Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Captains for FPL Gameweek 13

The last international break of 2023 marks the beginning of a hectic schedule comprising nine Gameweeks within the next 40 days. Kicking off this sequence is Gameweek 13, with the deadline for that set of matches scheduled for 12:30 GMT this Saturday afternoon.

As always, this is your go-to source for the most pertinent information leading up to the upcoming rounds of action.

For the mathematically inclined, this translates to an FPL deadline every 4.5 days, so it’s wise to set reminders on your calendars.

This period sees real-life managers implementing rotation policies akin to the frenzy of last-minute present buying. Hence, it’s crucial to ensure your squad is well-stocked, comparable to your parent’s Christmas fridge, to avoid unpleasant surprises in player selection.

Thus, we have selected the Top 5 players to pick as a Captain in your FPL team for Gameweek 13.

Heung-min Son – Tottenham Hotspurs

Priced at £9.7 million, Heung-min Son from Spurs has been in excellent form, boasting eight goals and one assist with an Expected Goal (xG) of 4.6 and an Expected Assists (xA) of 2.1. Currently, he stands as the second-highest-scoring midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League.

In Gameweek 13, Spurs face Aston Villa at home, a team that has conceded 17 goals (thirteenth) with an xGC of 15.7 (sixth), indicating a relatively decent defensive performance.

Despite Villa’s defensive record, being at home and Spurs’ attacking style of play suggests the likelihood of goals in this fixture.

Spurs are the second favorites to score 2.5+ goals (29%) in Gameweek 13, making Son the prime candidate to find the back of the net.

Son boasts a remarkable 34% Goal Involvement, and with James Maddison (£7.9m) sidelined due to injury, there is added responsibility on Son to deliver strong performances.

Even though Tottenham’s creativity may be affected by Maddison’s absence, Son remains an appealing option, especially with his role as the number 9 in the team.

Bukayo Saka – Arsenal

Priced at £8.6 million, Bukayo Saka from Arsenal has had a solid season with four goals and six assists, backed by an Expected Goals (xG) of 4.15 and an Expected Assists (xA) of 3.33, ranking him fourth overall.

While he has seen a slight dip in recent performances, contributing just one assist in the matches against Burnley and Sheffield United, Saka remains Arsenal’s most consistent attacker, making him a reliable option for Fantasy managers.

In Gameweek 13, Mikel Arteta’s team faces Brentford away, a team that has conceded 17 goals (thirteenth) with an xGC of 16.5 (eighth). Despite Brentford’s decent defensive record, Arsenal’s strong attacking capabilities position them as strong favorites to secure a victory.

Arsenal is the third favorite to score 2.5+ goals (27%) in the upcoming game week. With 26 goals scored (fourth) and an xG of 21.86 (seventh), Arsenal’s attacking prowess is evident, and they are expected to find the net against Thomas Frank’s side.

Saka, known for both his goal and assist threat, boasts the highest Goal Involvement (40%) among his teammates in the games he has played. Furthermore, he is the designated penalty taker, adding to his appeal for Fantasy Premier League managers.

Erling Haaland – Manchester City

Priced at £14.0 million, Erling Haaland from Manchester City continues to impress, accumulating 13 goals and three assists, leading the league as the top goalscorer with an xG of 12.2 (first) and an xA of 0.94. His goal-scoring prowess positions him as a likely contender for the league’s top scorer by the end of the season.

Manchester City faces a formidable opponent in Liverpool at home in Gameweek 13, marking one of their toughest fixtures of the season. However, the history of high-scoring encounters between the two teams suggests that goals can be expected.

In the last five league games involving these teams, a total of 19 goals have been scored, emphasizing the attacking strengths of both sides. Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, now holds the record for the most goals scored (32) and boasts an xG of 26.03 (second).

The city is favored to score 2.5+ goals with a 38% chance, indicating the potential for a goal-laden match. Haaland, a consistent starter and the designated penalty taker emerges as the most likely candidate to find the back of the net in this high-stakes encounter.

Eberechi Eze – Crystal Palace

Eberechi Eze, priced at £6.1 million for Crystal Palace, made a successful return from injury by scoring in his first start. In eight starts this season, he has contributed two goals and two assists, boasting an Expected Goals (xG) of 3.0 and an Expected Assists (xA) of 2.0.

Crystal Palace faces Luton in what is considered one of the most favorable fixtures of the season. Luton’s defensive struggles are evident, having conceded 22 goals (sixteenth) with an Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) of 25.3 (nineteenth), positioning them as one of the weaker defenses in the league and relegation favorites.

Although Palace has faced challenges in attack, scoring only 12 goals (seventeenth) with an xG of 14.58 (fourteenth), the return of Eze and Michael Olise (£5.8m) from fitness concerns is expected to enhance their creativity, especially in the upcoming fixture.

Eze, with both goal and assist potential, is a confirmed starter and serves as the team’s primary penalty-taker. Having secured 10 goals and five assists last season, there’s confidence that he will surpass his attacking returns from the previous campaign.

Dominic Solanke – Bournemouth

Dominic Solanke, priced at £6.4 million for Bournemouth, is enjoying a standout season with six goals and one assist, supported by an Expected Goals (xG) of 5.28 and an Expected Assists (xA) of 0.74.

Solanke’s impressive underlying statistics, combined with his eye-catching performances, make him a noteworthy player. In Gameweek 13, Bournemouth faces newly-promoted Sheffield United on the road. Sheffield United has conceded the most goals (31) and holds the worst Expected Goals Conceded (xGC) record of 26.3.

With Bournemouth expected to be strong favorites in this fixture, Solanke emerges as the player most likely to accumulate points. Serving as his team’s talisman, Solanke boasts a substantial Goal Involvement rate of 64% thus far. As the designated penalty taker, a confirmed starter, and having played over 80 minutes in all 12 league starts, Solanke is poised to capitalize on this favorable matchup.

This fixture presents an excellent opportunity for Solanke to secure attacking returns, given Sheffield United’s defensive struggles. Already matching his goal tally from the previous season, the 26-year-old looks on track to achieve his best-ever season.

Furthermore, Solanke’s favorable long-term fixtures make him a compelling option for Fantasy Premier League managers, especially during the busy festive period.