The 2019/20 Fantasy Premier League season continues to throw up more interesting captaincy debates for managers.
Gameweek 13 presents us with an intriguing set of fixtures that are arguably tricky to predict.
You can now vote in the latest Captain Poll either below or in the sidebar, while Joe and David have discussed this week’s options on our YouTube channel.
After scoring six goals in the last four matches, Jamie Vardy (£9.6m) is likely to be the people’s favourite as Leicester continue their excellent recent form.
However, it must be said that a trip to Brighton may not be quite as plain sailing as many will have hoped.
The Seagulls have admittedly been a little shaky on their travels in 2019/20 but at the Amex Stadium, they have fared much better.
In their last four in front of their own fans, against Burnley, Spurs, Everton and Norwich, Brighton have kept two clean sheets and conceded just three times.
During that sample, only Chelsea, Sheffield United, Newcastle and Leicester themselves have let in fewer goals (all two).
That said, Vardy and his team-mates come to Sussex in arguably much better form than
Furthermore, Graham Potter could still be without centre-back Adam Webster (£4.4m) while club captain Lewis Dunk (£4.6m) will miss Gameweek 13 through suspension.
That could see Brighton line-up with two so-called second string centre-backs in Shane Duffy (£4.9m) and Leon Balogun (£4.4m). Alternatively, Dan Burn (£4.5m) could return to the middle and allow Gaëtan Bong (£4.3m) at left-back.
Meanwhile, Liverpool options might prove harder to captain for their trip to Crystal Palace compared to a Gameweek 12 win over Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s defence came to Anfield in fairly poor shape in recent away matches, which is why it was no surprise to see them concede three times.
However, Crystal Palace still have one of the best records at the back during home games this season.
They kept three clean sheets in the first four Selhurst Park matches of the campaign and were close to a fourth in the Gameweek 6 draw with Wolves.
Since then they have made Manchester City and Leicester work very hard for tight 2-0 wins.
It is also worth pointing out that Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) is still waiting on his first away league goal of the campaign although Sadio Mané (£12.1m) has five attacking returns on the road this season, only Raheem Sterling (£12.0m) and Christian Pulisic (£7.4m) have more.
Those two players are expected to be further down the captain poll results than usual because of the potentially unpredictable nature of a big clash between Manchester City and Chelsea.
However, there is every reason to believe that Guardiola’s men can reward managers who show some patience.
While Chelsea’s defensive prospects at Stamford Bridge have been very strong in recent weeks, they are still struggling to keep things tight on the road.
They come to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening still without a league clean sheet away from home in 2019/20.
The 12 goals they have conceded on their travels is the same number as Norwich, while only Aston Villa (13), Watford (13) and Newcastle (14) have shipped more than that.
Furthermore, Frank Lampard’s last four opponents on the road in Watford, Burnley, Southampton and Wolves all pose considerably less of a threat than Manchester City and still managed to find a way to score past his side.
That’s good news for anyone looking to holding Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne (£10.2m) for Gameweek 13.
The England international was Manchester City’s most dangerous goal threat against Liverpool, although still only has one attacking return in his last four league starts at the Etihad Stadium.
De Bruyne has fared a little better there, with a goal and three attacking returns since Gameweek 6 and perhaps a little added incentive as he faces his former employers.
Nominated for ‘Best in Fantasy Football – Editorial’ at the Football Content Awards 2020
