Captain Poll – Gameweek 23

With Premier League action resuming this weekend, we have launched our latest Captain Poll to canvass your opinions on the best armband options for Gameweek 23.

A home encounter with Everton provides Harry Kane (12.9) with a golden opportunity to atone for a disastrous double Gameweek 22 that produced just three Fantasy Premier League points against Swansea and West Ham.

As well as topping that Gameweek’s poll, more than 1,320,000 (24.2%) of FPL managers handed him the captaincy, with 121,000+ trusting the Spurs striker with their Triple Captain chip.

Those backing Kane again will be comforted by his brace against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup yesterday. Furthermore, he collides with a Toffees defence that has conceded more shots (81) than any side over the last four Gameweeks.

His team-mates Dele Alli (9.0), Son Heung-min (8.1) and Christian Eriksen (9.3) could also profit.

Intriguingly, all six goals that the Merseysiders have conceded over the last nine Gameweeks have been scored by midfielders, with Charlie Austin’s brace in Gameweek 13 the last time a striker breached their backline in the league.

Of this trio Alli has the slight edge in terms of form, having scored twice and assisted a further four goals over his last quartet of league matches. However, Son has also impressed over this period with two successful strikes and as many assists – indeed, the South Korean has scored in all but one of his last seven outings at Wembley Stadium.

At home to a managerless Stoke side that have shipped a league-high 27 away goals, Manchester United’s key assets are bound to be popular.

The number one transfer target for Gameweek 23, Jesse Lingard (6.3), has emerged as a viable captaincy option having dominated the Red Devils’ attacking play since cementing a starting berth in Gameweek 14.

Over that period he has been involved in more than half (53%) of his side’s goals, having found the net seven times and assisted two more. His goal in the FA Cup against Derby on Friday further underlines his potential ahead of this clash, which is the first match for the Potters since Mark Hughes’ departure.

Despite missing three matches through suspension over that period, Paul Pogba (7.9) is second only to Lingard among Jose Mourinho’s charges for goal attempts. The Frenchman was handed licence to roam forward away to Everton last time out, claiming two assists and 12 FPL points – his first double-digit haul since Gameweek 12.

Romelu Lukaku (11.3) also scored against Derby in the FA Cup and could attract interest, despite only finding the net twice in his previous nine league run outs.

With a solitary shut-out and 18 goals conceded on their travels, Leicester’s poor away defence should encourage interest in Chelsea’s assets for their head-to-head at Stamford Bridge.

Should he recover from a calf injury Eden Hazard (10.7) may be the most popular option. Even though his penalty in last week’s clash with Arsenal was a first goal since Gameweek 15, the Belgian’s six efforts in the box was more than any single-Gameweek player.

Marcos Alonso (7.3) form and broad points potential continue to smash the myth that a defender should never be handed the armband.

Over the last six, the Spaniard has averaged an impressive 8.8 points having notched three goals, an assist, four clean sheets and six bonus points. He is also second only to striker Alvaro Morata (10.5) for shots this season among Chelsea assets.

Manchester City’s trip to Liverpool is among this Gameweek’s trickiest ties to call and could hinder the prospects of both sides’ big-hitters.

At home, no side have allowed fewer shots (63) or goals (four) than the Merseysiders, while their visitors have been similarly miserly at the back on the road, shipping a league-low five away goals.

But with both sides in fine attacking form, their defensive records could be shattered this weekend. Away from the Etihad, Pep Guardiola’s troops have had more shots (193) than any other side while at home only Spurs (233) have fired off more goal attempts than Liverpool’s 225.

Those backing City assets in the poll could well turn to former Red Raheem Sterling (8.9). The winger has earned attacking returns in each of his last five league starts, notching three double-figure FPL points hauls along the way.

With no competition for a start from the injured Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero (11.7) should also attract interest – a brace in the FA Cup against Burnley this weekend brings the Argentine’s goal tally to six in his last eight starts.

Mohamed Salah (10.1) looks the man most likely to prosper for the hosts – providing, of course, he recovers from a groin injury. The Egyptian – who is FPL’s top scoring player – has produced a goal or assist in 12 of his last 13 league outings.

Meanwhile, Roberto Firmino has served up four sets of double-digits in his last six starts and has moved to just two points off Aguero in second in the FPL forward standings. He is, however, currently involved in an FA enquiry following Friday’s altercation and exchange with Everton’s Mason Holgate.

Voters may also consider taking a punt on an Arsenal player. The Gunners travel to Bournemouth desperate to make amends for yesterday’s FA Cup exit to Nottingham Forest and two successive league draws, to West Brom and Chelsea.

The Cherries last kept a clean sheet in Gameweek 13 and since then have shipped 20 goals, with only Stoke conceding more.

Three goals and an assist in his last four league run outs again makes Alexis Sanchez (11.8) an explosive differentia, although one that comes with risk attached as speculation mounts over a rumoured move to Manchester City.

Mesut Ozil (9.3), with two goals in his last quartet of starts and Alexandre Lacazette (10.3), with three assists over the same period, could also plunder the points against Eddie Howe’s erratic defence.

The 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.

Remember, we are looking for your vote for the player you think will be most effective, regardless of whether you own them or not.

We will be back to check in on progress in the poll later ahead of the Gameweek 23 deadline when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.