The Hard Tackle lists the best candidates to be your captain heading into Gameweek 30 of the 2023/24 FPL season.
Club football is back after a break of nearly a fortnight, with Gameweek 30 kicking off this weekend. So, FPL also returns, with the game introducing a new variation in the form of the FPL Challenge. But we focus on the traditional format for our latest offering.
Gameweek 29 featured only four matches, making it difficult for us to pick a captain. But the latest round of fixtures has ten games, giving managers a good variety at their disposal, even though Manchester City and Arsenal will lock horns in a top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad on Sunday.
However, several games offer eye-catching captaincy prospects, with Tottenham Hotspur hosting Luton Town, Chelsea welcoming Burnley to Stamford Bridge, and Manchester United taking on a struggling Brentford. Unsurprisingly, we have a pick each from Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
A Liverpool attacker invariably features, while we have a pick from Fulham, which may surprise a few. Nevertheless, here is our list of the best candidates to hand the captain’s armband heading into Gameweek 30 of the 2023/24 FPL season.
Cole Palmer (£5.8m)
Our first pick comes from Chelsea, a club that has not given us many captaincy candidates thus far in the 2023/24 season. But Cole Palmer has been a rare bright spot for the West London club, with his low price tag of £5.8m making him an appealing prospect in FPL.
The young Englishman has been excellent since completing his big-money move from Chelsea. His exploits have not only proven his naysayers wrong but also attracted high-profile clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, with the bigwigs keeping tabs on Chelsea’s situation.
As for matters on the pitch, Palmer is one of the most in-form players in FPL, producing a haul in six of his last eight outings. This run has produced five goals and five assists, helping him rack up 68 points. With Chelsea facing a vulnerable Burnley side, Palmer will be a top-notch candidate to add to his incredible tally on Saturday.
Rodrigo Muniz (£4.6m)
Our next pick will likely surprise many readers. But such has been the impact for Fulham by young that the Cottagers are no longer missing former star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. And the in-form striker should continue his fine run this weekend.
Fulham will lock horns with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, and considering the home side’s recent record at the stadium, they are ripe for the taking. The Blades have conceded 20 goals in their last five Premier League games at Bramall Lane, including 16 in the most recent three outings.
Meanwhile, Muniz has amassed 57 points in his last seven matches, racking up seven goals and one assist. And after scoring a match-winning brace against Fulham in Gameweek 29, the £4.6m-priced striker should fancy his prospects of bolstering his tally on Saturday.
Son Heung-min (£10.1m)
The list continues with a player who drew a blank in Gameweek 29 and will be itching to return to his best this weekend. The candidate in question is Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min.
Tottenham will welcome Luton Town to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, and the home side should be in contention to return in winning ways in some fashion. Son, in particular, will be eager to make his mark after blowing hot and cold in FPL since returning from the AFC Asian Cup.
The South Korean attacker has produced a haul in three of his five outings after his nation’s Asian Cup campaign ended. But he has only drawn a blank in one of the four games in which his team has scored at least once. So, with Tottenham facing a porous Luton Town backline, Son will be a candidate to produce a gameweek-changing haul for his teams.
Rasmus Hojlund (£7.0m)
Players taking to the field on Saturday dominate our latest offering, with the next candidate also featuring on the day. We are talking about Rasmus Hojlund, who will return to a Premier League starting lineup for the first time in six weeks.
Hojlund did not find the back of the net in Manchester United’s surprise come-from-behind win over Liverpool in the FA Cup. But he showed positive signs and will fancy his chances of punishing a struggling Brentford defence this weekend.
Hojlund was on fire before picking up a muscle injury last month, becoming the youngest-ever player to score in six successive Premier League games. With the Bees conceding 15 goals in their last six top-flight outings, Manchester United should trouble the scorers multiple times, with Hojlund being the likeliest to find the back of the net and continue his scoring streak.
Mohamed Salah (£13.1m)
Our list ends with an obvious pick, and the player is in no way our least preferred choice for the captain’s armband. Nevertheless, we round off our shortlist for Gameweek 30 of the 2023/24 FPL season with Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian international has barely featured for the Merseyside club in 2024, with injuries and participation in the Africa Cup of Nations affecting his game time. However, Salah was on target for Liverpool against Manchester United in the FA Cup clash.
Brighton & Hove Albion have been dreadful on their travels in the last few weeks, conceding 14 goals in their last six outings across all competitions. So, Liverpool should make merry on Sunday, with Salah returning to action in the Premier League and FPL with a bang.