Who you choose to give the captaincy armband to is the most significant decision an FPL manager makes every week.
It’s where your Gameweek often succeeds or fails, how your rank rockets or plummets, or sometimes can represent salvation when everything else has gone catastrophically wrong.
In advance of every Gameweek, I’ll be providing you with 3 (or maybe more, depending on the situation) key candidates to consider as your FPL captain.
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For Gameweek 2, I think it comes down to two key picks – it’s as simple as that – and maybe one more to consider outside of that.
Erling Haaland (Man City)
- Opposition: Bournemouth, home
- Price: £11.6m
A brace for the Norwegian superstar against West Ham silenced the critics after his blank in the Community Shield. He’s the real deal. His second goal, which featured a freakish burst of pace to create and score (with aplomb) his 1v1 from a Kevin De Bruyne through ball, was particularly eye-catching.
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Despite Bournemouth managing to keep Aston Villa at bay for the opening weekend, I still think that City – sporting an innovative 2-3-5 system in attack that David Moyes admitted meant that West Ham “couldn’t get near them" – will have far too much for the Cherries.
That can only mean one thing: goals for the star man who has amassed 2.6 xG in 2 games in English football.
As I intended when I started the season with him, he’s my captain this week – and managers are already flocking to join me it seems, with Haaland already having risen in price to £11.6m
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Opposition: Crystal Palace, home
- Price: £13.0m
My captain pick last week did the business against Fulham. Despite a quiet game, Salah managed to emerge with a goal and an assist for 12 points which continued the ludicrous opening day run I highlighted.
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This week he’s of course in with a shout for the armband against a Crystal Palace side who did perform decently in the stats despite losing 2-0 to Arsenal last Friday. They matched the Gunners in terms of expected goals, but were undone by a set piece lapse and an unfortunate own goal.
Liverpool and Salah could well outscore Man City and Haaland, but the odds would seem to be in the favour of the men in blue this week so I’m going to back them. Nevertheless, he’s still a fine pick if you don’t have Haaland (or another option) or are simply fancying the Egyptian more.
Joao Cancelo (Man City)
- Opposition: Bournemouth, home
- Price: £7.0m
Suggesting captaining a defender is perhaps too “out there” as a pick for some but Man City’s no7 could still provide an option if you’re without Haaland but fancy going with a Sky Blue player, or if you just want to do something different.
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Cancelo got a petulant yellow card on the weekend but still got a couple of bonus points thanks to his passing range. Last season, he also got 6 double digit hauls – 2nd among defenders behind Trent.
Those big hauls came in games against markedly inferior opposition for the most part. If we expect City to beat Bournemouth comfortably, then the Portuguese represents a potential option if you’re minded to march to a different beat than the majority this weekend.
Each gameweek, Tom from Who Got The Assist? FPL podcast will be bringing you tips, transfer recommendations and all the advice you need to win your mini league.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Fantasy Football, Fantasy Premier League, Manchester City, Liverpool, Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Joao Cancelo