Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Captains for FPL Gameweek 20

In the Fantasy Premier League (FPL), managers are gearing up for the final round of festive fixtures in Gameweek 20, navigating the armband dilemma for the quick turnaround in December. While Erling Haaland (£13.9m) appears to be unavailable, the focus shifts to four top contenders in what proves to be a crucial captaincy conversation for this season.

This round sees assets from Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa being scrutinized, as FPL enthusiasts assess which players hold the best potential for delivering significant points. As the year comes to a close, FPL managers face a strategic decision in selecting their captain, considering the form and matchups of key players from these formidable Premier League teams.

Let’s have a look at the Top 5 candidates available for captaincy choice in the final Gameweek of 2023.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Mohamed Salah (£13.3m) of Liverpool emerges as a compelling captaincy choice for Gameweek 20 in Fantasy Premier League. With an impressive record of 12 goals and seven assists, Salah maintains the second-highest expected goals (xG) overall at 11.11 and the fourth-best expected assists (xA) at 4.63.

Liverpool’s upcoming fixture against Newcastle United at home presents a favorable opportunity, given Newcastle’s recent struggles with injuries and a string of defeats, losing four of their last five league games. In this period, they have conceded 11 goals, holding the unfortunate record for the worst expected goals conceded (xGC) at 12.7.

Jurgen Klopp’s team, on the other hand, has been prolific, scoring the second-most goals (39) and maintaining the second-best expected goals conceded (xGC) at 38.05. Additionally, being at home enhances Liverpool’s goal-scoring potential, with a 45% chance of scoring 2.5 or more goals in Gameweek 20.

Despite Salah’s almost blank in the previous gameweek, he remains a standout captaincy option. His assured starting position, penalty duties, and high goal and assist threat make him a reliable choice for FPL managers seeking a captain with consistent and potent contributions in the upcoming fixture.

Also Read: Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Forwards Picks for FPL Gameweek 20

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Ollie Watkins (£8.8m) from Aston Villa emerges as a noteworthy captaincy consideration for Gameweek 20 in Fantasy Premier League. Despite a recent dip in form, with only one goal in his last five league games, Watkins has maintained strong underlying statistics, reflecting his potential for a resurgence.

The England international boasts a commendable record of nine goals and nine assists, with expected goals (xG) of 8.6 and expected assists (xA) of 2.0. In the upcoming fixture against Burnley at Villa Park, Watkins looks to capitalize on a favorable matchup. Burnley, managed by Vincent Kompany, has struggled defensively this season, conceding the second-most goals (38) with an expected goal conceded (xGC) of 31.8, ranking 16th.

Villa, on the other hand, has showcased its attacking prowess, scoring the second-most goals (40) with an expected goal (xG) of 33.58, ranking fourth. In Gameweek 20, they are joint second-favorites to score 2.5 or more goals (45%), indicating a strong attacking potential against Burnley.

Watkins, with his dual threat of goal-scoring and assisting, is expected to start and remains an integral part of one of the league’s most potent attacking sides. Fantasy managers seeking a captain with both reliability and attacking prowess may find Ollie Watkins to be a promising choice in the upcoming fixture.

Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)

Son Heung-min (£9.8m) of Tottenham Hotspur emerges as a compelling captaincy option for Gameweek 20 in Fantasy Premier League. As the second-highest-scoring player in the game with 11 goals and four assists, Son has been a consistent and prolific contributor for Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur faces Bournemouth at home in the upcoming fixture, presenting a favorable opportunity for attacking returns. Bournemouth has conceded 32 goals (17th) and holds an expected goal conceded (xGC) of 29.1 (11th), indicating defensive vulnerabilities.

Spurs, characterized by their attacking prowess, has scored in every league game this season, finding the net 37 times (third) with an expected goal (xG) of 30.6 (seventh). With a reputation for guaranteed goals and entertaining football, the North London club is the third favorite to score 2.5 or more goals (42%) in Gameweek 20.

Son’s versatility, offering both goals and assists, along with his assured starting position and penalty duties, solidifies his candidacy as an appealing captaincy choice. As Tottenham Hotspur looks poised to continue their attacking form, Fantasy managers may find Son Heung-min to be a reliable and potent option for the captain’s armband in the upcoming fixture against Bournemouth.

Richarlison (Tottenham)

Richarlison (£6.8m) from Spurs emerges as an intriguing captaincy prospect for Gameweek 20 in Fantasy Premier League. Since transitioning to the number-nine role, Richarlison has made a significant impact, scoring four goals in as many games since returning from injury.

The Brazilian forward appears to have a secure position in the team and stands to benefit from increased expected minutes, especially with teammate Son set to participate in the Asian Cup after Gameweek 20. Richarlison, known for his goal-scoring prowess, boasts an impressive track record with 50 goals and 36 assists over the last six seasons in the Premier League.

Priced attractively at £6.8 million, Richarlison looks to capitalize on a favorable fixture in Gameweek 20 against Bournemouth. His underlying statistics further support his potential for strong Fantasy returns, with expected goals (xG) of 4.5 and expected assists (xA) of 0.7 in just 10 starts.

As Richarlison continues to thrive in his new role and with promising underlying numbers, Fantasy managers seeking an in-form and budget-friendly captaincy option may find the Brazilian forward to be a compelling choice for the upcoming fixture.

Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)

Julian Alvarez (£6.8m) of Manchester City emerges as a standout captaincy candidate for Gameweek 20 in Fantasy Premier League. With five goals and eight assists, Alvarez has proven to be a valuable asset for City, showcasing an expected goals (xG) of 4.29 and an expected assists (xA) of 4.1.

Manchester City faces bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United at the Etihad in what is considered their best fixture of the season. Sheffield United has struggled defensively, conceding the most goals (47) with a second-worst expected goal conceded (xGC) of 37.5. In contrast, City boasts the most goals scored (43) and the fourth-best expected goals (xG) of 35.87 in the league.

Also Read: Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Defenders Picks for FPL Gameweek 20

The fixture is highly anticipated to be one-sided, with City holding a massive 69% probability (first) to score 2.5 or more goals, marking the highest percentage for any fixture this season.

With Alvarez likely to play in the number-nine role, particularly in the absence of Erling Haaland (£13.9m), he is expected to have ample playing time, having logged the most minutes among City attackers (1409). This, coupled with the favorable fixture, positions Alvarez as a prime captaincy option for FPL managers seeking a player with both form and an enticing matchup.