We now turn to our pre-Gameweek members’ article that checks in with the key captain candidates for the extended round of fixtures.
First up, we assess the form of the leading players in the Gameweek 34 Captain Poll, then analyse the Opta data and Rate My Team (RMT) ratings before looking at a differential or two for the 14-match slate.
The Captain Poll
Double Gameweek 34 candidates understandably dominate our Captain Poll, with Romelu Lukaku leading the way for Manchester United’s clashes against West Brom and Bournemouth.
The Belgian earns 33% of the votes cast on the back of four goals and a pair of assists in his last seven league outings.
First up, he entertains a Baggies defence with a single clean sheet in their last 15 road trips before visiting a Cherries rearguard that’s kept out their opponents once in 13 attempts at the Vitality and once in their last 20 overall.
Signficantly, 14 of Lukaku’s 15 league goals this season have been scored against teams outside of the top eight.
Alexis Sanchez sits in third spot in light of his recent renaissance. The Chilean earns 10% backing after serving up successive double-digit hauls against Swansea and Man City, while Paul Pogba’s (2%) brace in the derby win has made him the most bought midfielder ahead of tomorrow’s 11.30am deadline.
Harry Kane (26%) claims the runners-up spot as Spurs prepare to face Man City and Brighton.
Subject to more transfers in than any player in the Gameweek, the fit-again striker has delivered eight double-digit hauls in 29 starts this term.
While the City encounter wont be straightforward, Pep Guardiola’s men will arrive at Wembley Stadium on the back of three successive defeats in all competitions, with morale at a season-low and with the influential Fernandinho suspended.
Meanwhile, Brighton’s defence have been far from convincing, claiming a single shut-out from their last 13 league outings.
Spurs’ midfield offer further in-form options. Over the last four matches, Christian Eriksen (32 points), Dele Alli (37 points) and Son Heung-min (38 points) have all profited.
But Eriksen is the only Spurs player to produce returns against both his upcoming opponents earlier in the campaign, indeed Kane supplied just three points over the reverse fixtures.
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are also in the reckoning as Leicester City head to Burnley before hosting Southampton.
The former has struck in each of his last three Gameweek appearances, though struggles for explosive potential – his only 10+ points haul arrived in the season opener at Arsenal.
Mahrez, meanwhile, has a goal or assist in 11 of his last 16 league starts, with two double-digit tallies in his previous four.
Chelsea’s main men are well off the armband pace ahead of trips to Southampton (one clean sheet in 11) and Leicester (one clean sheet in eight).
Eden Hazard, Willian and Marcos Alonso all sit around the 1% mark but could yet emerge as big differentials.
With two goals in the last five Gameweeks, Willian is the form player of that trio, though Hazard and Alonso remain capable of substantial scores, with six and four double-figure hauls respectively. Indeed, Alonso delivered 14 points against the Saints earlier in the season.
Among the single-Gameweek options, Mohamed Salah and Marko Arnautovic are the clear standout candidates.
Salah’s devastating home form can more than atone for one fixture when he hosts Bournemouth – he’s averaged 9.5 points per match at Anfield, with nine of his 15 starts returning double-figures.
Meanwhile, Arnautovic welcomes former club Stoke to the London Stadium in a proverbial six-pointer.
The Austrian delivered 16 points in a 3-0 win over Southampton in his previous home match – the third time he’s managed 15 or more points in his last ten league outings.
