We start preparations for Gameweek 25 with the launch of our latest Captain Poll, assessing your views on the best armband options ahead of next Tuesday’s 6.45pm deadline.
Sergio Aguero (11.8) is again one of the strongest contenders after scoring a hat-trick and firing off seven shots in Man City’s 3-1 home win over Newcastle last weekend. He has another kind home fixture when West Brom drop by next Wednesday.
The number one transfer target in Fantasy Premier League ahead of Gameweek 25, Aguero has now scored 10 times in front of his own fans – joint-top with Spurs’ Harry Kane.
Before hosting a Baggies defence that have just one clean sheet in their last 11 road trips, City take on Bristol City in the Carabao Cup tonight and Cardiff in the FA Cup this weekend. Aguero started at Ashton Gate and, should he also get the nod in Sunday’s tie, then there may even be some concerns on his fatigue levels heading into Wednesday’s league fixture.
Raheem Sterling (8.9) looks another reliable Sky Blues option, with attacking returns in all of his last four league matches on home turf, including an assist for Aguero’s penalty against the Magpies. Over the campaign he has notched nine times in as many home starts.
City’s creator-in-chief Kevin De Bruyne (10.2) should also attract interest. The Belgian has delivered more key passes (46) at home than any other player and earned his 12th assist of the season against Rafa Benitez’s defence.
Another Belgian set to compete for the top of the poll is Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (10.6), who dazzled against Brighton at the weekend, scoring twice and earning maximum bonus returns. A track record of five goals in six encounters against midweek visitors Bournemouth also weighs heavily in his favour.
Blues left wing-back Marcos Alonso (7.3) looks another attractive armband option: his clean sheet against the Seagulls was the eighth outing in a row where he has delivered a points return.
Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah (10.2), and Roberto Firmino (9.2), should also garner support, despite the Reds’ disappointing 1-0 away to defeat to Swansea City on Monday night.
They next travel to face a Huddersfield Town defence that has shipped more goals (nine) than any side over the last three matches, which includes a bruising 4-1 defeat to West Ham in their last home match.
The Egyptian winger looks the likeliest to challenge Aguero for top spot – away from home, he is ranked second for big chances (12) and goals (nine) and is joint-top with Kane for efforts on target (18).
Firmino, however, has returned double-digits in three of his last four starts in away matches.
Arsenal are the Swans’ next visitors and will be hoping to fare better than Jurgen Klopp’s troops after routing Crystal Palace 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.
New arrival Henrikh Mkhitaryan (7.6) is expected to immediately command a starting role, and early adopters will be seeking a repeat of the initial form that harvested a goal and five assists in the first five Gameweeks for Man United.
Alexandre Lacazette was at last back among the goals in Gameweek 24, while Aaron Ramsey is expected to recover from illness to play some part. The Welshman has been limited to just 16 minutes due to injury since Gameweek 16, yet, away from home, he has still managed more shots in the box (17) and efforts on target (11) than any current team-mate.
Man United’s marquee signing Alexis Sanchez (11.7) faces a testing debut as Jose Mourinho’s side make their way to Wembley Stadium to face Spurs. With Toby Alderweireld potentially available to reinforce Mauricio Pochettino’s rearguard, interest in the Chilean and his new team-mates may be muted.
Similarly, votes for Spurs’ attacking assets could be curtailed given that Manchester United have kept two clean sheets from their last four away trips, conceding just three goals.
Nevertheless, Harry Kane (13.0)’s explosive potential can never be ruled out. The top captain pick in FPL in five of the last six Gameweeks, Kane remains the top-ranked player for shots (83), efforts in the box (50) and attempts on target (35) in home matches.
Alternative options include Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri (6.0), who hosts a Watford outfit without a clean sheet in 11 attempts. The playmaker impressed in Paul Lambert’s first match at the helm, firing off three shots in the box, all on target, earning an assist in the 2-0 win over Huddersfield.
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 25 deadline when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.
