Dec 14

Gameweek 22 Captain Picks

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FPL Holly is back for the New Year with her selection of captain picks for Gameweek 22. With cup competition matches providing a welcome break after a packed Christmas schedule, it's time to turn our attentions back to Fantasy Premier League. It was another mixed result for the captaincy back in Gameweek 21: Eden Hazard disappointed many with a blank against Southampton, as Gunn provided a goalkeeping masterclass. Kane got a great haul on New Year's Day and Aubameyang left it late to deliver 9 points for his owners. FA Cup games have allowed managers to rotate their squads and recuperate, with Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester City also participating in EFL Cup semi final games. With no high profile sides involved in FA Cup replays next midweek, rotation shouldn't be a factor in the captain decision. So, who should you consider?

Shield Pick: Mohammed Salah vs Brighton (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 4/5 Mo Salah retains the Shield Pick: he's the most owned player in the game now and has acquired penalty duties in pursuit of another Golden Boot. With 3 goals and 3 assists in his last 4 games, including plenty of double-digit returns, he has form to dominate Brighton. The Seagulls are without their 1st choice keeper Ryan and have conceded 5 goals in their last 4 games. Salah was the man on the scoresheet when these sides met earlier in the season in a tight 1-0 win for Liverpool. Will you play safe and give this season's top FPL points scorer the armband?

Sword Pick: Eden Hazard vs Newcastle (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 3/4 Hazard will be difficult to trust here after a nosedive in form for the New Year, but the fixture is enticing. The big factors here are his positioning in the game and the quality of players around him, he has struggled since shifting back from the False 9 to the wing, with Morata disappointing up top. Hazard now has just 1 return in 4, with that brace and 15 point haul away to Watford on Boxing Day. He does have penalty duties though and Newcastle have kept just one clean sheet in their last 4 games, conceding 4 away to Liverpool a couple of weeks ago. Are you going to be attacking with the sword pick?

Form Pick: Heung-Min Son vs Manchester United (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 5/4 Son owners have just one more game before the South Korean departs for the Asian Cup and he could deserve to be a farewell captain if his form is anything to go by. He has 5 goals and 4 assists across his last 4 games and hasn't blanked in a Premier League game he has started since Gameweek 8! Spurs have scored 15 goals in their last 4 games and will challenge the Manchester United defence with just 3 clean sheets this season. Will Sonny be your farewell form pick?

Fixture Pick: Leroy Sane vs Wolves (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: Evens A home game for Manchester City usually means goals and attacking returns for the front 3 and it's Sane we'd trust with the armband here. With some rests of late, you'd expect him to play as he's crucial to Pep's formation in the absence of Mendy. He has 1 goal and 2 assists from his last 4 starts. Manchester City have scored in every home game this season and Wolves are without a clean sheet in their last 4 games, having conceded 6. Should you look to assets at the Etihad for the armband once more?

Reverse Pick: Aleksandar Mitrovic vs Burnley (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 29/20 A brace in the reverse fixture is enough for Mitrovic to get the nod here, with an impressive 16 point haul. It remains to be seen whether he keeps penalty duties after he crucially failed to convert from the spot in the FA Cup. Mitrovic has 1 goal in his last 4 Premier League starts, and Burnley are looking far more solid defensively since Tom Heaton has returned between the sticks, so it's unlikely that we will see another double digit haul from Mitro. However, if Fulham can pinch a goal here, expect him to be involved. Will you opt for the reverse pick?

Punt Pick: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vs West Ham (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 10/11 Aubameyang has been blowing hot and cold throughout this season and hasn't always returned when you'd expect him to but he's in decent form with 4 goals and 1 assist in his last 4 Premier League games. He has penalty duties too and faces a West Ham side that are without a clean sheet in their last 4 games, conceding nearly 2 goals per game. The Saturday lunchtime kick off may put some managers off. Do you trust Auba with the captaincy here?

Park the Bus Pick: Marcos Alonso vs Newcastle (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 9/2 Clean Sheet Odds: 7/10 Marcos Alonso finally rewarded his patient owners last time out with a clean sheet and 2 bonus points, as Chelsea maintain the defensive solidarity. It's now 10 clean sheets this season to go alongside 8 attacking returns and 16 bonus points, including two assists when these two sides met earlier in the season. Can Marcos deliver yet another double digit return this weekend? Newcastle have failed to hit the target on numerous occasions this season and have scored just 1 goal in their last 4 games. Are you brave enough to captain a defender?

Clueless Husband Pick: Ryan Fraser vs Everton (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 18/5 Following a 12 point haul in Gameweek 21, my Clueless Husband is giving Ryan Fraser the armband this weekend for his trip away to Everton. Fraser now has 5 goals and 9 assists this season, including 1 goal and 2 assists in his last 4 games, despite seeing some rotation over the festive period. Expect him to be involved in any Cherries attacks this weekend, as they face an Everton side who've kept just 4 clean sheets this season. The Toffees are without a clean sheet in their last 8 games, conceding an average of 2 goals per game over that spell. 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]