The fit-again Erling Haaland (£14.0m) looks back to his prolific best ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Chelsea in Gameweek 12 of Fantasy Premier League.
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The Norwegian sorely disappointed his 82.5 per cent ownership with a one-point score against AFC Bournemouth last week after being replaced at the break due to injury.
However, Haaland recovered to play against Swiss side BSC Young Boys in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening.
He scored twice in the 3-0 win, the third time in four matches across all competitions he has achieved this feat.
Haaland’s huge ownership in Fantasy means he will again be the most-selected captain in Fantasy in Gameweek 12.
Nonetheless, he faces stiff competition from his fellow big-hitters Mohamed Salah (£12.9m) and Son Heung-min (£9.6m).
FPL experts: Who is the best captain for Gameweek 12?
Liverpool’s Salah is the joint top-scoring player in home matches this season and entertains Brentford.
Tottenham Hotspur's Son, meanwhile, is the top-scoring player in away matches and visits Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Who’s been the biggest threat?
| Player | Shots | Shots in box | Big chances | Goal conversion % | Key passes | Big chances created |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salah | 14 | 12 | 6 | 35.7% | 9 | 2 |
| Haaland | 10 | 8 | 4 | 30% | 3 | 2 |
| Son | 10 | 8 | 1 | 20% | 7 | 2 |
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Salah dominates the recent statistics, ranking first here for shots, shots in the box, big chances and key passes.
While Haaland and Son are identical for a number of statistics here, the Man City striker has had far more big chances, by four to one.
Who has the best home/away form?
Haaland’s away statistics are nothing short of extraordinary. His 27 shots, 26 shots in the box, 15 big chances and 14 shots on target are all league-leading totals on the road.
Put into perspective, that’s double the number of shots in the box that Son has had in away matches, and triple his tally of big chances.
Although Son has mirrored Haaland’s six away goals, he’s needed to convert 35.3 per cent of his shots to keep pace.
Salah’s home statistics, by contrast, are more on a par with Son’s away numbers.
The Liverpool star has scored six goals at Anfield, converting three penalties. Yet his eight big chances are still almost half Haaland’s total on the road.
Stats compared home/away in 23/24
| Player | Shots | Shots in box | Big chances | Goal conversion % | Key passes | Big chances created |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haaland (A) | 27 | 26 | 15 | 22.2% | 8 | 2 |
| Salah (H) | 21 | 15 | 8 | 28.6% | 11 | 4 |
| Son (A) | 17 | 13 | 5 | 35.3% | 10 | 3 |
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Assessing the opponents’ defence
Analysing each player’s Gameweek opponents can help identify any weaknesses to target.
Son’s hosts, Wolves, and Haaland’s hosts, Chelsea, have both conceded six goals in their last four and are also without a clean sheet.
Wolves have allowed more shots in the box and big chances than the Blues in that run, lifting Son’s appeal.
Although Salah’s visitors Brentford have conceded only four goals and kept two clean sheets, they have conceded 38 shots in the box, more than Wolves and Chelsea.
Opponents’ stats last four matches
| Team | Goals conceded | Clean sheets | Shots in the box conceded | Big chances conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolves | 6 | 0 | 32 | 10 |
| Chelsea | 6 | 0 | 26 | 8 |
| Brentford | 4 | 2 | 38 | 7 |
The team home/away data also gives a boost to Son backers.
Wolves are the worst here for conceding goals, shots in the box and big chances.
Indeed, they place among the worst three sides in the league for those statistics in home matches.
Brentford’s numbers on the road are far more impressive. They have allowed just four goals on their travels, second only to the three of Arsenal.
The Bees sit fifth for conceding shots and big chances in away matches, highlighting their ability to frustrate when playing on the road.
Opponents’ home/away form 23/24
| Team | Goals conceded | Clean sheets | Shots in the box conceded | Big chances conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolves (H) | 11 | 0 | 58 | 17 |
| Chelsea (H) | 7 | 1 | 45 | 11 |
| Brentford (A) | 4 | 2 | 40 | 7 |
So, who is the best captain?
The sheer number of high-quality scoring opportunities coming Haaland’s way on the road is enough to sway the armband decision.
It ultimately comes down to whether he can finish those chances and judging by his recent displays across all competitions, he looks back to his prolific best.
Son is clearly playing the worst defence of the three and could prove Haaland's strongest rival.
Although his conversion rate on the road is unsustainable, the South Korean is likely to get plenty of opportunities, as shown by Wolves' home defensive data.
Salah, meanwhile, boasts the best recent underlying numbers of the trio and has a flawless record at home.
But Brentford’s away record indicates they will look to sit back and counter their hosts at Anfield, with head coach Thomas Frank tending to play with a back five when facing tough opponents.
View all the latest FPL tips ahead of Gameweek 12 in Fantasy Premier League
