FPL GW7 Best Captain: Palmer, Salah, Haaland & More
We’re having a look at the best captaincy picks ahead of this week’s round of fixtures following a number of English teams positive midweek results in Europe. Here are the FPL GW7 best captain choices!
Our surprise pick for GW6 was West Ham playmaker Mohammed Kudus, but unfortunately it wasn’t his day. Substituted at halftime, the Ghanaian was unable to cause the Brentford defence any problems in the first half, resulting in a disappointing 1-point return.
Despite the disappointment of last week’s selection, we are staying loyal to West Ham and siding with one of Kudus’ teammates this week.
This week presents another opportunity to make some ground within your FPL mini-leagues, and we’re confident this week’s surprise pick will be popular among supporters. Let’s get into the action!
FPL GW6 Best Captain Options: The Usual Suspects
- Erling Haaland (15.3m)
- Expected Points: 8.8
It’s understandable Marco Silva’s Fulham side may have had a couple of sleepless nights this week in the lead up to their trip to the Etihad this weekend. Erling Haaland bagged a hat trick when the teams met in this fixture last season.
The big Norwegian striker has begun this year’s campaign in blistering form, scoring 10 goals in the reigning champions opening 6 matches.
He was however kept scoreless in last weekend’s trip to St James Park, with Newcastle’s centre-back pairing of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn keeping the 24-year-old quiet for the majority of the 90 minutes.
It was the first time the leading goalscorer didn’t find the net this season, which doesn’t bode well for Fulham.
Two weekends without a goal? We don’t think so. Haaland is a safe bet to captain this weekend, and notching his 3rd hattrick of the season isn’t out of the question.
- Cole Palmer (10.7m)
- Expected Points: 7.8
An unbelievable 4-goal performance in the first half of last weekend’s encounter with Brighton means Cole Palmer has moved into 2nd place behind Erling Haaland in this season’s race for the golden boot.
He also overtakes Mo Salah as the second-highest FPL points scorer after 6 GW’s with 61 points to his name.
Palmer is the focal point in the Blues resurgence in form this season as they move into 4th place with 13 points and 2 behind leaders Liverpool.
Recent seasons have been turbulent at Stamford Bridge, but performances over recent weeks indicate they may be coming back to themselves under new manager Enzo Maresca.
With Nottingham Forest making the trip to London on Sunday afternoon, it’s another opportunity for the Blues to pick up 3 points, but they’ll be wary of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side after they produced a brilliant display to come away from Anfield with a 1-0 victory a couple of weeks ago.
Palmer has to be considered as captain heading into this weekend’s game. The form the 22-year-old has been in in recent weeks alone makes him a leading candidate to take the armband.
- Bukayo Saka (10.1m)
- Expected Points: 7.6
Last weekend was the first time this season Arsenal’s winger produced a blank as he returned a below-par 3 points. The Gunners defeated Leicester 4-2, but the 23-year-old was on the periphery throughout and wasn’t involved in any of the big moments during the 90 minutes.
With newly promoted Southampton traveling to the Emirates this weekend, the possibility of an overwhelming Arsenal victory is high. Russell Martin’s side have only picked up 1 point so far this season, and results suggest they are finding the step up to the Premier League difficult.
It gives Mikel Arteta’s side the chance to extend their unbeaten start to the season, and with a solid victory against PSG in midweek, expectations are growing in North London.
The last time the sides met in the league, Saka scored 1 and assisted 1 as Arsenal made a comeback to secure a 3-3 draw at the back end of the 2022/23 season.
The young winger will hope to replicate that return this week when he comes up directly against former Burnley man Charlie Taylor.
Having noticed how dangerous Saka has been over the last few weeks, it is very hard to see how he won’t be pivotal again as the Gunners hope to continue their pursuit of this season’s title.
- Mo Salah (12.7m)
- Expected points: 7.3
Salah’s goal in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Wolves took him ahead of Luiz Diaz as Liverpool’s top FPL point scorer this season.
The Reds travel to Selhurst Park as a clash with Crystal Palace is down for decision on Saturday at lunchtime. The last meeting between the pair was a 1-0 win for the Eagles, as Eberechi Eze scored the only goal when the teams met in Anfield in April.
Playing Crystal Palace away from home is never easy, and we expect this to be a tight affair, but Liverpool will hope to continue their charge at the top of the league.
In his 14 Premier League appearances against Palace, the 32-year-old has 13 goal contributions (8 goals, 5 assists), and there is no reason why he can’t add to that tally this weekend.
The winger scored a brilliant goal in the Champions League victory over Bologna in midweek, so he is in goalscoring form heading into the tie.
However, playing away from home against a team that gives away few goals will be tough, and other options to trust with the captain’s armband for this week are better advised.
FPL GW7 Best Captain Options: The Surprise Pick
- Jarrod Bowen (7.4m)
- Expected Points: 5.3
This weekend West Ham take on Ipswich at the London stadium in the hope that there poor run of form will take a turn for the better.
The Hammers have only picked up 5 points from their opening 6 matches, with this weekend’s opponents similarly finding it difficult with 4 points.
With only 1 goal to his name this season so far, West Ham’s skipper Jarrod Bowen will undoubtedly be disappointed with his start to the season and will see this weekend as an opportunity to kick-start his season into life.
Listed as a midfielder in FPL, Bowen’s most comfortable in the attacking 3rd and his lack of contributions so far will concern manager Julien Lopetgui.
Before Bowen’s big-money move to West Ham in 2020, the 27-year-old played with Hull City and his record against Ipswich was impressive to say the least.
Having gone up against The Tractor Boys 4 times while in the Championship, Bowen has yet to lose with 3 wins and a draw to his name while also getting on the scoresheet 3 times during that period.
He will also have a point to prove to England manager Lee Carsley having missed out on selection for the upcoming internationals.
We reckon now is the perfect time to bring the West Ham man into your team and trust him with the captaincy ahead of a big weekend for the Hammers.
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