Captain Sensible – Gameweek 31

We turn to our usual pre-Gameweek members’ article next, assessing the key captaincy candidates for the upcoming round of fixtures.

To get underway, we check out the form of the leading players in our Captain Poll, then analyse the Opta data and Rate My Team ratings before considering a differential or two for Gameweek 31’s four-match slate.

The Captain Poll

As the only top-eight team in action, the focus is firmly on Liverpool, who host a Watford outfit with one clean sheet and two goals in their last eight road trips.

It’s no surprise, then, to see Mohamed Salah, the top-scoring player in Fantasy Premier League, dominate our Captain Poll with a massive 70% of the votes cast.

The Egyptian has supplied eight of his 13 double-digit returns at Anfield, averaging 8.87 points per match at home this season.

A relentless source of consistency, Salah has started 14 times in front of his own fans, returning a goal or assist on 12 of those occasions.

Along with Salah, both Roberto Firmino (6%) and Sadio Mane (4%) found the net against the Hornets back in Gameweek 1.

The top transfer target for Gameweek 31, Firmino’s 12 points at Vicarage Road was more than any team-mate.

He has served up seven sets of double-digits this term, compared with Mane’s two.

Yet the latter is arguably in better form for this one, with five goals and an assist in his last five matches across all competitions.

No other player has earned more than 1% backing, underlining our collective show of faith in Jurgen Klopp’s front three.

Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri could be one of the strongest candidates for those seeking out a differential.

Since the arrival of Paul Lambert, the playmaker has been involved in 80% of Stoke City’s goals, thanks to three strikes and an assist, and has averaged 5.9 points per appearance.

However, with reports breaking this evening that he is a doubt to face Everton due to a calf complaint, it’s wise to steer clear with the armband.

Meanwhile, Cenk Tosun makes his way to the bet365 as the Toffees’ form player on the back of successive goals against Burnley and Brighton.

Bournemouth’s home match against a West Brom defence that’s managed one clean sheet in their last 14 away fixtures bodes well for Junior Stanislas.

Since returning from injury in Gameweek 24, he’s supplied three goals and two assists in seven appearances, finding the net against the likes of Chelsea and Spurs in that run.

West Brom’s Salomon Rondon looks the likeliest source of points for Alan Pardew’s side.

The Venezuelan has netted three times in six across all competitions and is up against a defence without a shut-out in 17 attempts.

Two goals and a pair of assists in the last four Gameweeks makes Steve Mounie Huddersfield’s form player for the head-to-head with Crystal Palace at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The Frenchman bagged 12 points against the Eagles in a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park back in Gameweek 1.

For the visitors, Christian Benteke has supplied a goal or assist in seven of the last nine Gameweeks, while the fit-again Wilfried Zaha will be pushing for a starting role after emerging from the bench to supply an assist against Chelsea last time out.