Dec 14

Game Week 27 Captain Picks

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FPL Holly is back this week with her selection of captain picks for Gameweek 27. It's the first blank gameweek of the season, with two postponed games involving Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Brighton. That means some of our captain regulars Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Eden Hazard are unavailable for selection. Mo Salah was the landslide captain pick in Gameweek 26 and delivered with a goal for Liverpool. However, fortune favoured the brave, particularly those managers who went with Pogba, Sterling and Aguero. Is moving away from a permanent Salah captain likely to prove favourable for the season run in? Rotation hit for Aubameyang and Rashford and that theme looks set to continue: there's a midweek round of fixtures immediately following Gameweek 27, meaning almost every side plays 3 games within a 10 day window.

Shield Pick: Mohammed Salah vs Manchester United (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 6/5 It's never easy to visit Old Trafford, especially facing this rejuvenated Manchester United side, but Salah will still be heavily backed this weekend, particularly given his 50% ownership and the absence of other premium players. Worryingly, Salah has blanked away against all the other top-six sides this season and has never managed an attacking return against Manchester United. The United defence have been resolute under Solskjær, with 4 clean sheets in their last 6 games, conceding just 3 goals. They've yet to keep a clean sheet at home though and in a must-win game for Liverpool, Salah will be relied upon to deliver important goals. Will you play safe with the shield pick?

Sword Pick: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vs Southampton (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 4/5 Aubameyang is the premium player with a favourable fixture and should be heavily backed as captain by his 1.5 million owners on Sunday. His home form against non top-six sides is excellent, with hauls of 13 (Burnley), 9 (Fulham) and 12 (Cardiff) most recently. He's also on penalties which can further boost his score. Southampton are without a clean sheet in their last 5 games, so goals for Arsenal look inevitable here. Are you going to attack with the sword pick?

Form Pick: Paul Pogba vs Liverpool (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 17/10 With consistent returns in 5 consecutive games, Pogba leads the form charts: he has 4 goals and 2 assists in that spell. In fact, the Manchester United talisman has blanked just once under Solskjær in an away game to Newcastle. Penalties are heavily boosting his point returns, not that his owners are complaining. Liverpool have struggled defensively in recent games, with just 1 clean sheet in 4, conceding 5. Liverpool have failed to secure a clean sheet in an away game against fellow top-six opposition, whereas United have scored in every single game since their new manager arrived. The fixture may put managers off, but Pogba could be a sound selection as the form pick!

Fixture Pick: Felipe Anderson vs Fulham (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 11/8 With a lack of options this week, it's a potential differential as this weeks fixture pick. A home game against Fulham is an excellent opportunity to consider Anderson: he is on a barren spell but does have 8 goals and 4 assists for the season and should be boosted by the return of Arnautovic into the side. In the reverse fixture, West Ham won 2-0 and Anderson got an assist. Will Fulham provide another haul for an attacking asset?

Reverse Pick: Henrikh Mkhitaryan vs Southampton (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 19/20 A brace in the reverse fixture hands Mkhitaryan the reverse pick selection this week. As discussed with Aubameyang, Arsenal should win this one easily against an inconsistent Southampton defence. The worry here comes from his minutes, with Europa League games in the run up and then some tougher fixtures on the horizon: choose your vice captain wisely in this case. Are you going with the reverse pick?

Punt Pick: Raul Jimenez vs Bournemouth (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 6/4 6 shots last gameweek did accompany a first blank in 4 games, with 3 goals and an assist in that spell. Jimenez will be looking to find his shooting boots once more here: he got a goal in the reverse fixture. The Bournemouth defence are a little unpredictable: it was back to back home clean sheets when Boruc returned between the sticks, but they've since conceded 5 in their last 2 games. With a lack of options elsewhere, will you take a punt on the Wolves front man?

Park the Bus Pick: Martin Dubravka vs Huddersfield (H)

Clean Sheet Odds: 21/20 It's just one clean sheet in 4 for Newcastle, but they've conceded just 1 goal in each of their last 3 games and have been somewhat unlucky. In that spell, Dubravka has amassed 9 saves and picked up a bonus point. A home game against Huddersfield brings the perfect opportunity for another clean sheet: it's 7 for the season so far and Huddersfield have the worst goal scoring record of the entire Premier League. With a clean sheet looking like a formality, are you brave enough to captain a keeper?

Clueless Husband Pick: Son vs Burnley (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: Evens Son is well ahead on the transfers in again this week, having blanked just once in his last 13 Premier League starts. With goals in 3 consecutive games, he should be able to penetrate the Burnley defence, and should be bolstered by the potential return of Harry Kane. Burnley have just 2 clean sheets from 7 games with Heaton back in goal, conceding an average of a goal per game. Will you side with my Clueless Husband? Until Next Week… Good Luck! Holly and her Clueless Husband Follow FPLBet for weekly fantasy features...