After the hectic schedule presented by a mammoth double gameweek last time around, the weekend’s FA Cup action gave us FPL managers a brief moment to pause in what has been a relentless season.
That pause, however, only lasts until Tuesday evening with the Premier League set for another full round of fixtures, the headline fixture seeing Tottenham face out-of-sorts Liverpool in the capital.
As always we’re on hand to offer our advise for those struggling to finalise their sides, here are the Football Faithful’s best captaincy options for gameweek 20:
Fantasy Premier League’s best captaincy picks for Gameweek 20:
Bruno Fernandes v Sheffield United (H)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has dismissed suggestions by some that Bruno Fernandes is ‘tired’, which should alleviate any reservations about handing the midfielder the captaincy in gameweek 20.
The Portugal international is the second-highest scoring FPL asset and continues to rack up points at an incredible rate, including notching an assist in the Red Devils’ win at Fulham last time out.
Gameweek 20 brings a hugely enticing fixture with bottom side Sheffield United visiting the current league leaders, with few expecting an upset given the contrasting form and fortunes of the two sides.
Fernandes has been directly involved in 18 goals in just 18 league starts so far this season and a comfortable victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side is likely to see the 26-year-old exert his influence once more.
FPL Podcast: Which Premier League teams to avoid and our GW20 picks
Raheem Sterling v West Brom (A)
Manchester City have seen their title odds tumble in recent weeks following a fine run of form, winning their past nine fixtures in all competitions to emerge as favourites to be crowned champions.
Kevin De Bruyne limped out of last week’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa and is expected to miss between four and six weeks of action, with City needing another of their premium assets to step up in the absence of the Belgium international.
Raheem Sterling shapes as the safest pick and despite questions over his form has returned consistently in terms of FPL points, netting attacking returns in five of his past seven fixtures.
The likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Ruben Dias may lead the winger in the form chart for City at present, but neither are better options when it comes to explosive point scoring and an away trip to struggling West Brom should pose few problems for Pep Guardiola’s side.
West Brom possess the division’s worst defensive record and have conceded a whopping 43 goals in just 19 fixtures this season, showing few signs of improving that record despite the arrival of Sam Allardyce as manager.
Harry Kane v Liverpool (H)
Selecting a captain with a fixture against Liverpool would have been deemed FPL madness just a matter of months ago, but the stuttering form of the champions and continued excellence of Harry Kane means there may be many tempted to hand the Spurs striker the armband.
Kane enjoys a strong record in clashes against Liverpool and has provided eight goal involvements (six goals, two assists) in 11 career league appearances against the Reds, whilst the forward is in excellent form and has scored in each of his past three appearances for the north London side.
No player has scored more FPL points than Kane’s tally of 142 this season and the star is currently on course to reach 300 for the season, just three short of the all-time record set by Mohamed Salah during the 2017/18 campaign.
SCOUT: Harry Kane (£11.1m) has 142 points from his first 18 matches. He is on course to reach 300
Mohamed Salah holds the all-time record of 303, set in his first season at Liverpool in 2017/18#SHUTOT #FPL pic.twitter.com/tvmaLJwkX2
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 18, 2021
Kane is now also just one goal short of Salah in the race for this season’s Golden Boot and leads the league for assists and shots this term, the England captain remaining key to Spurs’ hopes of keeping pace with the league leaders.
A visiting Liverpool side out of form and lacking confidence could be the latest side to fall victim to a player enjoying arguably the finest individual season of his career to date.
The best Premier League statistics of the week
Danny Ings v Arsenal (H)
Arsenal’s progress in recent weeks was halted by defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup this weekend, and the same two sides meet once again at St Mary’s in gameweek 20.
Southampton’s chances of success have been boosted by the return of Danny Ings after the forward’s positive Covid-19 test, and the 28-year-old could reward his ownership once more following his impressive home form this season.
Ings has averaged 5.7 points per home fixture this season including two double-digit hauls and a nine-point return against Liverpool last time out, the England international having also shown his fixture-proof abilities with four goals against the Premier League’s traditional ‘big six’ already this season.
Southampton boast the fourth-best home record in the league this season and will be seeking a sixth win in 10 fixtures at St Mary’s to boost their hopes of securing European football.
Read: How to master FPL: 15 tips to help you dominate Fantasy Premier League
See Also: Fantasy Premier League: 20 of the best FPL team names you should consider this season
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