Dec 14

Gameweek 31 Captain Tips

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er_color="" border_style="solid" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_6" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" mer_position="all" padding="" dimension_margin="undefined" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type="2_3" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" mer_position="all" padding="" dimension_margin="undefined" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_text]fplhollyFPLHolly is back this week with her selection of captain picks for Gameweek 31, the biggest blank gameweek of the season. Her Clueless Husband is totally unprepared, since his go-to option doesn't even have a fixture. Read on for more! Oh dear, the less said about Gameweek 30 the better, particularly for the captain pick. Many had a gameweek to forget, as the differentials delivered and the Clueless Husband pick made it into the dream team. Sterling and Mahrez offered some returns but there was woe for captainers of Salah, Kane and Aguero. Looking ahead to Gameweek 31, only eight teams feature across four fixtures. Liverpool are the only team from the top six involved so our captaincy options are severely limited. We will be looking to Anfield for our captain picks, but there's a few options to consider from elsewhere in the fixture list.

Shield Pick: Mohammed Salah vs Watford (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 8/15 Salah is the standout pick for this week, like every week and he's locked in as my captain. He is the most owned Blank Gameweek player and will be the most captained by a massive margin, plus he's on penalties. His home record is absolutely immense. If you're using a Free Hit or Wildcard this week, or not taking a big hit, then you've got the luxury of playing it safe with the armband: a decent Gameweek 31 squad means that you stand to gain a huge advantage already. You know what to do.

Sword Pick: Roberto Firmino vs Watford (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 3/4 If you want a differential Liverpool player, Firmino is the first option to look at. He's the second classiest player available this week and his form is reasonable if you're chasing rank. He got a goal and an assist in the reverse fixture and has an excellent record against the Hornets: 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 appearances. In fact, he's scored every time he's faced them at Anfield, getting a goal in 15/16 and a goal plus two assists in 16/17. He might be worth the risk over Salah. The payoff will be there if he does manage to outscore the Egyptian.

Form Pick: Steve Mounie vs Crystal Palace (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 13/8 If you are determined to captain away from the Liverpool options, Steve Mounie could be the best of the rest. He has the best form of all the blank gameweek options. Huddersfield are in decent form and Palace are struggling: they're without a clean sheet in 7, conceding 15 goals in that time. Mounie got a brace in the reverse fixture, plus he has two goals and two assists in his last four games. Will you be going with the form pick?

Fixture Pick: Sadio Mane vs Watford (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 19/20 The captains article wouldn't be complete without the final member of the Liverpool front 3: he's certainly in a purple patch. Mane has returned in his last three games and scored in the reverse fixture. He's another one with a strong record against Watford: he has 3 goals in 4 games, including a brace in this game last season. Are you opting for the fixture pick?

Reverse Pick: Ahmed Hegazi vs Bournemouth (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 11/1 Clean Sheet Odds: 10/3 The reverse pick dictates to go with the player with the highest score from the reverse set of fixtures, which is Gameweek 1 this time around. Hegazi was the biggest performer of those with a fixture this time, having got a goal, clean sheet and 3 bonus points. That's about all there is to say here: Bournemouth will score, West Brom will concede but Hegazi might nick something from a set piece, if you're lucky.

Punt Pick: Callum Wilson vs West Brom (H)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 13/10 Wilson might be out of form, but he has to be fancied this week at home against bottom of the league West Brom. Many are worried that he could be benched with Defoe and King waiting in the wings, but he's still getting starts for the Cherries. He has the potential despite the dry spell and he has two goals in three appearances against the Baggies. Will you take a punt?

Park the Bus Pick: Seamus Coleman vs Stoke (A)

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 10/1 Clean Sheet Odds: 11/5 Seamus Coleman is back from a long injury lay off and presents an enticing option as a premium defender this week. Clean sheets may be hard to come by, but Coleman plays high up the pitch and is more then capable of attacking returns. He has an assist and a clean sheet in his last two appearances. His performances against Stoke are reasonable: 2 goals, 1 assist and 4 clean sheets in 12 appearances. Are you brave enough to captain a defender?

Clueless Husband Pick: Heung-Min Son vs BLANK

Anytime Goalscorer Odds: 1,000,000-1 The depleted fixture list hasn't quite caught up with my Clueless Husband, who was quite happy with the 15 point haul Son provided him last week. It's enough for Son to earn the armband again this week.... His vice captain is currently set on Salah so he will be going with the masses reluctantly for this one, once he realises Son has no game! Until Next Week… Good Luck! Holly. Looking for more Gameweek 31 Tips? @JWoodfield365 discusses the best gameweek picks and strategy in his weekly GW31 review. Follow Holly for more FPL insight... Also be sure to check out Holly's new website where she is pulling together all the best of #FPL - This week she provides form and fixture charts for GW31. [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type="1_6" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" mer_position="all" padding="" dimension_margin="undefined" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]