We had a mixed spread of results when it came to our recommended captains in Gameweek 8. Although Heung-Min Son (£9.5m) could not pick up an attacking return against Luton, ending with just 3 points, Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) was on the scoresheet twice vs Brighton, accumulating 15 FPL points, his highest score of the season so far. Those who opted for Ollie Watkins (£8.2m) will have been cursing the woodwork despite him gaining an assist and 5 fantasy points. The Aston Villa striker headed against the post with virtually the last action of the game against Wolves, which would have ensured another big return on the back off his 23-point haul the week before. Although Jarrod Bowen (£7.3m) has consistently racked up points away from home, he suffered a third home blank of the season in Gameweek 8 as West Ham drew 2-2 with Newcastle.
We now look to get off to a fast start post international break and offer our opinions over some of the most enticing captaincy choices on the table for Gameweek 9.
Erling Haaland (£14.0m) – MAN CITY vs Brighton
Having failed to score for two Premier League fixtures running, questions have been asked regarding Erling Haaland, despite him still being the top-scorer in this season’s Premier League by some distance. The Norwegian already has eight goals to his name and his total haul of 55 FPL points is bettered only by two other players. It’s a testament to the expectation thrust upon him by his huge ownership that some won’t be satisfied with Haaland’s numbers so far after eight gameweeks.
However, Haaland’s home record has been very good, he boasts 28 fantasy points across Man City’s three league fixtures played so far at Etihad Stadium, including a 20-point haul against Fulham in Gameweek 4 which saw Haaland record both a hat-trick and an assist. Gameweek 9 opponents Brighton have really struggled defensively over the past few weeks, conceding ten goals across their last three in all competitions. Roberto De Zerbi’s side shipped six to Aston Villa last time out on their travels in the Premier League, so Haaland should certainly be the first port of call when it comes to the Gameweek 9 captaincy.
Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) – LIVERPOOL vs Everton
If Liverpool’s match against Everton wasn’t taking place on Saturday lunchtime, Mohamed Salah could well have given Haaland a run for his money when it comes to the most captained player in Gameweek 9. The Egyptian is proving why every season he is always one of the must-own FPL assets around, despite his high cost. Three of the last four gameweeks have seen Salah accrue a double-figure return of points, the highest of those being his 15-point haul in Gameweek 8 after bagging a brace at Brighton.
Salah has netted five goals and also grabbed one assist against Gameweek 9 opponents Everton across his Liverpool career and comes into this Merseyside derby as the joint-highest scoring FPL asset with 59 points after eight gameweeks. At such a large price and with a rapidly rising ownership, any fantasy manager who has Salah in their squad simply must give serious consideration towards captaining him ahead of Haaland. Especially when considering that Everton have kept just one clean sheet all season in the Premier League and Salah has scored in all of his three home league appearances so far this campaign.
Bukayo Saka (£8.5m) – Chelsea vs ARSENAL
The biggest question mark when it comes to captaining Bukayo Saka in Gameweek 9 is to do with his injury status. Forced off in Arsenal’s Champions League defeat away at Lens, the England star not only missed the Gunners’ victory over Man City in Gameweek 8, he was also absent during the international break. However, Saka has been working hard on getting back to full fitness and could make a return in Gameweek 9, which sees Arsenal make the short trip across London to Chelsea.
You have to go back to Gameweek 2 for the last time that Saka failed to gain an attacking return in a fixture which saw him involved in. Since then, he has accumulated three goals, three assists and 40 fantasy points. When taking into account that Arsenal face such a bitter rival in Gameweek 9, Saka will surely be given every chance to prove his fitness for the match by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. Captaining him is no doubt a risk, but offers potentially a substantial FPL reward.
Julian Alvarez (£7.1m) – MAN CITY vs Brighton
Whilst the majority of fantasy bosses will more than likely put their faith in Erling Haaland and hand him the captain’s armband this week, another Man City forward also makes a credible case to be named your FPL skipper. Julian Alvarez has started every Premier League fixture for Pep Guardiola’s side and when it comes to the inevitable player rotation that we see so often with the Man City squad, Alvarez is one of those best-placed to avoid it.
Two of Alvarez’s three Premier League goals this campaign have come at home and the World Cup winner also scored twice in Man City’s first Champions League group stage fixture at the Etihad Stadium in 2023-24. The Argentinian also boasts five league assists and 48 FPL points overall, the third-highest score among forwards.
