Dec 14

Game Week 31 Captain Picks

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FPL Holly is back this week with her selection of captain picks for Blank Gameweek 31. We may be limited in choice, with just 5 fixtures and 10 teams to select from, but the captaincy decision could be pivotal to bring in points given the absences. It was a good week for our captain picks, with most of the main men delivering at least some returns. Kudos has to go to those who went with the Sword Pick and backed Raheem Sterling for his hat trick! Could that be a fruitful strategy going forward? Looking at the broader fixture schedule, Liverpool and Chelsea are both involved in European fixtures before Gameweek 31 and with the International Break coming immediately after the weekend, it could be another phantom injury period - rotation should be limited.

Shield Pick: Mohammed Salah vs Fulham (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 3/4 Salah has managed to cling on as the most owned player in the game given his fixture this week and remains the highest FPL points scorer after breaking the 200 point barrier last weekend. He was heavily involved in the first 3 Liverpool goals, but came away with just one assist and 5 points. Milner is struggling with injury so Salah should be on penalties in this fixture and he scored in the reverse fixture back in Gameweek 12. Fulham have the worst defence in the Premier League, conceding 68 goals, although their home record isn't quite so dismal. Salah has just 1 goal and 1 assist in his last 6 games, but with time running out to deploy those crucial chips, with perhaps just two double gameweeks remaining, the Triple Captain chip has to be given some consideration here. Will you upgrade your shield pick on his favourite date for triple points?

Sword Pick: Sadio Mane vs Fulham (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 3/4 In terms of ownership, FPL points and goals scored, Sadio Mane is the closest challenger to Salah out of the pool of players to select from this weekend. He could provide another Sword Pick haul for those betting against the Egyptian. Many managers own one of these pair which makes the captaincy an easy choice, but for those using a Free Hit or having both, taking a risk on Mane could pay dividends, particularly if we look at form. Mane has 6 goals from his last 6 games and is well known for going on scoring streaks like we have seen in recent weeks. He seems to be high in confidence, particularly when compared to Salah who has bottled it in front of goal on a number of occasions recently. Are you going to take the risk on the sword pick?

Form Pick: Jamie Vardy vs Burnley (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 21/20 Vardy has certainly got the new manager bounce and is in red hot form, with 5 goals and 1 assist from his last 6 games. He's on penalties for the Foxes and his away record this season is arguably better than in front of his home crowd. He has scored in this fixture in 2 of the past 3 previous Premier League seasons. Burnley are without a home clean sheet in their last 7 games, conceding 9 goals in their last 3. Will you back the form pick to poach a goal or two in this one?

Fixture Pick: Roberto Firmino vs Fulham (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 21/20 Bobby Firmino has returned from injury with a bang, with an emphatic brace at Anfield last weekend. He's another reliable captain candidate against this frail Fulham defence, although arguably both Salah and Mane would be better options from the Liverpool front 3. Fulham have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 games, conceding 2+ goals each time they have faced top six opposition this season. Are you backing a player facing Fulham as the fixture pick once more?

Reverse Pick: Salomon Rondon vs Bournemouth (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 29/20 A brace and 3 bonus points in the reverse fixture gives Rondon a worthy selection as the reverse pick this week. The budget friendly blank gameweek forward option has reasonable form, with 2 goals and 2 assists from his last 6 appearances. Bournemouth have just 1 clean sheet in 6 games, although they have managed to keep things tight at the back in home games since Boruc returned to the side. Will you bank on history repeating itself with the reverse pick?

Punt Pick: Callum Wilson vs Newcastle (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 21/20 A fit again Callum Wilson is this week's punt and he's been a very popular transfer in following his goal and assist against Huddersfield last week, claiming 11 points. He was unstoppable at the start of the season and seems to be back to his best, linking well with Ryan Fraser to score and create for the Cherries. He has the best points per match record (5.7) of all players available outside of Liverpool this weekend. Will you take the punt?

Park the Bus Pick: Virgil Van Dijk vs Fulham (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 16/1 Clean Sheet Odds: 10/11 It's 4 clean sheets in 6 for Liverpool, plus a brace for Virgil in that spell, to earn the park the bus pick this week. Another clean sheet against this poor Fulham side looks likely: he got a clean sheet and a bonus point back in the reverse fixture. Van Dijk now has 3 goals and 3 assists for the season, plus 17 bonus points, and Fulham have failed to find the back of the net in 3 of their last 6 games. Are you brave enough to captain a defender?

Clueless Husband Pick: Eden Hazard vs Everton (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 11/10 Hazard's late equaliser against Wolves netted 20 points for my Clueless Husband's dead team and it's the Chelsea midfielder up for selection again this Blank Gameweek. He now has 3 goals and 1 assist from his last 6 appearances and is the big premium asset available outside of Liverpool attackers. Everton have 2 clean sheets in 6, but have conceded 9 goals in that period. The reverse fixture ending 0-0 is a little off putting. Will you side with my Clueless Husband? Until Next Week… Good Luck! Holly and her Clueless Husband Follow FPLBet for weekly fantasy features... [/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]