FPL GW30 Best Captain: Palmer, Salah, Isak & More
After a long break that included a Carabao Cup victory for Newcastle, one of the best FA Cup semi-final lineups in years and a mind-numbingly boring international break, we have finally returned to Premier League action.
Most Premier League fans are resigned to the fact that the title will be heading to Anfield this season as Arne Slot’s Liverpool have opened up a 12-point gap at the top of the league with 9 GWs left to play.
Ahead of our last preview, we picked Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze as our surprise pick but as has happened so many times this season, the Palace number 10 was unable to get on the scoresheet but did, however, put in a man-of-the-match display in firing the Eagles to the last four of the FA Cup last weekend.
Let’s hope our surprise pick for GW30 can get among the goals Saturday afternoon!
FPL GW30 Best Captain Options: The Usual Suspects
- Mo Salah (13.8m)
- Expected points: 6.83
News this week that Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland is likely to miss the rest of the season will have come as a relief to Liverpool’s main man, as the Norwegian was closing in with only 6 goals separating the pair in the race for the golden boot.
Before the international break, the Reds crashed out of Europe at the hands of PSG and also lost out to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final, with Salah finding it difficult to affect either match.
Fans began to question the 32-year-old’s ability to perform in the big matches but how he has set the standard over the past 12 months as they continue to charge towards the title in Arne Slot’s first year in charge will firmly put those doubts to bed.
Those doubts are the reason I feel the Egyptian king will be determined to respond in style in the final Merseyside derby of the season.
On Wednesday night, he will come up against near neighbors Everton, who threatened to derail their title bid with a last-gasp draw at Goodison Park just over 6 weeks ago.
That night, Salah both scored and set up Alexis Mac Allister as the Reds looked to push on and extend their lead at the top of the league.
It wasn’t to be however and James Tarkowski’s last-minute volley was the ending Everton fans hoped for in the last-ever derby at Goodison Park.
Talks continue to circulate if the goal machine will be at Anfield next season. Liverpool fans are desperate for him to extend his contract with the club; however, the situation continues to drag on. Virgil Van Dijk also continues to be in contract talks with the club while right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold looks to be heading for the exit door with Real Madrid keen to acquire his services.
- Cole Palmer (11.1m)
- Expected Points: 6.61
Chelsea welcomes London rivals Tottenham to Stamford Bridge as they continue their fight to claim a Champions League spot for next season. They currently sit in 4th spot, just 1 point ahead of Manchester City in 5th.
Overall, it’s been a successful first season in charge for Enzo Maresca as they also look to claim European glory as they currently await to play their quarter-final tie of the Europa Conference League against Legia Warsaw.
Having failed to get on the scoresheet in their last 8 league matches, Palmer’s form has taken a dip from the excellent performances he was producing at the beginning of the season.
As he continues to struggle for form, the costly price of 11.2m has caused a number of talking points among FPL managers, and with his current form, it is hard to justify keeping the English international in your team.
His opponents have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 4 league games, which will give owners of Palmer hope ahead of Thursday night’s clash.
- Alexander Isak (9.4m)
- Expected points: 5.45
After claiming their first trophy in 70 years by defeating Liverpool in the Carabao cup final, confidence will be sky-high among the Newcastle squad.
But their attention will quickly turn back to the Premier League as they face a battle to secure European qualification ahead of next season. They currently sit in 6th position with just 1 point separating them and Manchester City, who sit in 5th.
Their European qualification will be crucial in their hope to hold onto star striker Isak as Arsenal & Liverpool continue to hold interest in signing the Swedish international.
Having scored 19 league goals this season, the 25-year-old has been earmarked as one of Europe’s best after this standout season.
Wednesday evening they host Brentford and even though Isak was on the scoresheet in their reverse fixture in December, the Magpies went down 4-2 to Thomas Frank’s impressive Bees.
Expectedly, his FPL price continues to rise as he now sits as the 2nd most expensive striker in the game behind Erling Haaland, but that price reflects his performance having earned 169 points so far this season.
- Bukayo Saka (10.2m)
- Expected Points:
Arsenal fans will be delighted to hear that their star winger is set to return as they welcome fellow Londoners Fulham to the Emirates for this midweek clash.
He last lined out for the Gunners in December but their title challenge has slowly fallen away since.
It will likely take the England international a few matches to get up to speed but his return will be a welcome sight to many, with the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid just around the corner.
FPL GW30 Best Captain Options: The Surprise Pick
- Antoine Semenyo (5.7m)
- Expected points: 5.16
One of the stories of the season has been the impressive rise of Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola; Justin Kluivert, Dean Huijsen and Dango Ouattara are just a few players that have had standout seasons so far that see them sit in 10th place just 4 points off reigning champions Manchester City.
They’re going through a difficult period, however, having failed to register a win in their last 4 Premier League matches and being knocked out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage by Manchester City last weekend. Iraola undoubtedly faces his biggest test of the season so far.
This week, they welcome Ipswich Town to the Vitality, hoping to get back to winning ways and if the way they’ve been performing for the majority of the season is anything to go by, they’ll do just that.
We think bringing in one of their top performers this season into your team for this GW is a good move. Semenyo has scored 7 and assisted 5 in a standout season for the Ghanaian international.
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