FPL 2022-23 | Gameweek 5 | Captain Picks
Gameweek 4 will be one that is talked about years from now, mainly due to one extraordinary result. Despite Liverpool equalling the Premier League’s record victory margin by smashing Bournemouth 9-0, there was quite incredibly no goal or even assist for Mo Salah (£13.0m). In terms of our own captain picks, both Gabriel Jesus (£8.2m) and Kevin de Bruyne (£12.2m) failed to accrue an attacking return. Erling Haaland (£11.8m) however, scored the first of what well could be many Premier League hat-tricks, giving him a 17-point haul.
Despite the stories of Gameweek 4, there is precious little time to dwell on those with a first midweek round of Premier League fixtures this season. With that in mind, we round up the most attractive premium captain picks for Gameweek 5, alongside a differential skipper ahead of Tuesday’s 18:00 deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Erling Haaland (£11.8m) vs NFO (H)
The biggest worry for owners of Erling Haaland is whether Pep Guardiola will start his star forward with an extremely busy run of fixtures ahead for Man City. Should Haaland be named in the XI then the case to afford him the captaincy is obvious. Six goals in four Premier League games and 41 FPL points already accrued tells its own story. The Norwegian currently averages over ten points per gameweek.
Man City host Nott’m Forest in Gameweek 5, who have kept just one clean sheet so far this season. They were beaten 0-2 by Spurs this past Sunday, but can’t be faulted for pushing bodies forward at every opportunity. However, a similar playstyle at the Etihad Stadium will likely see them taken to the cleaners by City are Haaland will likely be the player to benefit. Once again though, be wary of him potentially being rested.
Harry Kane (£11.4m) vs WHU (a)
Whilst Pep Guardiola boasts a squad that makes resting players such as Haaland a straightforward exercise, this isn’t the case for Antonio Conte at Spurs. Which means that forward Harry Kane (£11.4m) should feature from the start once again in Gameweek 5 away at West Ham. Since his blank on the opening weekend of the season, Kane has been doing what he does best in front of goal, scoring in Gameweeks 2, 3 and 4 including a brace most recently against Nott’m Forest. However, his score of ten points could have been so much better had he not seen a second-half penalty brilliantly saved by Dean Henderson.
West Ham at the London Stadium represent tricky opposition of that there is no doubt. But the argument that form should always come out on top over fixtures make Kane a worthy candidate to be given the armband by his FPL ownership. A total of 24 FPL points in his last three gameweeks is difficult to ignore and it would be no surprise to see him continue his hot streak in Gameweek 5.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) vs NEW (H)
Selling a proven FPL performer following a slow start to the season is always a huge risk because more often than not it’s only a matter of time before they start firing once again. This was certainly the case for Trent Alexander-Arnold(£7.5m) in Gameweek 4, who severely punished those who lost patience in the flying full-back. Liverpool’s 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth saw Alexander-Arnold accumulate a goal, an assist a clean sheet and a total score of 17 FPL points. Not bad for an afternoon’s work!
Once again, the Reds are at home in midweek with Newcastle the visitors to Anfield in Gameweek 5. The Magpies are unbeaten this season, but Liverpool have won seven of the last nine league fixtures between the two teams, scoring at least three times in five of those victories. Alexander-Arnold offers multiple avenues towards gaining points whether it be through clean sheets, goals or assists through his crosses and set pieces. Whilst it always represents a risk captaining a defender, Alexander-Arnold has proven by now that he can be an exception to that rule.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Julian Alvarez (£6.2m) vs NFO (H)
Differential option is certainly the right word to describe this selection, especially as many people will understandably not expect Julian Alvarez (£6.2m) to start in Gameweek 5. However, we think differently when taking into account Man City’s upcoming fixture backlog. Pep Guardiola has promised that Alvarez “is going to play” and after three appearances off the bench in four gameweeks, if he isn’t trusted to start at home to newly promoted Nott’m Forest, then you have to ask when will he be trusted?
Alvarez joined Man City having scored 18 goals in 26 appearances for River Plate already this year. He gave fans a glimpse of what he can do after finding the net in the Community Shield vs Liverpool and has looked sharp off the bench. At £6.2m, his price is cheap so he shouldn’t be difficult for FPL managers to afford. For anyone who has the guts to second-guess Guardiola and gamble on Alvarez gaining significant minutes in Gameweek 5, then they may well be rewarded handsomely.
