Fantasy Premier League managers are faced with a much easier captaincy decision for Gameweek 28 compared to last week.
With Manchester City and Chelsea now back in action, Arsenal’s starting XI easier to predict and Liverpool facing more favourable opposition, there are considerably more clear cut options.
As per usual, we have assessed the key candidates from the poll for their own statistical performance of late, cross-comparing how their teams and opposition have done over the same period.
Captain Poll
Mohamed Salah (£13.6m) has shaken off some early competition from Sergio Aguero (£11.6m) to pull away in the latest captain poll. Ahead of Watford’s visit to Anfield, the Liverpool man has garnered the support of 40% of the vote. That is hardly surprising considering Salah’s scoring record against Watford, having found the net six times in three Premier League matches. The Egyptian has also blanked at home just once since Gameweek 19.
Currently occupying second place in the poll is Manchester City striker Aguero. After running Salah close in the early hours of the vote, is now backed by just 18%. The case for the Argentinian is easy to understand after back-to-back home hat-tricks in Gameweeks 26 and 27, ahead of West Ham’s visit to the Etihad Stadium. What may be putting Fantasy managers off is his 120-minute outing for the Citizens in Sunday’s League Cup final.
A benching for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) in Gameweek 27 has certainly put the masses off the Arsenal striker for the midweek visit of Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium. At the time of writing, he has the backing of just 15%, despite the fact that he has scored or assisted in every home match he has started against sides outside the top six since Gameweek 12.
A tenth Premier League goal of the season for Raúl Jiménez (£6.8m) at the Vitality Stadium has helped him to become the best of the rest in the Gameweek 28 captain poll. The Wolves forward has the backing of 5% ahead of a trip to Huddersfield.
Richarlison (£6.6m) makes a surprise appearance in the top five despite his recent disappointment for Fantasy managers. 2.65% of our voters believe handing the captain armband to the Everton man for a trip to Cardiff could pay dividends. That may well be influenced by the 5-1 drubbing Watford handed out at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday evening.
Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) is another Manchester City option suffering in the captain poll as a result of the League Cup final. The England international also played 120 minutes on Sunday which could jeopardise his chances of starting against West Ham. For that reason, he is currently only seen as the best captain for Gameweek 28 by 2.38% of our voters.
He is marginally ahead of Paul Pogba (£8.8m) this week as a stricken Manchester United side prepare to travel to Crystal Palace. The Frenchman played a slightly deeper role against Liverpool, with Nemanja Matic (£5.0m) missing out, and the concern over that has been borne out in just 2.34% backing in the poll.
Alexander Lacazette (£9.5m) is still around to play a part in the captain conversation after missing Thursday night’s Europa League action through suspension and scoring against Southampton. 2.3% of our voters believe he is the best candidate ahead of Bournemouth’s trip to north London.
Leroy Sané‘s (£9.5m) lack of heavy involvement in the League Cup final makes him one of the most likely starters for Manchester City on Wednesday night, hence why he has managed to get a place in the top 10 of the poll. 1.6% are brave enough to call on him for the armband, just ahead of Harry Kane (£12.4m) who has the backing of 1.2% ahead of a trip to Chelsea and Stamford Bridge.
