, Firmino has four goals and a pair of assists, while Coutinho has served up three goals and four assists for the in-form Reds’ attack.
Chelsea’s home encounter with Brighton brings both Eden Hazard (6%) and Alvaro Morata (6%) into contention.
The Belgian has struggled in recent weeks with Morata out through injury and suspension, tallying just a single assist in the last three fixtures.
Yet that’s in stark contrast to his showings alongside the Spaniard – Hazard has delivered three sets of 10+ points hauls in three of his last five starts with Chelsea’s summer signing on the teamsheet.
Morata has scored in two of his last three league outings at Stamford Bridge and emerged from the bench to score a midweek Carabao Cup winner at home to Bournemouth.
Man City’s trip to Newcastle on Wednesday night could prove a significant fixture for the captaincy race. Their big-hitters are largely overlooked in the Poll, yet they face a Magpies defence that have claimed just a single shut-out in 15 Gameweeks and have conceded at least twice in six of their previous eight outings.
Three goals and a trio of assists in as many appearances have made Raheem Sterling the favoured City pick and the number one transfer target in the Gameweek, though only 3% are considering him for the captaincy.
Sergio Aguero is also nominated by 3%. His tally of 16 points at home to Bournemouth in Gameweek 19 served a reminder that backing the City strikers can sometimes pay off if you’re prepared to run the risk of rotation.
David Silva, with three goals in his last two away appearances and, Kevin De Bruyne, with two sets of 10+ points hauls in the previous three, earn less than 1% backing for the St James’ Park encounter.
Man United will look to bounce back from their late collapse at Leicester as Burnley roll up to Old Trafford.
Only two sides have scored more goals at home than the Red Devils’ 22, which could be good news for differential picks, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba, who have both persuaded just 1% of voters.
Lukaku has found the net in two of the last three Gameweeks and is bound to be among the main captaincy picks on the back of his remaining 33% ownership.
Encouragingly, he’s scored three times in four home appearances alongside Pogba this term. The Frenchman, meanwhile, has bagged 26 points across that quartet of matches.
