Captaincy options for Gameweek 1: Newcastle threats vs familiar favourites

ONCE you’ve decided upon your XI to start the new Dream Team season, you will have to nominate a captain.

Your chosen skipper will have their points DOUBLED for the duration of Gameweek 1 – your vice captain will fulfil the role if your first-choice selection doesn’t play for any reason.

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AFP

Who else?[/caption]

Let’s analyse the strongest captaincy candidates.

Erling Haaland (£8.5m)

Manchester City’s No9 is likely to be the more-popular captain for Gameweek 1 and with good reason.

The Norwegian poacher has scored 63 goals in 66 Premier League games since his move to the Etihad and while Sunday’s trip to Stamford Bridge may seem like a relatively tricky opening fixture, it should be noted he scored a hat-trick against Chelsea in pre-season.

For many gaffers, Haaland is the default option as long as he’s fit – there’s nothing worse than overthinking it and missing out on one of his hat-tricks.

Mohamed Salah (£7m)

Alamy

How many points will Salah take off Ipswich?[/caption]

Liverpool’s Egyptian hero is often the leading alternative to Haaland and that seems to be the case in Gameweek 1.

The Reds travel to newly-promoted Ipswich on Saturday lunchtime and while the Portman Road faithful will be a factor, the prospect of Salah facing a Championship-level defence is ripe with potential.

The Tractor Boys were the top scorers in the second tier last season but they conceded more goals than Sunderland, who finished 16th.

Salah’s form fell away at the back end of 2023/24 but a summer break should have done him the world of good.

The 32-year-old does not leave as many defenders in his wake these days but he remains a massive threat in the final third – he ranked second for shots on target and big chances created among all players last season.

Alexander Isak or Anthony Gordon (£4.5m)

Reuters

Away from the familiar favourites, the eye is drawn to Newcastle v Southampton.

The Magpies boast a formidable home record under Eddie Howe; as personified by Gordon who registered the vast majority of his 29 goal involvements at St James’ Park last term.

Saints earned promotion through the play-offs but they conceded more goals than the aforementioned Ipswich during the regular Championship campaign – even 17th-placed Stoke boasted a better defensive record over 46 games.

Gordon is Newcastle’s home specialist but Isak is their most-potent attacker overall and first-choice penalty taker.

The gifted Swedish forward scored 25 goals in all competitions last season, despite missing several games through injury, on his way to 267 points (6.7 per game).

Dream Team bosses may remember that Isak scored a brace against Aston Villa to get 2023/24 underway – a performance that earned him 18 points.

Will lightning strike twice?

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