Gameweek 2 was a brutal one for captaincy, with Cole Palmer failing to feature and Erling Haaland blanking.
So it might be the time to have a rethink on who gets the armband. Ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Arsenal, who are the best captain picks for FPL Gameweek 3?
Fantasy Football Hub is purpose-built to turn FPL managers into FPL winners. From their industry-leading AI to the experts who reveal their teams every gameweek, it’s no surprise tens of thousands of managers gain the edge with the Hub every season. Join as a Fantasy Football Hub member today and if you don’t win your mini-league, you’ll get your money back!
5. Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
- GW3 opponent: West Ham (H)
- Predicted points: 5.4
Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood has the pick of the fixtures going into Gameweek 3. He faces a West Ham United defence who have conceded eight goals in their opening two games and sit at the bottom of the Premier League table. Nottingham Forest have taken four points from their first two league games, with Wood scoring half of their four goals.
Both goals came in their opening game at home to Brentford, with more home comforts this time around. Forest were the 3-0 victors in this fixture last season, with Chris Wood on the scoresheet that day. He has had four shots on goal in this campaign, including one big chance and he remains the first choice penalty taker.
4. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
- GW3 opponent: Crystal Palace (H)
- Predicted points: 5.7
It’s been a disappointing start to the campaign for Aston Villa, who have failed to score in their opening two games. Another run out at Villa Park should help their case, against a Crystal Palace side with a midweek European fixture.
Despite a quiet start, the underlying numbers for striker Ollie Watkins remain positive. He’s had five shots in the box in the first two gameweeks, while also creating two chances for his team-mates. He may well be on penalties too. He scored in this fixture last season, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
3. Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
- GW3 opponent: Burnley (H)
- Predicted points: 6.5
It’s been a difficult start to the season for Manchester United, taking just one point from their opening two games. A home tie against promoted Burnley on Saturday will be key for them to get back to winning ways, with the Clarets conceding three goals in their first away trip of the season.
Bruno Fernandes missed from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw against Fulham, but did manage to hit the two point defensive contribution bonus for the first time this season. He ranks second for chances created among all players this season with six.
2. Erling Haaland (Man City)
- GW3 opponent: Brighton (A)
- Predicted points: 6.6
Erling Haaland’s captain backers came away disappointed when he failed to deliver a goal involvement at home to Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday. However, his brace away at Wolverhampton Wanderers shouldn’t be easily forgotten, with another trip this time to Brighton and Hove Albion who have conceded three goals this season.
Haaland has an excellent record against the Seagulls, with five goals and one assist in five starts — he has never blanked against them. He leads the way for big chances (four) and Expected Goals (2.48) in this campaign, plus he’s on penalties.
1. Mo Salah (Liverpool)
- GW3 opponent: Arsenal (H)
- Predicted points: 7.2
Mo Salah is the only premium player in the game who has produced goal involvements in each of the opening two gameweeks. He did leave it late on both occasions, with a goal against Bournemouth and an assist against Newcastle United. He remains on penalties.
The Egyptian remains in the frame for Gameweek 3 despite the visit of Arsenal, still topping the AI predictions in this fixture. He has scored against them at Anfield in three of the last four seasons, with this fixture yielding 3.5 goals per game in this time. However, the Gunners have kept clean sheets in each of their opening games, without conceding a big chance on their goal.
