It was an inconsistent return for our Gameweek 5 captain picks, but there was some success to be had. Two assists for Mo Salah (£12.5m) in Liverpool’s 1-3 win over Wolves saw him pick up 10 FPL points, his first double-figure return of the campaign. Erling Haaland (£14.1m) bagged his seventh league goal of the season and 6 fantasy points as Man City came from behind to beat West Ham. But Bryan Mbeumo (£6.9m) failed to record an attacking return against Newcastle. Differential pick Taiwo Awoniyi (£6.6m) gained another 5 points with an assist vs Burnley.
Decisive gain.
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 18, 2023
Only Mohamed Salah (13) has been involved in more Premier League goals than Taiwo Awoniyi (9) since the start of May 2023 #NFOBUR | @taiwoawoniyi18 pic.twitter.com/9RSqvG9Ocv
There’s little time to rest though following a midweek morsel of European football, as we quickly turn our attention to Gameweek 6. Three premium captain options have been singled out, as well as a differential pick ahead of Saturday’s 13:30 deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Mo Salah (£12.5m) vs WHU (H)
The mere mention of the name Mo Salah is probably enough to force cold sweats among West Ham supporters, such is the damage he has caused them over the years. The Egyptian boasts nine Premier League goals against the Hammers since November 2017, two of those coming from the penalty spot and Salah now has David Moyes’ side in his sights ahead of Gameweek 6.
Lee Bonfield (@FPLFamily)
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 21, 2023
Salah has reminded all us non-owners, just what a force of nature he is in #FPL. I may Wildcard this week as I've got multiple changes I want to make, and if I do I won't be making the same mistake I made in Gameweek 1. Salah will be in pic.twitter.com/Z84Zx4bL0N
Salah is yet to go a single gameweek this season without recording at least one attacking return, racking up two goals, four assists and 33 FPL points in total. Both of his goals have come at Anfield, the location of Liverpool’s clash with West Ham this coming weekend and it’s hard to see him not continuing that good run. This underlines his captaincy appeal.
Erling Haaland (£14.1m) vs NFO (H)
Erling Haaland backed up his hat-trick against Fulham with another goal against London-based opposition in Gameweek 5, this time vs West Ham. It will come as no surprise to anyone that Haaland is the current top-scorer in the 2023-24 Premier League and also boasts the highest FPL score of any player after five completed gameweeks with 45 fantasy points to his name.
GW 6 Captaincy:
— FPL Architect (@FPL_Architect) September 21, 2023
Erling Haaland - 14.1
Fixture: NFO (H)
There’s absolutely no reason not to captain Haaland this GW. Sure, Salah is a great option as well, but Haaland at home to Forest is on a different level. This is really not the week to go against him. pic.twitter.com/0NRVxyex0t
The Norwegian took Nottingham Forest to the cleaners at the Etihad Stadium last season, scoring a hat-trick against Steve Cooper’s side. After missing numerous chances to score in Man City’s Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade in midweek, Haaland may well look to take out his frustrations on Forest this Saturday. As you’d expect, the vast majority of FPL managers will captain the Man City forward.
Evan Ferguson (£6.0m) vs BOU (H)
Although he did not feature across the most recent international break due to injury, Evan Ferguson (£6.0m) made his return to action in Gameweek 5, coming off the bench away at Old Trafford. Whilst Brighton are to play in the Europa League this Thursday night, the chances of Ferguson starting against Bournemouth in Gameweek 6 must be fairly strong, although it is always a risk due to Roberto De Zerbi consistently rotating his side.
He said Ferguson will play too.
— TrophyFPL (Mo) (@TrophyFpl) September 21, 2023
The last time Ferguson stepped off the pitch at Brighton in the Premier League, it was after he had scored a hat-trick and accumulated 17 FPL points against Newcastle. This certainly won’t have been forgotten by fantasy managers and the gamble of captaining the forward is definitely a tempting one. Like Mo Salah, Ferguson’s only Premier League goals scored this season have come at home as it stands.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Pedro Neto (£5.5m) vs LUT (a)
A popular pick early on last season, not so much in this campaign. But Pedro Neto (£5.5m) has been quietly accruing attacking returns for Wolves and it’s time for people to take notice. His ownership at this point is less than 2%, underlining the differential appeal that comes with his selection, but it could well prove a fruitful pick.
Pedro Neto now has 4 assists this season.
— Andy (@LetsTalk_FPL) September 16, 2023
He’s doubled his tally of 2 that he got last year.
Finally justifying why so many of us picked him in Gameweek 1…..a year ago.
Neto has picked up four assists across the past three gameweeks, gaining 22 FPL points in the process. Wolves travel to Kenilworth Road in Gameweek 6 to face a Luton side still without a point in this season’s Premier League. With form and potentially the fixture in his favour, the Portuguese attacking midfielder falls firmly under the differential umbrella.
