With the resumption of the Champions League and Europa League, Fantasy Premier League managers face the challenge of managing a hectic schedule, balancing midweek fixtures alongside weekend games. This complicates squad selection, particularly with the potential for double-game weeks for certain teams like Premier League leaders Liverpool. However, Gameweek 26 poses a new challenge, as four clubs are set to have no fixtures, with Liverpool among them once again.
Here are the best FPL captain picks for Gameweek 25.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Erling Haaland, priced at £14.4m and playing for Manchester City, emerges as a standout option for captaincy in Gameweek 25. With an impressive tally of 16 goals and six assists this season, including two goals and one assist in his last two starts, Haaland’s form is formidable. Concerns about his fitness have been dispelled, as evidenced by his recent full 90-minute performances.
Manchester City’s double gameweek sees them facing Chelsea and Brentford, both matches being held at home where City will be strong favourites to secure victories. As the top-scoring team in the league with 56 goals and a robust xG (expected goals) of 46.37, City’s attacking prowess is unmatched. Bookmakers also favour them to score 2.5+ goals in both fixtures, with probabilities of 48% and 55% respectively.
Haaland’s individual performance speaks volumes, leading the league in goals scored and boasting the highest xG by a significant margin at 16.57. With such promising factors aligning, Haaland emerges as a popular choice for the Triple Captain chip this week, rightfully so given his potential to deliver significant returns.
Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
Darwin Nunez, priced at £7.6m and playing for Liverpool, emerges as another compelling option for the captaincy in FPL Gameweek 25. With an impressive record of eight goals and nine assists in 15 starts, along with an xG (expected goals) of 11.97 and an xA (expected assists) of 3.34, Nunez’s underlying statistics speak volumes about his attacking threat.
Liverpool’s double gameweek sees them facing Brentford away and Luton at home, providing favourable opportunities for Nunez and his teammates to find the back of the net. With one of the best attacks in the league, scoring 55 goals (second) and boasting an xG of 53.59 (first), Liverpool’s offensive prowess is undeniable. The fixture against Luton, in particular, is enticing, given Luton’s defensive vulnerabilities, having conceded 45 goals (eighteenth) with an xGC (expected goals conceded) of 46.2 (nineteenth).
Bookmakers also favour Liverpool to score 2.5+ goals in both fixtures, with probabilities of 42% and 58% respectively. Despite any previous stigma surrounding Nunez, his role as a chance magnet and his inclusion in Klopp’s first-choice 11 for his potential to deliver returns over the double gameweek. Additionally, Nunez’s likely retention of penalty duties, despite a recent miss, underscores his reliability from the spot, having scored 12 out of 12 before the last attempt.
Also Read: Best Midfielder picks in FPL Gameweek 25
Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
Diogo Jota, priced at £8.2m and playing for Liverpool, emerges as a compelling option for the captaincy in Gameweek 25. With an impressive run of five goals and three assists in his last five league games, Jota is undoubtedly one of the league’s most in-form players. Additionally, his consistent inclusion in the starting lineup, playing 90 minutes thrice in his last four starts, further solidifies his appeal.
Liverpool’s fixtures against Brentford away and Luton at home provide excellent attacking opportunities, and Jota is one of the key finishers in the team. With Mohamed Salah still not fully involved in team training, Jota is expected to continue getting significant minutes during the double gameweek. Given his recent performances and importance to the team, there is minimal risk of him being dropped, ensuring he thrives in the front three.
The Portuguese forward has already notched nine goals and five assists in 12 starts this season, and his impressive form suggests he will continue to add to these tallies if he maintains his starting role. As such, Jota emerges as a strong candidate for the captaincy in FPL Gameweek 25, with expectations high for him to deliver significant returns over the double gameweek.
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Phil Foden, priced at £8.0m and playing for Manchester City, emerges as another strong contender for the captaincy in Gameweek 25. With a record of reliability, Foden has started the last 12 games and boasts the highest number of minutes among Manchester City midfielders, accumulating 1860 minutes so far this season.
The England international has contributed significantly to City’s attacking prowess, registering eight goals and seven assists in 21 league starts, supported by impressive underlying statistics such as an xG (expected goals) of 5.6 and an xA (expected assists) of 4.1. Foden’s versatility across the front three positions enhances his expected minutes on the field, with Pep Guardiola favouring him consistently in recent weeks.
With two promising home fixtures against Chelsea and Brentford, Foden’s potential for significant returns is heightened. His hat-trick against Brentford in Gameweek 23 serves as a testament to his ability to deliver big hauls when given the opportunity. As such, Foden emerges as a strong candidate for the captaincy in Gameweek 25, with expectations high for him to capitalize on City’s attacking prowess and deliver notable returns over the double gameweek.
Ivan Toney (Brentford)
Ivan Toney, priced at £8.2m and playing for Brentford, presents an intriguing option for consideration in Gameweek 25 despite facing challenging fixtures against Liverpool at home and Manchester City away. Since his return from suspension, Toney has showcased his goal-scoring instincts, netting three goals and providing one assist in just four games, demonstrating that his long lay-off hasn’t affected his form.
While Brentford’s upcoming double gameweek poses significant challenges against two formidable defensive teams, Toney remains a pivotal figure for Thomas Frank’s side. Despite Brentford’s mid-table standing in terms of attacking statistics, Toney’s influence on their offensive output is undeniable. As one of the talismanic players in the league, Toney is a guaranteed starter for Brentford and serves as their primary penalty-taker.
Given Toney’s track record as a proven Premier League goalscorer, evidenced by his 20 league goals in 33 games last season, along with an impressive Goal Involvement rate of 51% in the games he played, he remains a compelling option for FPL managers despite the tough fixtures. If Brentford manages to score in either of the games, Toney is highly likely to be involved in the goals, making him a potential differential captaincy choice for Gameweek 25.
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