FPL Double Gameweek 23 – Captain Picks
Following the conclusion of Double Gameweek 22 last night, which saw Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.5m) frustrate a large proportion of FPL managers with his two-point cameo, let’s run through how some other popular selections have performance this past gameweek.
Jarrod Bowen (£6.8m) sent his owners into raptures in Double Gameweek 21 with two goals and an assist giving him 21 FPL points. He followed this up by finding the net again against Leeds in DGW22, earning 7 points even though the Hammers were ultimately beaten 2-3. The highly owned Michail Antonio (£7.9m) accrued an assist, but was also booked which left him on just 4 points, whilst an assist plus a bonus point for Leeds midfielder Raphinha (£6.5m) earned him 6 points. Elsewhere, Joao Cancelo (£7.0m) fetched an assist, a clean sheet and 11 FPL points as Man City beat Chelsea by a goal to nil.
Those banking on Harry Kane (£12.3m) to continue his excellent form against Arsenal for Spurs were left furious as the Gunners successfully applied for the fixtures’ postponement, although Leicester away later in the week saw him bounce back with a goal, an assist and 11 points. Another hugely lucrative defender in Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.4m) proved his captaincy credentials with another 10 FPL points in Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Brentford, although midfielder Diogo Jota (£8.4m) failed to pick up an attacking return for the Reds and his ownership of over 37% .
With the constant threat of postponements combined with Mo Salah’s current international commitments, selecting the right captain remains a tough task heading into Double Gameweek 23. However, we’ve run through some of names staking their claim and provided our readers with three premium options for the armband worth assessing, alongside a differential pick ahead of Friday’s 18:30 deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Kevin De Bruyne (£12.1m) vs SOU (a)
When Kevin De Bruyne (£12.1m) is fully fit and in full flow, he is FPL gold as shown once again in Double Gameweek 22, as he struck a majestic winner against Chelsea, picking up 11 FPL points in the process. Whilst rotation is always a worry when Man City is concerned, De Bruyne is one of Pep Guardiola’s must trusted lieutenants and expected to start the vast majority of matches when fit.
Man City travel to Southampton in Double Gameweek 23 and De Bruyne comes into the fixture in ominous FPL form, having scored 47 points across the last six gameweeks, including four goals and an assist. Against a Southampton side who have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten Premier League matches, this bodes well for those looking to bring in De Bruyne and adds significant weight as to why the midfield maestro would make an excellent choice of skipper.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.4m) vs CRY (a)
The likes of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane may be away at the Africa Cup of Nations, but that hasn’t stopped Trent Alexander-Arnold from racking up the FPL points. The flying full-back’s 10-point haul against Brentford in Double Gameweek 22 saw him increase his overall tally for the season to 142 points, the most of any defender and the second highest of the entire FPL player-base, with only Liverpool teammate Salah having gained more.
A trip to Selhurst Park awaits Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool in Double Gameweek 23, with the Reds’ 0-7 hammering of Crystal Palace on the same ground last season no doubt still etched in their memory. Jurgen Klopp’s side have already dispatched the Eagles 3-0 at Anfield in this current campaign, a match missed by Alexander-Arnold due to injury. As you would expect, the England international is expected to play a pivotal role for his team going forward, alongside his expert set pieces which opens up the possibility of attacking returns. Ten assists and ten clean sheets across the 2021-22 Premier League so far tells its own story and when taking into account his vast ownership percentage, captaining Alexander-Arnold offers the best chance of profiting should he haul once again.
Jarrod Bowen (£6.8m) vs MUN (a)
Arguably the most in-form player in the Premier League right now from an attacking perspective, West Ham wideman Jarrod Bowen has unsurprisingly become the darling of the FPL community in double quick time. It’s easy to see why when taking into account his recent stats. Bowen has accumulated an incredible eight attacking returns across the last four gameweeks (three goals and five assists), acquiring a total of 46 FPL points within that period, including a 21-point haul in Double Gameweek 21.
Whilst Man Utd at Old Trafford represents a difficult assignment for Bowen in Double Gameweek 23, his scintillating form simply cannot be ignored and those FPL managers who choose to place the armband upon the 25-year-old midfielder have every right to feel confident that Bowen can maintain his recent hot streak against a side without a clean sheet in their last four league games.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Raheem Sterling (£10.7m) vs SOU (a)
Whilst the last two gameweeks haven’t yielded any attacking returns for Raheem Sterling (£10.7m), Man City’s attacking midfielder in mitigation did find himself up against two strong teams in Arsenal and Chelsea. Gameweek 23 opponents Southampton represent a lower level of opposition and one that could see Sterling get himself back among the goals as Pep Guardiola’s men look to extend their 12-match winning streak in the Premier League.
So far, Sterling has accrued seven goals and one assist in the 2021-22 Premier League, with five of those goals coming between gameweeks 15 and 19, a period which saw Sterling rack up 40 FPL points despite not featuring in Gameweek 17. Less than 4% of FPL owners currently have Sterling among their respective squads, making him a big Double Gameweek 23 differential and ideal for those looking to make up ground in their respective mini-leagues.
