Gameweek 28 may have only finished last night but our sights are quickly set on Gameweek 29 as we roll out our usual pre-deadline members’ article focusing on the key captain candidates.
First up, we check in with the top picks in our Captain Poll before delving into the Opta numbers and Rate My Team ratings, then offer a differential or two for your consideration.
The Captain Poll
There’s a two-way tussle for our attention this weekend, with Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane claiming the vast majority of votes cast for Gameweek 29.
Both are braced for very favourable home encounters, with their respective visitors, Newcastle and Huddersfield, mustering just a single clean sheet apiece from their last 12 road trips.
Salah’s explosive consistency earns him the edge, though, with 13 double-figure hauls to Kane’s eight.
Nonetheless, whereas Kane has supplied 13 points against his weekend opponents (back in Gameweek 7), Salah endured a very rare blank at St James’ Park in the same round of fixtures, leaving Tyneside with just two points.
With the pair claiming 42% and 37% of the votes respectively, their overwhelming popularity serves up a number of differentials to consider.
Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino also boast the form to take advantage of the Magpies’ porous defence.
The Senegal international has netted four times in his last two matches across all competitions, while Firmino has four goals and two assists in the previous six Gameweeks.
Man City’s home clash with Chelsea keeps both sides’ main men off our Gameweek 29 radars.
Nonetheless, it’s worth remembering that Sergio Aguero has delivered nine goals and 50 FPL points in City’s last four in front of their own fans.
Aguero clearly relishes playing against the Stamford Bridge outfit, having scored ten goals in all competitions against them. Only his record in head-to-heads with Newcastle (14 goals) is more impressive.
His team-mate Kevin De Bruyne, meanwhile, has three sets of double-figure totals in his previous four at the Etihad.
Eden Hazard arrives at the Etihad with six goals in his last seven appearances. Four of his six double-figure hauls have been delivered on the road.
Leicester City’s home clash with Bournemouth could boost the points potential of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy.
Up against a defence with one shut-out in 15 attempts, Mahrez looks to extend a record that’s harvested a goal or assist in nine of his last 12 league starts. Vardy has found the net in five of his last six outings across all competitions.
Romelu Lukaku has rediscovered his Fantasy form just in time for Man United’s trip to Selhurst Park on Monday evening.
The Belgian international bagged his first double-figure haul since Gameweek 5 in last week’s win over Chelsea and now collides with an Eagles’ defence that has managed just two clean sheets at home this term.
