FPL managers rejoice, Erling Haaland isn’t a default captain pick for GW14.
Due to a combination of Man City featuring in the early kick-off and injury/illness concerns, sticking the captain’s armband isn’t a straightforward decision.
As per every gameweek, for all of the recommended captaincy options, check our best FPL Captains page.
Erling Haaland
- Fixture: Leicester City (a)
- Anytime goal: 67%
- Anytime return: 74%
With Haaland back fit and firing, he is once again the main captain choice for another gameweek.
Haaland bounced back to form in his return game, after his GW12 blank.
He scored a brace at home to Brighton, alongside picking up maximum bonus points. Haaland now has 17 goals already for the season.
Consequently, it will come as little surprise he is this week’s most likely goalscorer.
However, with his early substitution midweek against his former club in Borussia Dortmund, it has left him flagged for the coming gameweek. The Norwegian came off with influenza, and a knock on his foot.
This isn’t the first time he’s come off early in a European group stage match. The 22-year-old has come off early in all possible Champions league matches so far.
With rotation in mind for domestic matches, he has averaged 63 minutes of playing time in each UCL game.
In addition, Man City’s GW14 opponents have form on their side. The Foxes have kept four shutouts in their last five matches.
Although Haaland may be the more dominant choice, Salah provides a good case for managers to think again.
Mohamed Salah
- Fixture: Leeds (H)
- Anytime goal: 53%
- Anytime return: 66%
Haaland’s closest competitior for the armband is Salah. In supporting his case, look no further than his amazing goalscoring record against Leeds.
In his four appearances against them, he has scored six goals, alongside an assist. However, this did include a hat trick at home, when he first faced them in September 2020.
Salah is actually predicted to score more points than Haaland, as per our free FPL points predictor tool.
Despite the appealing fixture, Salah is the most transferred out for the gameweek. These transfers out will be because of his two blanks against West Ham and Notts Forest.
Four of his next five fixtures are rated as a 2 on the FDR, which makes the transfers out a little puzzling.
His Champions League form has been impressive, though. He provided a goal and an assist in Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Ajax.
If you’re not feeling one of the main two for the armband, Haaland’s Belgian teammate proves a solid alternative.
Kevin De Bruyne
- Fixture: Leicester City (a)
- Anytime goal: 31%
- Anytime return: 60%
Just like Haaland, the De Bruyne registered a healthy return in GW13. A goal against Brighton puts him in good stead for the armband conversation.
His chance creation has always been a strength of his. He has created three goalscoring chances in Man City’s last three league games. This is also, the equal highest of any player.
Furthermore, this is reflected in his expected assist stats. His xA is now 6.03, which is two more expected, than any other player in the league.
With De Bruyne’s starting chances being higher than his Norwegian teammate, it may be worth having a punt on the attacking midfielder. Additionally, he was an unused substitute in City’s midweek game away at Dortmund.
De Bruyne’s starting chance is 90%, as opposed to Haaland’s 80%. Factoring in the chances of Haaland being subbed off, if any gameweek is the time to captain KDB over Haaland, then GW14 is it.
Harry Kane
- Fixture: Bournemouth (a)
- Anytime goal: 45%
- Anytime return: 18%
Next in line is Tottenham’s ever-consistent goalscorer, Harry Kane.
Kane returned to form on the weekend, coming off his second blank of the season in GW12.
The three-time golden boot winner scored a goal, alongside clinching two bonus points at home to Everton.
His consistency stacks up against the best when it comes to in-form players. He ranks third for the most points scored within the last 6 gameweeks.
His 42 points within that period, are only bettered by Haaland and Miguel Almiron.
Despite his consistency, he still isn’t highly owned by the top-ranked managers. In the top 100, he is owned by 49% of managers. While in the top 1,000 managers, he’s owned by 47%.