Erling Haaland , priced at £14.1 million, has been the go-to captain for millions of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers. However, starting with Gameweek 8, Manchester City’s fixtures take a challenging turn, potentially opening the door for alternatives like Son Heung-min and Mohamed Salah, who have more favorable schedules. Haaland’s recent form has been somewhat inconsistent, making it crucial for FPL managers to reconsider their captaincy choices.
Haaland’s Recent Form
Haaland’s performance in the first seven Gameweeks of the season has been up and down. He has managed to produce more than six points in only one of the last six Gameweeks. Let’s take a closer look at his points in comparison to Son and Salah:
In Gameweek 1:
– Erling Haaland earned 13 points
– Mohamed Salah earned 5 points
– Son Heung-min earned 2 points
In Gameweek 2:
– Erling Haaland earned 2 points
– Mohamed Salah earned 5 points
– Son Heung-min earned 3 points
In Gameweek 3:
– Erling Haaland earned 4 points
– Mohamed Salah earned 5 points
– Son Heung-min earned 3 points
In Gameweek 4:
– Erling Haaland earned 20 points
– Mohamed Salah earned 8 points
– Son Heung-min earned 20 points
In Gameweek 5:
– Erling Haaland earned 6 points
– Mohamed Salah earned 10 points
– Son Heung-min earned 2 points
In Gameweek 6:
– Erling Haaland earned 6 points
– Mohamed Salah earned 10 points
– Son Heung-min earned 14 points
In Gameweek 7:
– Erling Haaland earned 2 points
– Mohamed Salah earned 1 point-
-Son Heung-min earned 7 points
This showcases the points earned by Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and Son Heung-min in each respective Gameweek of the Fantasy Premier League, clearly indicating their individual performances.
This data clearly shows that Haaland has not been consistently outperforming his peers, making it a valid option to consider Salah or Son as captain alternatives.
Son’s Rise to Prominence
Since being moved up front for Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 4, Son Heung-min has become the top-scoring player in Fantasy, accumulating 43 points. Notably, he has outscored Haaland in three out of the last four Gameweeks, demonstrating his potential as a captaincy choice.
Salah’s Consistency
Mohamed Salah, on the other hand, has consistently delivered points for FPL managers. He has outscored Haaland in four of the last six Gameweeks, showcasing his reliability as an armband candidate.
Upcoming Fixtures Analysis
Looking at the upcoming fixtures for these three premium picks (Haaland, Salah, and Son), it’s evident that there are clear opportunities to consider captaining Salah or Son over Haaland in the coming weeks:
Gameweek 8-12 Fixtures
Haaland: Arsenal (Away), Brighton (Home), Manchester United (Away), Bournemouth (Home), Chelsea (Away)
Salah: Brighton (Away), Everton (Home), Nottingham Forest (Home), Luton (Away), Brentford (Home)
Son: Luton (Away), Fulham (Home), Crystal Palace (Away), Chelsea (Home), Wolverhampton (Away)
Notably, Manchester City faces tough fixtures against Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea in the next five Gameweeks. Haaland struggled in these corresponding fixtures in the previous season, managing just a single goal across all three.
Son appears to be the standout pick in Gameweek 8, facing promoted Luton Town, while Haaland tackles Arsenal. Salah has a favorable matchup against Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 10 when Haaland faces Man Utd.
Additionally, both Son and Salah have kind fixtures in Gameweek 12 when Haaland faces Chelsea. Son travels to Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Salah welcomes Brentford to Anfield.
Ideal Tactic: Owning Both Son and Salah
To fully capitalize on Haaland’s downturn in schedule, it makes sense for FPL managers to consider owning both Son and Salah. This approach provides flexibility in choosing the captain based on fixtures and form. However, for those planning to allocate extra funds to defense by bringing in Kieran Trippier from Newcastle United, it’s advisable to have just one of the big-hitters to maintain budget balance. Son’s more affordable price tag compared to Salah makes him an attractive option in this scenario.
Considering Alvarez to Watkins Switch
The change in Manchester City’s schedule not only affects Haaland but also impacts his fellow forward, Julian Alvarez, and their defenders. Alvarez has been Haaland’s partner in the popular 3-5-2 formation this season, outscoring Haaland in three of the last six Gameweeks. He ranks among the top five players for both shots and chances created this season.
However, a shift away from the Manchester City attacking double-up is reasonable, given that Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has both form and fixtures on his side. Watkins is currently the top-scoring player in FPL with 54 points, and Villa’s next five matches are favorable according to the FDR.
Villa and Spurs also offer strong options for managers holding Manchester City defenders. Players like Matty Cash and Pedro Porro stand out as excellent picks.
Erling Haaland’s role as the go-to captain in FPL is under threat due to Manchester City’s tough run of fixtures. FPL managers should carefully consider alternatives like Son Heung-min and Mohamed Salah, who have favorable schedules and have been performing consistently. Owning both Son and Salah can be an ideal tactic to maximize points during Haaland’s challenging fixture period. Additionally, the emergence of Ollie Watkins as a top-scoring forward adds another layer of complexity to FPL team selection, especially for those looking to diversify their attacking options. Overall, strategic planning and flexibility will be crucial in navigating the upcoming Gameweeks successfully. Continue Reading
