The Hard Tackle lists the best captaincy picks for FPL managers ahead of Gameweek 32 of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
The 2023/24 Premier League continues in rampant fashion, with Gameweek 32 kicking off less than 48 hours after it ends on Thursday. The latest round of fixtures is not even over, and FPL managers have to think about the next matchday, which begins on Saturday afternoon.
We are at the business end of the 2023/24 season, with games coming thick and fast in the final weeks of the campaign. Gameweek 32 might be one of the moving matchdays in the Premier League, considering Liverpool will take on Manchester United in a potential banana skin fixture.
The Red Devils held Liverpool to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture while beating the Reds 4-3 in a come-from-behind win in the FA Cup quarter-finals. So, Mohamed Salah might not be an attractive choice to hand the captain’s armband this week.
Instead, Arsenal and Manchester City stars have appealing fixtures, while Chelsea and Tottenham might offer the best candidates. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle presents our four top picks to hand the captain’s armband heading into Gameweek 32 of the FPL.
Erling Haaland (£14.3m)
Our list begins with a player hungry for goals after not reaching the heights of the 2022/23 season. His recent drought compelled Roy Keane to “throw shade” at him before Pep Guardiola defended him with some choice comments towards the Manchester United legend. We are talking about Erling Haaland.
It is preposterous to imagine a season where Haaland does not have more goals than appearances. However, he has managed only (by his enormous standards) 29 goals in 35 outings thus far this term. But that has not deterred his prospective suitors, including Real Madrid.
Haaland will be itching to get back to scoring ways this weekend after failing to find the back of the net in three successive Premier League outings. With Manchester City taking on Crystal Palace, expect the Norwegian international to bounce back with a bang, scoring multiple goals this weekend.
Cole Palmer (£5.9m)
The next captaincy candidate has not been struggling in recent weeks. Instead, he has become the Chelsea player with the third-highest contributions to a goal in the Premier League era after Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Diego Costa. We are talking about Cole Palmer.
The Englishman has made a mockery of his FPL pricing, which has skyrocketed as the season has progressed. However, he still provides the best value for money at just £5.9m, considering he is the best outlet in the final third for Chelsea.
In addition, Palmer is on penalty duties, which has helped him boost his record this season. Meanwhile, the 21-year-old has racked up points in his last nine Premier League outings, producing a haul in seven appearances while 83 points, making him one of the most in-form players in the top flight. With Chelsea facing Sheffield United this weekend, he should be the top choice for the captain’s armband.
Son Heung-min (£10.1m)
We go from a player in form to one who has blown hot and cold since returning to action a few weeks ago, much like Erling Haaland. Unlike Cole Palmer, he costs a significant sum, setting FPL managers back by £10.1m. We are talking about Son Heung-min.
The Tottenham captain has done well to bounce back from his inconsistencies of last season. The South Korean international has a solid tally of 15 goals and eight assists in the FPL this term, becoming a productivity monster since Harry Kane’s summer departure to Bayern Munich.
However, Son has not been consistent since returning from South Korea duty at the AFC Asian Cup. He has produced a haul in four of his seven outings since then and drew a blank as West Ham United held Tottenham to a 1-1 draw this week. But with Tottenham facing Nottingham Forest at home, expect the 31-year-old to rediscover his scoring boots this weekend.
Alexander Isak (£7.8m)
Our list ends with a striker after recommending two midfielders. While this player faces a tricky fixture away from home against the mercurial Fulham, his form makes him a potential dark horse to hand the captain’s armband this weekend. We are talking about Alexander Isak.
The Swedish international has been prolific this term, with his only source of frustration being the injury-enforced spells on the sidelines. However, he has bounced back with aplomb since returning from his latest stint in the treatment room.
Isak has been on the score sheet in four successive games, finding the back of the net five times in those outings while racking up 37 points during this period. With the Fulham defence leaving much to be desired in recent matches, the Swede will fancy his prospects of continuing his fine run on Saturday at Craven Cottage.
