Captain Sensible

Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 1?

Fantasy Premier League managers are considering captains from three different clubs ahead of the Gameweek 1 deadline.

Liverpool host Norwich on Friday night, Manchester City travel to West Ham on Saturday lunch-time and Spurs conclude that day’s action by hosting Aston Villa.

For the first Gameweek of the new season, the majority of the captain attention is on these three games.

We’ve analysed as much data as we can to assess the individual potential of the key players, as well as the quality of defences they are going up against.

As this uses data from the Fantasy Football Scout Members Area, only those who have signed up for the 2019/20 season can access the full article.

However, non-members can still enjoy our analysis of the results of our captain poll.

It is also worth clarifying for those used to Captain Sensible articles from recent seasons that we can only start to look at the last four (or so) Gameweeks once we have more data in the bank for 2019/20.

Captain Poll

The results of the captain poll as of Thursday night

The poll for Gameweek 1 is perhaps one of the most one-sided we’ve seen in quite some time.

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) has absolutely run away with it, securing 62.8% of the vote at the time of writing.

That is not surprising at all considering the Egyptian has been the top-scoring FPL asset in both of his seasons at Liverpool.

He was especially deadly at Anfield last season too, scoring 13 of his 22 goals at home (59.1%).

Meanwhile, Norwich arrive in the Premier League with concerns over their defence.

They conceded 57 goals in 46 matches last season and recorded clean sheets in just 28% of those.

Furthermore, the Canaries’ defence has suffered injury problems during pre-season, Christoph Zimmerman (£4.5m), Timm Klose (£4.5m) and Grant Hanley (£4.0m) all missing various summer friendlies with knocks.

In his Thursday press conference, Daniel Farke revealed that only the latter of those three would be fit for Gameweek 1.

Kane is the most popular differential option this week

Way off in second place in the poll is Harry Kane (£11.0m) who starts the new season at home to newly-promoted Aston Villa.

They shipped a total of 61 goals during their promotion-winning campaign and recorded just 12 clean sheets, the tenth-best in the Championship.

That record has obviously handed optimism to those looking at Kane as a differential this weekend.

The Spurs forward has never scored in Gameweek 1 of a Premier League season though.

Sterling faces a trip to West Ham on Saturday lunch time

Raheem Sterling (£12.0m) sits even further down the ranking with the backing of just 6.4% in our poll at the time of writing.

He faces a West Ham defence that did not inspire confidence in 2018/19 and upon his last visit to the London Stadium, he came away with a goal and an assist.

Manchester City generally have a good record at West Ham too, scoring at least four times in each of their last four visits to the Hammers.

For that reason, if he starts, Sergio Aguero (£12.0m) could reward the 1.9% of managers who are handing him the captain’s armband for Gameweek 1.

However, it must be said that his late return to pre-season from the Copa America, and his lack of minutes in the Community Shield final could suggest he could take up only a substitute’s role.

It says a lot about Aguero’s Fantasy stock right now that both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) won more support in the Captain Poll than him.

The Arsenal forward sits in fourth place in the poll with an admittedly small following of just 2.7%.

Arsenal are preparing for a trip to Newcastle, whose pre-season has been less than smooth sailing after Rafa Benitez left the club over the summer.

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold currently has 2.3% support in the poll, his backers putting faith in his 14 attacking returns and Liverpool’s 21 clean sheets last season.

Sadio Mané (£11.5m), Callum Wilson (£8.0m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) and Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) are the only other options backed by more than 1%.

MORE TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS CONTENT

Arsenal | Aston Villa (manager) | Aston Villa (defence) | Aston Villa (attack) | Bournemouth | Brighton | Burnley | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Leicester | Liverpool | Man City | Man United | Newcastle | Norwich (manager) | Norwich (defence) | Norwich (attack) | Sheffield United (manager) | Sheffield United (defence) | Sheffield United (attack) | Southampton | Spurs | Watford | West Ham | Wolves

3,539 Comments Post a Comment
  1. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who will score more points this weekend?
    A) Kane
    B) Sterling

    1. GE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. Steve Stiffler
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      b

    3. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think Kane's going to go big and there'll be WC's come GW3

      1. adstomko
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Same. I've selected Aubameyang for GW1 and GW2, but Kane for GW3

    4. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I hope A and B. But more A.

  2. LSK
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Sigurdsson and Fraser
    B) KDB and Trossard

    1. GE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  3. trinzoo
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Why no love for Deulofeu (hes super explosive) if he's ready to play ?

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I guess cause he's been out injured. Garcia he's ready.

  4. BOATIES FC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Does it make more sense to set the defence up for the first six game weeks , or for the first half of the season?

    For example KWP Ake and Zouma rotate well playing any 2 from three to go with Robbo and VVD, plus i think they will all play for the first few weeks which means I have a decent defender on the bench, even if they have a poor fixture.
    Downside is KWP might be rotated when Aurier is back, Zouma might lose his please when Rudiger is fit , if Christensen is preferred and I wouldn't want Ake when Bournemouths fixtures turn...

    The other alternative is somthing like Maguire Zinchenko/Coleman Rico, which may not score as much points earlier , but shouldn't need as many transfers down the line, but if Rico doesn't play bench the bench is a lot weaker.

    the actual players above don't matter as much as what everyone thinks of the concept if anyone has any ideas..

    1. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would look for the first 4 to 6 weeks, but with nailed defenders. There will always be a difficult fixture somewhere, so choose the best nailed defenders in the best defensive teams.

    2. lugs
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      that's what i'm doing, having 5mil defenders from top 6 clubs is a gift i can't refuse

      1. BOATIES FC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        thanks both, I'm leaning towards going for the 5m defenders for a start

  5. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    TAA or Robertson to pair with VVD?

    1. GE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Robbie for safety

    2. Teror
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Robertson for security of starts, TAA for the potentially higher points ceiling

    3. Agger
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Robertson every time for me. Remove the headache of TAA potentially being subbed or benched for Gomez in big games like last season

      1. trinzoo
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It won't happen in the first few months though

        1. Teror
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Don't Liv play in the club world cup in September? Could happen then.

          1. Teror
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Oops my bad it's in December

  6. Agger
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I have Pogba in my team.

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yessss lad

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Good pick and going under the radar

  7. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Coin toss?

    A) Bilva + Wood/Jota

    OR

    B) Zaha + Jimenez

    Cannot decide by myself.

    1. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Bilva looks a much better pick then Zaha, especially if he has the arse

  8. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) King, Vardy & Dunk
    B) Wilson, Jota & Zinchenko

    1. FPL MAN 123
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      b

  9. theBoose
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope Henderson
    TAA Digne Montoya Rico ...
    Salah KDB Perez Dendoncker ...
    Wilson King ...

    A) Vardy + Barkley + VVD
    B) Kane + McGinn/Robinson + Zinch

  10. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    FRIENDLY ADVICE

    Sort out and save your team 1 hour before the deadline because FPL site/serves could crash.

    1. Evil Genius
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      That never happens...

    2. Teror
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Are you threatening me?

  11. revelc
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Walker & Fraser
    B) Zinch & Richarlison

  12. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I’m now waivering on double pool defence:

    A) VVD & King (4-4-2)
    B) Trossard & Wilson (3-5-2)

    Thoughts appreciated

    1. Foogle
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  13. Link
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Final few decisions for me.

    Rotating 4.5s or Zouma + Rico? (rico covers gw1 nicely)

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Rotating 4.5s. Chelsea's team have been decimated and they have a newbie manager. I expect them to finish 6th this season.

  14. owen1251
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Stuck on 4 completely different options, Help?

    Option A
    Lloris
    Robertson TAA Zinchenko Digne KWP
    Salah Sterling
    Jota King Vardy

    Option B
    Ederson
    KWP Robertson TAA Zinchenko
    Moura Salah KDB Lamela
    Wilson Vardy

    Option C
    Alisson
    Zinchenko AWB KWP Chambers
    Zaha Salah Fraser KDB
    Vardy Kane

    Option D (Bench Boost)
    Alisson Lloris
    Ake AWB VVD Zinchenko KWP
    Fraser Barkley Sigurdsson KDB Moura
    Wilson Vardy Origi

    1. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      if I'm honest I don't like any, C looks the worst though

  15. EspanYOLO
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Finally sorted a team. Had such a rubbish season last year I lost all motivation for FPL.

    Have a bad bench as will probably early wildcard.

    Team below:

    Pickford (Button)

    Duffy Digne Robinson (kelly, Lundstrom)

    Salah (C) Sterling (VC) debryne Martial McGinn

    Jota King (Brewster)

    Thoughts?

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Get a better bench so you don’t have to automatically early wildcard?

      1. EspanYOLO
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah it's tempting. I do really want all those players though. I think having both KDB and Sterling with Salah and some premium defenders will be a winning start.

        1. BOATIES FC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          downgrade martial to perez and and upgrade duffy and or upgrade kelly or lundstrum?

          1. EspanYOLO
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Martial has been playing OOP in pre season though, I reckon he could be amazing this season. Perez doesn't excite me at all.

  16. Foogle
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) TAA/Robbo + Coleman
    B) VVD + Digne

    1. Clem Fandango
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      VVD + Digne for me

  17. Ashy96
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    RMT Please - This is the most happy I have been with it.

    Ryan Button
    VVD TAA Digne (Rico, Lundstram)
    Salah Perez Pedro KDB (Deddoncker)
    Auba King Wood
    £0 ITB

  18. Mufc123
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Ryan
    Digne, robbo, zinchenko,van dijk
    Kdb , salah, grealish, b silva
    Kane, king,

    1. Mufc123
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      RMT??

    2. Ashy96
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      g2g

    3. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      looks strong

  19. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which option is better:
    A: Siggy Wilson and TAA
    B: Vardy Fraser and VVD

    1. Fnug
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Coin toss situation, mate

  20. How I met your Mata
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Greenwood or Wickham as third sub(Greenwood likely to drop in price)

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      How’s on earth can you predict he is likely to drop in price

      1. How I met your Mata
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        He is not going to start and he's highly owned, players like this usually drop

    2. moz_1983
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Greenwood likely to drop slightly, but much more likely to get minutes and the occasional returns.

    3. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Both mud picks. Get starting 6m that have chance to score and grab the 4.5m if they do something. Does no one remember Macheda

      1. Teror
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Does nobody remember Negredo? Wesley and Joelinton will get 5 goals this season.

  21. Rossonero
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Seeing a lot of post about Martial beeing a great pick when he plays but the minutes were problem with him in the past.

    I just can't see the logic in this...if he was great when he played (so he must have got a lot of goals and assists if he was great) then why would he be rotated then and had problem with getting minutes???

    From what i remember he did have some good streaks of few games but then goes completely missing and looking totaly uninterested in next few games and that was big problem with him. Stating that he was great every time he got minutes is just wrong.

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      because lukaku more senior player and rashy is the poster boy. his stats are great

      1. Rossonero
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Sorry but i don't buy it...if he was that great there is no way he would sit on the bench while United were loosing game after game and miss out on CL. If he plays every game he is good value for 7.5mil but still way to early to predict how will he and United start the season

        1. Teror
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Considering you only have preseason to go by, which is usually has no bearing on reality, you can't really predict how any player or team will start the season. Everton had a brilliant preseason last year and then they were pony when the actual league started.

          1. Rossonero
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            I agree that beside Pool and City all the rest are shooting in the dark...i was more reffering to people claiming that when Martial plays he delivers which to me logicaly can't be true...if he was delivering when played he wouldn't be rotated and warming the bench then.

      2. Teror
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yes arguably with Lukaku gone there's less risk to Martial. After all they've only got one senior striker now: Rashford. Sanchez could feasibly challenge both the Rash and Martial but he's shown no signs of doing so yet.

  22. NestorC
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Was set on Haller but after another strong perfomance from Jota/Jimenez I’m having second thoughts. Any advice?

    1. Boz
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'm avoiding wolves for now. Europa league fixtures always lead to poor league form

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      In the same boat. Have actually considered both too!

    3. NestorC
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cheers

  23. laveshp
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hi gents!

    RMT Please 🙂

    Draft A:

    Ryan
    Robertson ⦁ Zichenko ⦁ WalkerPeters
    Milojevich ⦁ Siggurdson ⦁ Salah ⦁ Sterling ⦁ Lucas Moura
    King ⦁ Wilson

    Subs: Button ⦁ Rico ⦁ Lundstram ⦁ Wickam

    The Double Liverpool Defence Draft: (Draft B)

    Ryan
    Robertson ⦁ Zichenko ⦁ Van Djik
    Robinson (OoP SHU MID) ⦁ Siggurdson ⦁ Salah ⦁ Sterling ⦁ Lucas Moura
    King ⦁ Wilson

    Subs: Button ⦁ Rico ⦁ Lundstram ⦁ Wickam

    Thank you!! Good luck!

  24. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Please help lads! I think I've gone mad from too much tinkering. One minute I'm happy with my team, the next I'm chopping and changing again, and again and again...

    GTG?
    Ederson (4m)
    Robbo VVD Montoya Zouma (Rico)
    Salah Sterling KDB Robinson Perez
    Wilson (Greenwood Wickham)

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Time for some more tinkering

  25. Boz
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best 6.5 mid? Perez?

    1. Fnug
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think so, yes

    2. moz_1983
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yep

  26. Fnug
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Think I'm set. Only worry is starting Hayden, but you gotta break some eggs I guess. Also going Auba over Kane due to Auba's tasty fixture in GW2. How does it look?

    Pope | (Button)
    TAA | VVD | Digne | A. Smith (Guilbert)
    Salah (c) | Sterling | Fraser | Perez | Hayden
    Auba | (2 x 4,5)

  27. John Colby (Capt)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Christensen v Zouma?
    Who is most likely to be the long-term CB partner of Riddler please? Zouma has played a lot more preseason than his counterpart.

    1. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Chelsea fans in their forum seem to think Christensen.. Most others think zouma. Cointoss.. Though i thjnk it'll boil down to who plays better the first few weeks.. So it's a wait and see.

      1. John Colby (Capt)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers Valar. Desperately need a strong third defender - have TAA and Digne

  28. Lecky Legs FC
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    My squad is all set not template by any means any feedback is welcomed as always lads G2G?

    Foster
    Boly Chilwell Robbo
    Hojberg Moura Sterling Salah
    Adams Auba King

    Subs: Button, Dendoncker, Montoya & Kelly

  29. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Team as is stands

    Ryan (Button)
    Robbo VVD Zinchenko Digne (Lundstram)
    Salah (c) Sterling Moura Maddison (Dendoncker)
    Wilson Jota (Greenwood)

    Would love to have Aubameyang first 2 fixtures and switch to Kane then GW 3 but don;t know who to rid? Any thoughts or G2G?

  30. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who will score more in GW1 and 2 combined?

    A) Aubameyang
    B) Kane