Captain Obvious: Week 21

Opponent – Sheffield United (house)

Each of those Liverpool stars belong on the captaincy shortlist, although Mane is clearly the extra engaging possibility of the 2, coming off a greater efficiency in opposition to Wolves. The end on his match-winning objective was elegant and he’s exhibiting no indicators of slowing down what’s shaping as much as be his career-best season. Each took two pictures in Week 20 with each hitting the goal on one in every of them. Salah, although, was much less stingy than he was in his earlier recreation, supplying three key passes to Mane’s one. Liverpool are going to attain greater than as soon as in most video games, and can look to take action in opposition to a stable Sheffield United protection, who held the Reds to a low scoring Zero-1 win at Bramall Lane earlier this season. 

Given each went the total 90 minutes in opposition to Wolves, each would appear equally vulnerable to a relaxation in opposition to the Blades. There’s excellent news and unhealthy information for these nervous about both of those choices not beginning this weekend. The excellent news, they’re enjoying the one fixture on Thursday, so they’re given an additional day of restoration in comparison with most golf equipment heading into this spherical. The unhealthy information – they then have an FA Cup recreation in opposition to their derby rivals Everton lower than 72 hours in a while Sunday. With a watch on taking each trophy they will and the league title trying all however sewn up, together with their impeccable house file and loads of choices like Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri to show to, one might see how this is perhaps a recreation the place one or each begin life on the bench. Additionally they have some assessments in league play instantly after the FA Cup tie, with video games in opposition to Tottenham and Manchester United back-to-back. Simply to emphasise, this schedule doesn’t imply it’s a provided that one or both participant are rested, however it does create some logical hypothesis that it might occur.

Kevin De Bruyne (10.5m)

Possession % – 50% (final week, 48.2%)

Season factors – 139 (7 Gs, 14 As, 19 BPs)

Opponent – Everton (house)

In my final column, I had De Bruyne on the shortlist regardless of having but performed his Week 19 fixture. Hopefully, you caught Pep Guardiola mentioning after that recreation that the Belgian was subbed off early to protect him for the match in opposition to Sheffield United. If I had that data for Week 20, I might have been much more bullish on him within the captaincy argument and, as you could have learn within the intro to this week’s column, I used to be all set to get his massive factors haul in opposition to the Blades doubled…till I did not. De Bruyne’s stats are simply ridiculous, significantly over the previous seven video games. Everyone knows he is likely one of the best creator of possibilities on the planet, and his league-lead in assists is testomony to that reality. However, he’s getting loads of possibilities to attain himself, taking a mean of 4 pictures per recreation over the past seven video games. That may be very wholesome for the league’s prime forwards, nevermind a midfielder.

So, the consistency, a house recreation, a giant haul within the final spherical…all the pieces statistically is making De Bruyne appear like a lovely armband possibility in opposition to the Toffees. The one concern, like each different participant who began in Week 20 is – will he get rested? My very assured guess is “no manner”. Manchester Metropolis are additionally concerned in FA Cup motion this weekend, however as an alternative of enjoying one other top-flight membership like Liverpool having to play Everton, the Residents might be enjoying at house in opposition to Port Vale – a midtable aspect in League Two. You’ll be able to guess your backside greenback that recreation might be one the place all gamers within the squad who’ve been non-starters most, if not all, of the season, might be given this recreation to expire and see some aggressive motion whereas the likes of De Bruyne could also be omitted of the squad solely. If checked out that manner, then De Bruyne can have ten days to get better between video games, so anticipate him to begin on New 12 months’s Day.

Harry Kane (11m)

Possession % –  20.7% (final week, 20.6%)

Season factors –  102 (11 Gs, 2 As, 16 BPs)

Opponent – Southampton (away)

The honeymoon interval for José Mourinho, if there ever was one, has light away as Tottenham as soon as once more performed under their expectation ranges, taking just one level off of last-place Norwich in Week 20. It needs to be mentioned, it comes as no shock to me that he has scored in consecutive video games for the primary time since Weeks 6 and seven, because the absence of Heung-Min Son has required the English striker to choose up the slack. He had a number of key passes and a number of pictures on track in opposition to the Canaries, the final time he did that was within the 5-Zero win over Burnley during which he scored twice and had an help. Sure, it appears Kane could be counted on in opposition to sides within the backside half of the desk and Southampton is a kind of sides, although to their credit score they’ve been enjoying significantly better in latest weeks.

That mentioned, Kane scored in opposition to the Saints already this season within the reverse fixture, so I’ve each cause to incorporate him on the shortlist for Week 21. The one lingering query, and sure it’s a reoccurring theme, is whether or not or not there may be any likelihood of a relaxation. Nicely, you could have remembered that I included Dele Alli together with Kane within the final column and this week, he’s nowhere to be discovered. I believe Mourinho might make some adjustments and should hand Alli a relaxation following the underwhelming draw at Norwich. Kane, for me although, appears essentially the most reliable outfield participant to begin for Spurs. The protection wants addressing, however till they Mourinho can discover a solution to repair that, he must lean on his principal provider of objectives. Spurs play Middlesbrough within the FA Cup on Sunday, which appears the correct time at hand Kane a relaxation.

Who’s been left off the shortlist and why…

Tammy Abraham (7.9m)

Possession % – 32.5% (final week, 36.1%)

Season factors – 110 (12 Gs, three As, 20 BPs)

Opponent – Brighton (away)

I’ve obtained 5 names on the shortlist and I see a big drop-off after that. Abraham might be the closet to cracking the shortlist and I suppose that makes him the “better of the remaining”, however I do have my points with him. Whereas he did rating in Week 20, the belief issue will not be all the way in which again there for me as a prime tier armband choice, and that goes for the remainder of Chelsea’s belongings. That mentioned, though he performed the total 90 minutes within the earlier two video games making a 3rd begin in per week slightly dicey, it’s troublesome to think about that they are going to make too many adjustments, amongst their every-week starters anyway, following the large derby win over Arsenal and an opportunity to play their fringe gamers, Michy Batshuayi for instance, within the FA Cup house recreation in opposition to Nottingham Forest on the weekend. Frank Lampard must get the aspect again on observe and preserve their lead within the prime 4, so I’m anticipating an Abraham begin but additionally ready to see him subbed off after 70 minutes.

*Honorable Point out – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial

All three of those choices might be squaring off face to face when the Gunners host the Pink Devils in what I suppose might be thought of the crown jewel fixture of New 12 months’s Day. I’m anticipating all three to begin on this massive recreation – Rashford performed only a bit over an hour in Week 19 so he has had some relaxation, however did seemed fairly gassed when he scored for United on the finish of their win over Burnley. In the meantime, Martial is in prime kind with three objectives in his final two and Aubameyang is as very important to his membership’s possibilities as anyone participant most likely is that this season, so his inclusion would appear protected. It’s simply one other a kind of tough-to-call matchups for me, the place all three might dip into the factors or all go quiet. Rashford’s file in opposition to the Massive Six, and United typically’s file, has been stable, however whereas Arsenal could also be thought of a member of the Massive Six, they have not seemed it recently, or for a lot of the season for that matter, having taken simply two factors from their final 4. United appear to have extra confidence in the meanwhile however, in a vacuum, I believe Aubameyang is essentially the most reliable captaincy possibility of the trio. It is a gamble on both one, however one you’re allowed to make if have a robust intestine feeling. The upside is, the armband fee amongst FPL managers for these choices ought to be fairly low, so you may have a pleasant potential differential in your fingers.

Hit me up on Twitter @FuzzyWarbles and let me know your ideas on who you’ve got nominated for captain and why. Good luck along with your choice this weekend and should your arrows be inexperienced.