We turn to our Opta data next in our usual pre-Gameweek members’ analysis of the main armband contenders.
First up, we take a look at the leading players in this week’s Captain Poll before moving to the Opta numbers and Rate My Team ratings, then consider a differential or two ahead of Saturday’s 11.30am deadline.
The Captain Poll
There’s a three-way tussle for our attentions in the Gameweek 24 Captain Poll, with Harry Kane once again leading the way on 31%.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker is one of a handful of players who have already delivered big returns against their weekend opponents as recently as Gameweek 20.
Kane bagged a hat-trick and 17 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points against his upcoming hosts Southampton that weekend – that’s the eighth time he’s scored one than one goal this season.
The Saints, meanwhile, have offered next-to-no resistance at St Mary’s, managing just a single clean sheet in their last 11.
That looks good news for Kane’s team-mate Son Heung-min. The South Korean supplied 14 points in the 5-2 win over Manuel Pellegrino’s men last month and has three goals and as many assists in the last four Gameweeks.
Sergio Aguero grabs the runners-up spot behind Kane, thanks to 22% backing.
With Gabriel Jesus still sidelined, the Argentine has bagged six goals in his last seven across competitions ahead of a weekend visit from a Newcastle outfit with one clean sheet in their previous nine on the road.
Aguero has struck 11 times in as many league encounters with the Magpies, including a five-goal home haul in 2015/16.
Just 4% are considering Raheem Sterling, who has bettered Aguero for home goals (nine to seven) and double-digits (six to three) – indeed, his last 10+ points haul arrived against the Magpies in Gameweek 20.
Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne (1%) is another strong City alternative, with four lots of double-digit returns in his last six at the Etihad.
A trip to Swansea City earns Mohamed Salah third spot with 17% of the votes cast.
The Liverpool wide man’s goal and assist in the 4-3 win over Man City means he’s returned points in 13 of his last 14 league outings and took him onto ten sets of double-digits for the campaign.
Salah is now back in training as of this evening after suffering from illness in midweek, with the Reds facing the south Wales at 8pm on Monday night.
Yet only 2% are looking at Roberto Firmino, who bagged two goals and 13 points against the Welsh outfit in Gameweek 20. The Brazilian’s last seven starts have harvested seven goals, three assists and four sets of double-digits.
With the top three persuading the vast majority of voters, it leaves a number of in-form differential candidates to consider.
Marko Arnautovic entertains Bournemouth looking to mirror his 15-point haul against the Cherries in Gameweek 20. Only 3% are willing to back the West Ham man, who has five goals and three assists in his last five league outings.
Jesse Lingard also netted twice against his upcoming hosts Burnley in Gameweek 20. He has 50 FPL points, and three sets of double-figures, in his last five away matches.
Riyad Mahrez entertains a Watford side without a clean sheet in the last 10 Gameweeks. Over that period, the Leicester wide man has racked up five goals and four assists to climb into fourth in the FPL midfield standings.
Marcos Alonso collected 14 points against weekend hosts Brighton in Gameweek 20. With three goals and five clean sheets in the last six Gameweeks, the wing-back is Chelsea’s form player ahead of Saturday’s early kick-off.
