Captaincy options for Gameweek 13 – Manchester City v Liverpool creates open field

CAPTAINCY is likely to be a pivotal factor in Dream Team Gameweek 13.

With the game’s two most-popular captains, Erling Haaland (£7.7m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.6m), in direct competition this weekend and the former said to be carrying a minor injury, the field is wide open.

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Alamy

Dare you take him on?[/caption]

Many gaffers will stick by either Manchester City’s No9 or Liverpool’s Egyptian hero as they are the top two points scorers this season and could be seen as fixture-proof – fair enough.

Pep Guardiola’s side face RB Leipzig in midweek while Jurgen Klopp’s troops host LASK on Thursday night and so Saturday’s mega clash at the Etihad is not the only factor to consider when weighing up Haaland and Salah’s viability.

Regardless, if ever there was a Gameweek to take on the big two, now feels like the time.

Let’s run through some alternative options…

Bukayo Saka (£6.5m)

Dream Team

Rarely lets Dream team bosses down[/caption]

Arsenal’s No7 is just two points behind Salah in the rankings and is the game’s leading midfielder at this stage.

With six goals, nine assists and 22 bonus points to his name, Saka has picked up where he left off last season and is fully deserving of his status as Dream Team’s third-most popular player.

The Gunners travel to Brentford this weekend which is no simple task but the Bees’ attack is stronger than their defence this season and Saka rarely misses out against bottom-half opposition – although Thomas Frank’s side are only 11th on goal difference.

Mikel Arteta’s side will then play Lens at home in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Arsenal lost to the Ligue 1 side in France but they’ve won all their other European games this term and will be clear favourites to exact revenge.

Saka may not be 100% fit but he always starts when available and so it may be worth opting to double his points against Brentford and Lens in Gameweek 13.

James Ward-Prowse (£4.2m)

Rex

The majority of Dream Team bosses are eagerly waiting an update on Jarrod Bowen’s (£5.2m) fitness ahead of Gameweek 13.

West Ham’s top scorer has bagged nine goals in all competitions already this season but a knee issue may force him to miss out favourable match-ups against Burnley and Backa Topola.

The thing is, Bowen is far from the Hammers’ only successful midfield option.

Ward-Prowse has 106 points to show for his efforts to date having provided nine assists – no asset in his position has created more big chances.

And the set-piece specialist’s tally of 25 bonus points is the highest in the game right now.

The ex-Southampton skipper averages eight points-per-game across his last three outings and so it would reasonable to expect a healthy double-digit haul from him in the coming days.

On paper, David Moyes’ side have the best fixtures this Gameweek.

Ollie Watkins (£4.7m)

Getty

108 Dream Team points and counting[/caption]

Aston Villa travel to Tottenham on Sunday in what could certainly be regarded as a tough test.

Unai Emery’s men are less potent on the road while Spurs remain fourth in the table but, upon closer inspection, this match-up could favour the Villains’ primary goal threat.

Watkins thrives against high defensive lines which Ange Postecoglou has made clear he will persevere with regardless of the match situation.

The hosts are also missing several key players, most notably, James Maddison (£4.2m) and Micky van de Ven (£2.9m).

Villa are the Premier League’s second-highest scorers in 2023/24.

To sweeten the deal, Watkins may get a decent run out in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night against Legia Warsaw at Villa Park.

Dream Team gaffers should also consider the possibility of activating their Max Captain Booster this Gameweek.

This would remove the captaincy headache altogether and guarantee the optimum selection.

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