FPL Question Time – What to do with the Triple Captain chip

The Gameweek 36 deadline is at 19:00 BST tonight and one question in particular seems to be dominating Fantasy Premier League managers’ thoughts: what to do with the Triple Captain chip?

The majority of the FPL Question Time requests were based around this subject so we put the issue to each of our panel in the form of three questions submitted by our users.

We also hear their opinions on Manchester United, Spurs and differentials.

Who’s on the panel this week?

Ben Crabtree – A former winner of Fantasy Premier League, Evertonian Ben finished first in the overall rankings in the 2016/17 season.

FPL Family – Lee and Sam are the well-known married couple who play Fantasy football together and run a YouTube channel documenting their thoughts. They have appeared on the Official FPL show this season.

G-Whizz – One of our very own moderators on the site, who currently has an overall rank of 5,713 going into Gameweek 36.

Question 1 – Ben

Sam: “For those of us still with the Triple Captain left to play, who would tempt you in the last three games of the season?”

Ben: “For those with Triple Captains left, I’d advise to look at Man City’s and Liverpool’s fixtures as a starting point and see if there are any plum fixtures to take advantage of.

“It won’t take long to see Liverpool’s next game is Huddersfield at home which is most likely the easiest game of the season for any team. With their Champions League fixture five days later, Klopp has already stated he’s not looking to rest players for this.

“Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah become the stand-out options. Mane has been more consistent over the medium term but only has one return in four games so Salah may have the greater influence on this game out of the two of them after four returns over the same period.

“Andrew Robertson or Trent Alexander-Arnold may even be worth a shout given that they are almost certainly starting on six points and will likely spend a lot of time in the final third.

“If the question is literally aimed at myself, I wouldn’t be picking any Liverpool players. My attention would turn to Eden Hazard’s possible last game at Stamford Bridge in GW37 against Watford, or take a punt on the final day of the season.

“There are often big scores on this day where attacking players cash in on tired legs and minds elsewhere. Wilfried Zaha at home to Bournemouth motivated by enticing a move? Romelu Lukaku at home to a possibly relegated Cardiff, remembering that final-day hat-trick?

“Strangely, the City options don’t encourage me greatly due to seeing their fixtures as playing out quite tightly. Maybe if Brighton are safe, Aguero or Sterling could haul but I don’t see City scoring four-plus goals in any of their games – unlike Liverpool against Huddersfield.

“To sum up, I would advise people to use your Triple Captain on Salah versus Huddersfield but as I don’t pick Liverpool players, I’d personally wait until Gameweek 38 and either go Raheem Sterling or Zaha.”

Question 2 – Lee

Vic Tailor: “Who to triple captain? Mane or Salah?”

Lee: “This must be THE question of the weekend. I don’t think that we should look anywhere other than Anfield for our captain choices this week. Huddersfield have conceded 18 goals in their last six matches, against teams with far less potency up front than the Reds.

“Mohamed Salah’s FPL points over the last few weeks have tended to come from the sublime or the ridiculous. The goal against Chelsea was a serious Goal of the Season contender and the assist for the foul on him at Cardiff was at the opposite end of that particular spectrum.

“That said, we shouldn’t overlook him – Salah is in a confident mood of late and the famous smile has returned. I don’t think we need to look too far into his midweek trip to New York, either. I would imagine that he flies far more comfortably than the rest of us and Jurgen Klopp’s comments in the pre-match press conference suggested he had no problem with the trip and that the Egyptian would be ready for Friday.

“Salah’s penchant for drawing defenders towards him lately has been creating significant space and time in which both Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino have done damage. Watford at Anfield a few weeks ago was a good example of this. No points for Salah, but plenty for Mané on that occasion.

“Mane has scored ten goals in as many games at Anfield and he loves playing in front of the Scouse faithful. In fact, in the last four home games, he’s been more clinical than Salah, with a goal every 69 minutes and a shot accuracy of 42.9%.

“Salah’s been more creative, however, creating a chance every 51 minutes – supporting the theory than Salah’s causing the havoc and Mané’s bagging the points. I’d expect both to score well, but it’s Mané that gets the armband for me.”

Question 3 – G-Whizz

Boleyn Boy: “Is the Triple Captain chip best used for Man City’s fixture against Leicester in Gameweek 37? They seem less likely to rotate their team given that they are out of the Champions League.”

G-Whizz: “That may be the case but personally, I would go for any team playing Huddersfield. As Gameweeks 33 and 34 have shown, they are ripe for picking:

GW33: Jamie Vardy 16 points (v Huddersfield)
GW34: Lucas Moura 21 points (v Huddersfield)

“The Doosra Stat spreadsheet shows Liverpool at a whopping 946DS, a season-high for any team. Manchester City are back on 650DS.

Match odds:
Liverpool win 1/11
Manchester City 1/7

Clean sheet odds:
Liverpool 61%
Manchester City 51%

“We all know Manchester City can tear any team apart and can quite easily rack up three or four goals in a game. It’s no wonder they lead the xG table but I haven’t seen that free-scoring, swash-buckling, steamrolling style over the past few weeks and so for me, and taking the eye test into account, all roads lead to Liverpool. As the stats show, they have the easiest fixture of the two.

“Even when you look at the opponents themselves, over the last six matches Huddersfield have conceded 18 goals compared to just six from Leicester.

“Even up front, they have only mustered five goals compared to Leicester, who have hit the net 13 times over the same period.

“Liverpool’s home form isn’t too shabby either and with a league title in the balance, I don’t really see Klopp making wholesale changes. Minutes may be managed, yes, but it’s whether you can put it on the right Liverpool (or if you disagree Manchester City) asset to reap the maximum reward.

“For Triple Captainers, surely you couldn’t wish for a better fixture match-up? Even Liverpool’s defenders are capable of a haul of some sort, in my opinion, especially as the clean sheet is practically nailed-on.

“If you don’t use it now with an opportunity such as this, when will you? The only other option would be a City asset in Gameweek 38 against Brighton at the Amex.”

Question 4 – Ben

Thor Nado: “If you are currently second in your mini-league, which differentials would you choose for the last three Gameweeks to catch up?”

Ben: “I think one of the greater considerations for transfers at this time of the season is to look at players that have something to play for and factor in opposition teams who have nothing left to play for.

“Assuming title-chasing players are not differentials, the next level of teams that have something to play for are the four gunning for Champions League spots. Although none of them look like they want those spots, they know they have just three games to make something happen.

“Eden Hazard would be my top target if my mini-league leader didn’t own him as he’s on great form.

“Alexandre Lacazette is probably the best Arsenal option but only has two double-digit scores and they were a long time ago, so he may lack the points power to ensure you overtake the leader. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shown explosiveness but his game-time makes him a big risk and would only be an option if on a limited budget.

“Christian Eriksen is a good Spurs pick with a great combination of form and fixtures. A rest could be imminent with their Champions League semi-final upcoming but a few injuries and a necessity to win Premiership games should keep him in the team.

“Man Utd could offer Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial or Jesse Lingard as differential options but at this moment, it is difficult to say whether any of them start next game so I’d leave them as Gameweek 37 or 38 options after seeing what happens next game.

“Lower down the league, I find two main options. Wilfried Zaha has good fixtures, solid form and is motivated by a move to a bigger club. He could be explosive if teams are in end-of-season mode.

“Glenn Murray would also tempt me as someone who can often picks up bonus points from scoring one goal and is often reliable in pressure situations like Brighton are in now. Arsenal away may show as a “four” on the FDR but the generosity of their defence would make this and their upcoming Newcastle fixture as good games for Murray to help you claim first spot.”

Question 5 – Lee

Chris Hamblett: “If Manchester United again show no spark again Chelsea, should we still bring in Paul Pogba or Marcus Rashford for their last two fixtures? A classic ‘form over fixture’ conundrum.”

Lee: “Have the wheels come off already at Old Trafford? The ‘anyone-but-Mourinho’ feeling has worn off and Ole’s finally finding out what he has to work with. With scathing criticism from pundits and former players, I don’t think I can invest in them at present.

“That said, if the majority are avoiding, then cunning managers may just see them as a route to nick their mini-leagues at the death from their rivals.

“I don’t see a massive rush for Marcus Rashford or Romelu Lukaku at present, so bringing them in and captaining versus Huddersfield, for example, might be the brave move you need for top spot. If you’re chasing, they could be nice differentials.

“Their form is poor, but thankfully for them, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal are all not too far behind them. No-one wants to achieve fourth place this year, it seems, and United’s final two fixtures may just see them over the line – but it’s hardly convincing stuff at the moment and for that reason, I think there are better ways to spend your fantasy millions.”

Question 6 – G-Whizz

Joe Golby aka Sif: “Given Spurs’ progression in the Champions League and thin squad available, is the Eriksen/Son double up still a good idea for the run-in?”

G-Whizz: “I have both and there has been plenty of chatter and noise surrounding a rest for Christian Eriksen. As this Gameweek showed, you just can’t ever dismiss the Dane.

“Advice to give to answer this question isn’t easy as it’s not a case of one size fits all. Everyone is going to have to look at their own teams and decide for themselves if they want to carry on with it or change.

“Your overall rank, whether you’re chasing or leading, is something that will need to be taken into consideration and then weighing all that up against what you could miss out on with West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton to come. Unless I hear from a press conference that he won’t play I’m happy to keep for now.”