With the final international break of 2017/18 now behind us, we roll out our usual pre-Gameweek members’ article on the main captain contenders ahead of Saturday’s 11.30am deadline.
As always, we check in with the top picks in our Gameweek 32 Captain Poll before delving into the Opta data and offering a differential or two for your consideration.
The Captain Poll
After delivering 29 points against Watford last time out, there’s no surprise to see Mohamed Salah dominate at the top of our Gameweek 32 Captain Poll.
Away to a Crystal Palace side with two clean sheets at Selhurst Park all season, the Liverpool winger goes in search of a fifteenth double-digit haul of 2017/18.
Over 42% of voters are backing the consistent Salah, who has now delivered a goal or assist in 22 of his 28 league starts for the Merseysiders.
The second most bought player for Gameweek 32, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang claims the runner-up spot with 26% as Arsenal welcome Stoke City to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Three goals and an assist in five appearances highlight his impact since arriving in the winter transfer window, with the Gabon international delivering back-to-back nine-point hauls in his last two league outings.
The Gunners are second only to Man City for goals scored at home, which bodes well against a Stoke rearguard with two clean sheets on their travels this term.
This could also promote Henrikh Mkhitaryan as an alternative pick – the Armenian has recorded 13 points in two of his three home starts for the Gunners.
Romelu Lukaku – the top transfer target in Fantasy Premier League for Gameweek 32 – earns just 10% of the votes for Manchester United’s home clash with Swansea.
Lukaku has upped his form markedly since the arrival of Alexis Sanchez, recording eight goals and two assists in his last 11 matches in all competitions for Jose Mourinho’s men.
He also supplied two goals and an assist in Belgium’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia during the international break.
With those three taking up the vast majority of votes, there are a host of in-form differential armband options on offer this weekend.
Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez heads to Brighton having scored or assisted in 11 of his last 14 league starts.
The Algerian has served up double-digit returns in each of his last two and also supplied 11 points in a 2-0 win over the Seagulls in Gameweek 2.
Yet Pascal Gross could also profit in the same fixture. Averaging 6.2 points per match at the Amex Stadium, the German welcomes a defence with a single shut-out in their last 11 road trips.
Spurs’ head-to-head with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has been largely overlooked.
Harry Kane was excluded from the Poll as he was expected to remain sidelined, but with manager Mauricio Pochettino refusing to rule him out, the forward is now back in the reckoning.
However, his record against the Blues – one goal in his last five league matches and a single strike in four at Stamford Bridge – is likely to persuade many to steer clear.
Son Heung-min has netted twice in each of Spurs’ last two league matches and is expected to lead the line should Kane miss out.
A single assist in three has curbed our enthusiasm on Eden Hazard, though a total of six double-figure hauls still underlines his explosive armband potential.
With three goals for Austria during the recent internationals, West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic is in fine form for the visit of a Southampton side with just one clean sheet in 12 away matches.
David Silva offers another overlooked pick in midfield for Manchester City’s trip to Everton.
The playmaker has produced 7.7 points per away match and now collides with an unconvincing Toffees’ defence that’s mustered only one clean sheet in the previous 11 Gameweeks.
