Friday continues with our pre-Gameweek members’ article, checking out the leading captaincy candidates for the upcoming round of matches.

We start by assessing the form of the key players in our Captain Poll, then move to the Opta numbers and Rate My Team (RMT) ratings before considering a differential or two ahead of Gameweek 36.

The Captain Poll

Earning 42% of the votes, Harry Kane holds a comfortable lead over Golden Boot rival Mohamed Salah (26%) in our Gameweek 36 Captain Poll.

Both have very favourable home matches up next, with Kane earning more new owners than any player in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ahead of Monday night’s home clash with Watford.

With just four matches left to overhaul the Egyptian’s five-goal advantage in the race for the Golden Boot, Kane has struggled for form of late, netting just once – excluding the “goal” at Stoke – in the last six Gameweeks.

However, the Hornets have clearly struggled against tough opponents on the road – they have played four of the current top six away from home, conceding three or more goals each time.

Certainly, there are options other than Kane for those keen to back the north London outfit.

Four goals in as many appearances makes Christian Eriksen Spurs’ form player, while Son Heung-min has produced more double-digit home hauls than Kane (five to four) and served up two goals and an assist at home to Watford last season.

Salah, meanwhile, welcomes the league’s worst defence to Anfield as Liverpool go head-to-head with a Stoke side that has conceded 65 goals.

With 14 sets of double-digits already to his name – including a 13-point haul as a sub against the Potters at the bet365 – the Egyptian’s appeal is only dented due to the concerns over his minutes ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Italy.

Nonetheless, as evidenced by his two goals and pair of assists against Roma on Tuesday, Salah is relentless at Anfield – he has scored in each of his last seven home league matches and last failed to find the net at home on Boxing Day.

Manchester City pair Gabriel Jesus (6%) and Raheem Sterling (4%) are regarded as the best of the rest for a visit to a West Ham defence that’s second only to Stoke for goals against (63).

Second and third respectively for transfers in this week, both have scored three goals in the last five Gameweeks, with Sterling just edging it for assists by four to three.

He’s also far more explosive than the Brazilian, producing nine double-digit hauls – more than any team-mate – to Jesus’ two.

David Silva’s average of 7.5 points per away match could also turn heads. Six of the playmaker’s nine goals and seven of his 11 assists have arrived on the road.

Romelu Lukaku looks to condemn Arsenal to a sixth successive away defeat on Sunday afternoon.

The Man United striker has upped his consistency at Old Trafford, supplying a goal or assist in five of his previous six home outings.

Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez welcomes his former club on the back of a goal and three assists in his last three league appearances, with the Chilean also on the scoresheet in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Spurs.

With a goal or assists in six successive Gameweeks, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks the Gunners’ likeliest source of points. The Gabon international is expected to return to the teamsheet as Arsene Wenger rotates due to the Europa League clashes with Atletico Madrid.