FPL GW32 Best Captain: Salah, Saka, Isak & More
As the race for Champions League qualification hots up, we are having a look at the best captaincy picks ahead of GW32.
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 9 point gap at the top of the league with 7 GW’s left to play.
Ahead of our last preview we picked Bournemouth attacker Antonie Semenyo as our surprise pick but as has happened so many times this season, the Cherries winger struggled to effect the match as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to relegation-bound Ipswich.
Despite showing excellent form at times throughout the season, the Ghana International’s influence was kept to a minimum throughout by former Manchester United right-back Axel Tuanzebe.
Let’s hope our surprise pick for GW32 can get among the goals Saturday afternoon!
FPL GW32 Best Captain Options: The Usual Suspects
- Mo Salah (13.8m)
- Expected points: 7.22
After signing a new contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2027, I expect Mo Salah to be in flying form. The league’s top scorer has looked off-colour at times over the last few weeks and has failed to score in his last 4 outings in a Red’s shirt.
I expect him to change that stat this weekend coupled with the fact he has a brilliant record against this weekend’s opponents West Ham.
Having scored 1 and assisted 2 against the Hammers earlier in the season, the Egyptian king will fancy replicating that performance when the teams meet at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
With talks surrounding his contract with the club eventually being put to bed, he can focus on matters on the pitch and performing to the levels he has been for the majority of this season.
As he looks certain to scoop the Premier League golden boot as he leads by 7 goals with the injured Erling Haaland in 2nd, he will no-doubt be chasing more records as he extends his time in England much to Liverpool fans delight.
- Bukayo Saka (10.2m)
- Expected Points: 6.12
Despite limping off with 20 minutes to play in Arsenal’s historic midweek victory in the Champions League, Bukayo Saka should be fit to take his place on the right wing as the Gunners host Brentford on Saturday evening.
There is no questioning the England international’s influence on the squad as not only did he score on his return to first team action last week, his constant threat to opposition defences cannot be understated.
As they head to the Bernabéu this week to finish off the job they began in London, Mikel Arteta’s side will have one eye on their trip to Spain but will still have aspirations of chasing Arne Slot’s Liverpool all the way and will need to win this match.
For that reason alone, Saka will play and we fancy him to get on the scoresheet or influence proceedings as he so often does in an Arsenal shirt.
- Alexander Isak (9.4m)
- Expected points: 10.56
Newcastle host Manchester United on Sunday afternoon in what is another huge game for the Geordies as they hunt down a top 5 finish and Champions League qualification.
They currently sit in 5th position with a game in hand and are in pole position to cap off a brilliant season that included their first trophy in 70 years by defeating Liverpool in the Carabao cup final.
Not only will Champions League qualification be huge for the club, it is also their best chance of holding onto star striker Alexander Isak as Arsenal and Liverpool continue to register their interest in the Sweden international.
However, his FPL price continues to rise as he now sits as the 2nd most expensive striker in the game behind the injured Erling Haaland, that price reflects his performance having earned 179 points so far this season.
He scored when the sides met at Old Trafford in December and will be keen to replicate that feat in St James Park in front of their home fans.
He will also hope to add to the 20 league goals he has bagged so far this season and with United having one eye on their Europa League 2nd leg we wouldn’t bet against it.
It’s a double GW for Newcastle with a home match against Crystal Palace due to be played midweek, it’s another reason Isak is really attractive to have in your team ahead of GW32.
- Cole Palmer (11.1m)
- Expected Points: 7.46
England International Palmer has not scored in his last 13 appearances for the Blues and is out of form approaching a crucial period in how Chelsea’s season will finish.
They sit in 4th position and have a convincing lead in their quarter-final tie in the Europa Conference League.
Overall it’s been a successful first season in charge for Enzo Maresca as they also look to claim European glory while finishing as high as possible in the Premier League.
But this weekend they welcome Ipswich to Stamford Bridge and it presents a perfect opportunity for Palmer to get on form.
Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys have struggled in the Premier League and their relegation to the Championship looks inevitable.
Palmer’s 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 beyond this weekend with tough fixtures ahead.
FPL GW32 Best Captain Options: The Surprise Pick
- Yankuba Minteh (5.0m)
- Expected Points: 3.52
It’s been an up and down season for Brighton. As we’ve become accustomed to over the past couple of season, they’re very inconsistent and banking on how they will perform on any given weekend is like picking the lotto numbers.
That said, since Fabian Hürzeler took over, they have played a largely attractive brand of football and could still sneak into a European place if their form picks up between now and the end of the season.
A number of their players have caught the eye throughout the season, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Joao Pedro & Danny Welbeck to name a few but this week we are choosing another one of their star performers as our Surprise Pick.
At an affordable 5.0m, Yankuba Minteh has caught the eye on a number of occasions for the Seagulls this season.
With his driving runs from midfield he is more than capable of linking up with the likes of Pedro & Welbeck or getting on the scoresheet himself.
As they welcome Leicester to the Amex, we think it is the perfect time to bring in the Gambia International to your FPL team.
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