While tonight’s Goodison Park clash between Everton and Newcastle concludes Gameweek 35, our sights are already set on the next batch of fixtures with the launch of the latest Captain Poll to canvass your views on the best armband options.
Newly crowned PFA Player of the Year and Golden Boot race leader Mohamed Salah (10.6) topped the poll last time out and is set to once again be a popular captaincy candidate, having delivered his 31st goal of the campaign at the weekend at West Brom.
The Liverpool winger’s home fixture on Saturday lunchtime against Stoke, another relegation-embattled side, also looks enticing. On the road the Potters have managed just two clean sheets and shipped 37 goals, with only West Ham (42) conceding more on their travels.
Interest could be slightly muted amid concerns around Salah’s pitch time, with the Potters’ clash sandwiched in between Liverpool’s two Champions League semi-final ties against Roma. However, given that there are four days between the Stoke match and return trip to Italy, the Egyptian is expected to retain his starting berth once again.
It’s worth noting that he has already delivered two goals and 13 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points against the Potters in just 23 minutes off the bench in Gameweek 14.
Roberto Firmino (9.6) could earn a recall to Liverpool’s starting XI after being a substitute against the Baggies. The Brazilian has blanked just once in his last six at Anfield, tallying four goals and a pair of assists in that stretch.
Sadio Mane (9.5) provides another alternative – he has started every league match since Gameweek 21, scoring six and assisting a further five along the way. The Senegal international has blanked just twice in his last eight outings.
A home clash with Watford means that Harry Kane (12.8) will go head-to-head with Salah for our armband attentions.
The Hornets arrive in dire defensive form on the road, conceding nine times in their last three away fixtures.
That bodes well for Kane as he looks to vanquish a run of form that has delivered just a single goal in six league appearances.
At home, he knocks Salah into second spot for shots (101 to 82), efforts in the box (64 to 61) and attempts on target, by 43 to 40.
Kane is currently the most popular player in the FPL transfer market, attracting more than 37,000 new owners.
In midfield, there’s no shortage of options. Christian Eriksen (9.5) has fired four goals in as many Gameweeks, while Dele Alli (9.0)’s strike against Manchester United in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat should also attract attention. He has three goals and a trio of assists in his last five in the league.
Son Heung-min is the third most sold midfielder ahead of Saturday’s deadline, yet boasts a fine home record. The South Korean has served up nine goals and five assists at Wembley, compared with three goals and two assists on his travels.
Manchester City have already scooped the Premier League title but, on the evidence of their performance against Swansea yesterday, they don’t lack the motivation to attack. Five goals without replay against the Welsh side could sway voting their way ahead of their trip to West Ham.
Gabriel Jesus (10.2) looks a likely starter up front, while Sergio Aguero continues his recovery from minor surgery. He had a particularly eventful game against the Swans with a goal, assist and penalty miss. Nonetheless, it’s now three goals and as many assists in four starts for the Brazilian.
Raheem Sterling (8.9) also impressed on Sunday, claiming a goal and assist on his way to 11 points. With returns in each of the last six run-outs, he drops by the London Stadium in sensational form and is currently the most bought midfielder.
Another Sky Blues option voters may consider is David Silva (8.2), who has assisted more goals than any of his team-mates on the road (seven) and has also found the net six times, a tally only Sterling can better (seven). It is also worth noting that four of the Spaniard’s six scores of 10 points or more have come away from the Etihad Stadium.
West Ham have been in obliging mood recently, shipping four to Arsenal on Sunday and 13 over their last six league encounters, with only Bournemouth conceding more (14).
The Gunners fielded a strong side in that Hammers clash but look likely to rotate when they drop by Old Trafford on Sunday, as it falls between their two Europa League semi-final ties with Atletico Madrid. This could see Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku (11.5) prove popular among voters, especially after registering four goals and an assist over his last six home league run outs.
Alexis Sanchez (11.5)’s headed goal against Spurs in the FA Cup at the weekend also puts him in the reckoning as he prepares to square up to his former club for the first time. The Chilean has a goal and three assists over his last four in the league and faces a Gunners’ side that have lost five straight road trips.
For those looking for a reliable differential captain, it is worth noting that Burnley’s Ashley Barnes (5.4) goes into his home match with his former side Brighton in exceptional form. The striker has scored and earned bonus points in six of his last eight league starts, while the Seagulls have only one clean sheet over their last six away matches.
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 36 deadline when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.
