We’re having a look at the best captaincy picks ahead of this week’s round of fixtures following a number of teams’ first outings in Europe this week. Here are the FPL GW5 best captain choices!
Our surprise pick for GW4 was Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, and the Japanese international and his teammates were unable to break down a stubborn Ipswich defence as they drew 0-0 despite having multiple golden opportunities.
A 3-point return for Mitoma was disappointing considering his low price of just 6.6m and the Seagulls dominance throughout the 90 minutes. This week is another opportunity to gain points on your fellow FPL competitors, so let’s get into the action!
FPL GW5 Best Captain Options: The Usual Suspects
1. Mo Salah (12.7m)
After a below-par performance last week at home to Nottingham Forest, I expect the Egyptian to be on top form when he comes up against Bournemouth in Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Liverpool’s joint top goalscorer this season has played against the Cherries 10 times in his career and has 10 goal contributions (9 goals, 1 assist), so he is no stranger to causing havoc against the opposition.
Having looked sharp without getting on the scoresheet in the San Siro in midweek, he will be keen to add to the 3 goals he has already bagged this season and will want to keep goal machine Erling Haaland in sight in the goalscoring charts.
2. Cole Palmer (10.6m)
Despite a late winner for his side last week, Cole Palmer returned a disappointing 3 points in GW4. FPL players will begin to contemplate selling the Chelsea midfielder as the weight of his hefty price tag would open up numerous alternative opportunities.
Last week, it was the second time this season that the Englishman failed to make a contribution to the only goal of the game. Palmer is still playing well and looking dangerous, however, and there’s a possibility he gets back to his best this weekend as they make the short trip to London rivals West Ham.
Palmer has only lined out against the Hammers once for Chelsea but got on the scoresheet in their 5-0 demolition at the end of last season.
Signs are promising in the early weeks of the season that the Blues may not be relying on Palmer to contribute as much as last season, with the likes of Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, and Noni Madueke, among others, able to take the burden off the former City man’s shoulders.
3. Erling Haaland (15.2m)
It’s fair to say, Erling Haaland has started this season in unstoppable form; notching 9 goals in his first 4 GWs is pretty special, but this week he comes up against possibly the league’s tighest defensive partnership in William Saliba & Gabriel.
It’s going to be a real test for the Norwegian, and the chance of a stalemate between the teams with the importance of the match is a real possibility.
Even though captaining the leagues top scorer ahead of GW5 looks like a ‘no-brainer’, I would steer clear of captaining anyone in this match. Even though it is early days in the league, the magnitude of the result in terms of their league position feels huge.
Having a total of 54 FPL points at this early stage of the season is very impressive but will the 24-year-old be able to add to his total this weekend? We don’t think so.
4. Bukayo Saka (10.0m)
Still yet to return a blank this season, Saka’s pinpoint corner provided an assist for Gabriel in the only goal in their crucial North London Derby victory last weekend.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Gunners as they face title rivals Man City at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
Both matches last season between the pair were cagey affairs, and I can see this one following a similar pattern. The two teams & managers know each other so well and have a knack of cancelling each other out.
Saka only has 2 goals in 10 appearances against Pep Guardiola’s side, so it may be best to sit this one out as far as captaining the winger goes as England’s two best team’s battle it out.
FPL GW5 Best Captain Options: The Surprise Pick
James Maddison (7.5m)
Expected points: 5.3
Having returned to former club Coventry City midweek to play in the EFL cup, James Maddison looked close to being back to his brilliant best after being introduced as a sub for the final half an hour.
Up until now, he may not have grabbed the headlines this season, but he has quietly but effectively gone about his business and has 14 FPL points after the first 4 GWs.
The majority of his points have been amassed from his 2 assists in the first couple of weeks of the season. After being left out of England’s European squad in the summer, Maddison will feel he has plenty to prove this season.
His record against this weeks opponents, Brentford, is only second to Watford when it comes to his best return. He has 9 goal contributions (4 goals, 5 assists) in 10 appearances against the Bees so we’re expecting at least 1 goal contribution when they take to the field Saturday afternoon.
There have been signs over the last couple of weeks that Maddison is approaching his best, which is a good sign for Spurs supporters, and we think giving him the captain’s armband for GW5 is a good option.
