In this blog, the three best Captaincy options for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 5 are discussed. Picks are in the below format:

1. No.1 predicted by Fix 
2. Alternative high-ownership option. Over 20%
3. Differential option. Under 20%

Erling Haaland (whu)

After a record-breaking 2022/23 season, Haaland has picked up where he left of with the Norwegian International top amongst all players for goals (six), shots (20), shots on target (SoT) (10), ‘Expected Goals’ (xG) (4.40) and FPL points (39) this campaign. Last season’s top scorers with 94 goals, Man. City have scored 11 goals this campaign while only Brighton (12) have fared better. The Manchester side are fourth for both shots (68) and xG (8.65). Their hosts West Ham have only conceded four goals in as many matches but the London side have not kept a clean sheet this season. Only Bournemouth (80) and Sheff. Utd. (86) have allowed opponents more shots than West Ham 72, and the Hammers could find that their luck is about to run out. Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 6.5 for Haaland.

Use predictive FPL statistics to increase your Gameweek points.

Mohamed Salah (wol)

Salah’s incredible consistency from last season has continued with an attacking return in each game so far, he has bagged two goals and as many assists and the Egyptian international trails only Eze (19) for shots (14) amongst midfielders. As the below image from our Stats Sandbox feature shows, Maddison (eight) is the only midfielder to have landed more SoT than his seven, while only Mbeumo (3.85) has registered a higher xG than Salah’s 2.71. Liverpool have scored nine goals this season with only Spurs, Man. City (11 each) and Brighton (12) faring better. It is worth remembering they played a large part of their Gameweek 3 fixture against Newcastle with 10 men, the Merseyside outfit still rank eighth for shots (65) and 10th for xG (7.86). Their hosts Wolves are a much more open side compared to last season and have conceded eight goals in four games. The Midlands side (48) trail only Man. Utd. (50), Fulham (52), Sheff. Utd. (56) and Bournemouth (57) for shots in the box (SiB) conceded while they also rank 16th for ‘Expected Goals Conceded’ (xGC) (8.14). Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 5.9 for Salah.

Evaluate players with Opta statistics.

Heung-Min Son (SHU)

After no FPL returns in Spurs' opening three matches, Son put himself back on the FPL radar with his hat trick against Burnley, as the below image from our Match Stats feature shows, over Spurs last five matches the South Korean is top for goals (three) and attempted assists (11) amongst Spurs players while only Sarr (1.7) has registered a higher xG than his 1.5. Spurs (11) trail only Brighton (12) for goals scored this season and the Seagulls (83) are the only team to have taken more shots than their 72. Their visitors Sheff. Utd. have conceded seven goals with no side allowing opponents more shots (86) than the Blades. Only Bournemouth (10.04) and Fulham (11.22) have notched a worse xGC figure than their 9.55. Our Fix Algorithm currently projects a point score of 6.3 for the South Korean.