Gameweek 23 saw the template solidify and managers play safe with the captaincy and those that did were rewarded with a huge 30 points from their captain Mo Salah. There was an element of luck from his haul, with two easy tap ins, but he is a poacher that makes his own fortunes. Is his landslide captaincy popularity set to continue?GAMEWEEK 23 MOST CAPTAINED Salah (1,961,406) - 15 points Aguero (668,597) - 5 points Hazard (443,090) - 2 points#FPL pic.twitter.com/pokqmcPY3n
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 20, 2019
Shield Pick: Mohammed Salah vs Leicester (H)
Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 8/13With his ownership tipping over 50% and even higher in active teams, Mohammed Salah will be the big captain again this week. It's easy to see why: leading the golden boot race, 3 double digit returns in 4, highest FPL points scorer etc. He has 4 goals and 1 assist from his last 4 games, but did blank in the reverse fixture earlier this season. The Leicester defence looks particularly frail right now, they conceded 4 away to Wolves last time around and Harry Maguire is currently flagged with injury. Salah got a brace in this fixture last season and it should be an easy win for the current Premier League leaders here. Will you play safe and give Salah the armband?Mohamed Salah won't score many easier than that...#MOTD pic.twitter.com/Bz0zrAP1Ba
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 19, 2019
Sword Pick: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vs Cardiff (H)
Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 7/10Aubameyang may have something to say about Salah being a permanent FPL captain for the rest of the season and those managers desperate for a change are handed a golden opportunity. Aubameyang has an excellent home record against sides outside the top 6, with returns of 13 points against Burnley and 9 against Fulham in recent weeks. He has 14 goals for the season, plus he's on penalties. Cardiff lost the reverse fixture 3-2 earlier in the season, with Aubameyang getting on the scoresheet. Cardiff have conceded 3 goals to Newcastle and Spurs within their last 3 games. For those looking to make up ground, will you play attacking with the sword pick?20 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been directly involved in 20 goals in 18 Premier League home games for Arsenal (15 goals, 5 assists). Plenty. pic.twitter.com/WnYLk3G4Vp
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 19, 2019
Form Pick: Marcus Rashford vs Burnley (H)
Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 5/6Rashford is in an excellent run of form, having scored in 4 consecutive games and contributing two assists in that spell too. Manchester United are playing attacking football under Solskjær, managing an average of 3 goals per game at Old Trafford. The fixture could be trickier than first thought though, with Burnley playing much better defensively since Tom Heaton returned to the side, conceding just 2 goals from 4 games. Are you tipping Rashford to continue his form and goal scoring run?"Is there a better striker in the Premier League at the moment!?" With 4 goals in his last 4 league games for #MUFC, Alan Brazil is loving @MarcusRashford right now! Is Rashford the best in the league? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/BZ6UZWlf2I
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 21, 2019
Fixture Pick: Leroy Sane vs Newcastle (A)
Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 21/20Despite a constant nagging rotation concern, Manchester City have another excellent fixture this week away to Newcastle and Sane has the consistent attacking returns to consider him for the armband. He has 2 goals and 2 assists from his last 3 Premier League starts and City have scored 3 goals in each of their last 2 away games. Newcastle's home form has been sketchy this season, particularly against top sides. Some fantasy managers may be concerned about Sane's starting berth, particularly with Ben Mendy approaching full fitness: could the two of them not playing together just be a fantasy myth?👏 Leroy Sane is @premierleague Man of the Match • 38 touches, 4 dribbles & 5 duels won • 8 goals & 9 assists in his last 18 PL apps • Scored & assisted in the same PL game for 8th time@LeroySane19 #HUDMCI pic.twitter.com/Fo51vHChBX
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 20, 2019
Reverse Pick: Eden Hazard vs Bournemouth (A)
Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 11/10Hazard has been a big talking point in the community this week: he's frustrated many with a barren spell of returns, but a goal in the EFL Cup semi-final and the potential for a double gameweek on the horizon has swung the fantasy momentum in his favour. A double digit return in the reverse fixture against Bournemouth catapults him back into the captaincy discussion and it looks like he could finally be back in his favoured position on the wing. With penalties in his locker to further boost his score, will you opt for the reverse pick?⏪ REVERSE #FPL ⏪ Gameweek 24 sees the reverse of the Gameweek 4 Fixtures. Here's the Dream Team and Results. Hazard 👀 pic.twitter.com/6tDWvg7qZ0
— Fantasy Football Community (@FFCommunity_) January 21, 2019
Punt Pick: Gonzalo Higuain vs Bournemouth (A)
Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 9/10We stay with Chelsea for the punt pick: the big signing in the January transfer window has been Higuain and we'd expect him to hit the ground running against a Bournemouth side who are conceding goals for fun. Higuain hasn't been as prolific in the league this season as he has in the past, but a big debut performance could be on the cards here, back with Sarri and linking up with Hazard. Are you going to take a punt on the new signing?Welcome to #FPL, @G_Higuain 👋 Yours for a bargain £9.5m! pic.twitter.com/yCZR0x8GNG
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 24, 2019
Park the Bus Pick: Lucas Digne vs Huddersfield (A)
Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 6/1 Clean Sheet Odds: 5/4With just 5 goals in home games this season for Huddersfield, the odds of a clean sheet for Everton in this game are favourable and Digne could redeem himself after last weeks own goal. Everton now have 5 clean sheets this season and Digne has amassed plenty of attacking returns, with 3 goals and 3 assists. We could be on for another double digit return here, as he provides goal and assist threat from set pieces, including corners and free kicks. He got an assist in the reverse fixture too. Are you brave enough to captain a defender?Most Chances Created By Defenders This Season 🇫🇷 Lucas Digne (41) 🇬🇷 Jose Holebas (31) 🏴 Andrew Robertson (27) 🏴 Kieran Trippier (27) 🇮🇪 Matt Doherty (26) pic.twitter.com/6xzKWIJJIb
— Premier League Stat Man ⚽️ (@EPLStatman) January 17, 2019
Clueless Husband Pick: David Luiz vs Bournemouth (A)
Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 12/1 Clean Sheet Odds: 6/4After watching Luiz convert the crucial penalty against Spurs in the EFL Cup Semi-Final, my Clueless Husband is tipping Luiz to keep his goal scoring run going... He amassed 8 points in the reverse fixture, with a clean sheet and 2 bonus points, plus he has 1 goal and 2 assists for the season. Will you side with my Clueless Husband? Until Next Week… Good Luck! Holly and her Clueless Husband Follow FPLbet for weekly fantasy features... Follow @fplbet[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type="1_6" layout="1_6" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" mer_position="all" padding="" dimension_margin="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no" element_content=""][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]David Luiz netted the deciding penalty as Chelsea beat Spurs 4-2 on penalties in the Carabao Cup semi-final! pic.twitter.com/jh34J5r7k5
— Betin Uganda (@BetinUganda) January 25, 2019