Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 19?

Due to the ongoing doubts over the availability and fitness of Erling Haaland (£13.9m) for Gameweek 19 of Fantasy Premier League, managers should look to either Mohamed Salah (£13.2m) or Son Heung-min (£9.8m) for the captaincy.

Both players extended their leads over Haaland by a further seven points at the weekend with goals against Arsenal and Everton respectively.

Liverpool's Salah now visits a Burnley side who have conceded 22 goals in home matches this season, the worst record in the league.

Tottenham Hotspur's Son, meanwhile, faces Brighton & Hove Albion, who are the only side yet to keep a clean sheet in 2023/24.

The Spurs star has a very slight advantage in terms of output over the last four Gameweeks.

While both scored twice, Son supplied two assists to Salah’s one and bettered him by 28 points to 26.

Players' form in last four matches

The underlying numbers show Salah offered more of a goal threat, leading Son by 12 shots in the box to nine.

However, the Spurs attacker had more big chances, with three to Salah’s mere one, and as a result converted 18.2 per cent of his efforts compared with his rival’s 12.5 per cent.

The duo are near-identical for creativity, with Salah leading by nine key passes to eight.

Attacking stats in last four matches

Who has the best away form? 

Son and Salah head into the midweek round of matches as the top-scoring players in away fixtures this season, with the former at the summit by 66 points to 59. 

Although both have recorded 17 shots in the box, Son has been afforded the greater quality scoring opportunities.

He leads Salah by seven big chances to four, and has converted 30.4 per cent of his shots, more than twice Salah’s 14.3 per cent.

The Liverpool star does have the clear advantage for creativity, supplying his team-mates with seven big chances to the three of Son.

Away stats compared in 23/24

Assessing the opponents’ defences

Analysing each player’s Gameweek opponents can help identify any weaknesses to target.

The recent defensive numbers offer encouragement for both big-hitters. 

Burnley may have conceded only four goals in their last four, yet they allowed a league-high 50 shots in the box and ranked second-bottom for conceding big chances.

Brighton’s numbers are not much better; apart from Burnley, only two other sides conceded more shots in the box than the Seagulls’ 43. 

Opponents’ defending, GW15-18

Opponents' defences at home 

The home/away statistics suggests Burnley’s poor defensive record at Turf Moor is mainly down to their concession of big chances.

They have allowed 25 such opportunities to opponents in home matches in 2023/24, the third-worst record in the league.

Again, there’s not too much between the pair for conceding shots in the box here, an indication that managers should look beyond the “goals against” column when assessing the defences.

Opponents’ home defending 23/24

So, who is the best captain?

Both Salah and Son look primed for further big hauls, which only further shows why managers don’t need to risk the captaincy on Haaland.

Although the Burnley team data slightly favours Salah, Brighton’s numbers are just as encouraging to Son backers.

Ultimately, though, there's enough disparity in their goal threat numbers on the road to indicate Son can outperform his Liverpool rival in Gameweek 19. 

Also in this series

Part 1: The Scout’s FPL Gameweek 19 Ones to watch
Part 2: Scout Selection: Best FPL team for Gameweek 19
Part 3: FPL experts: Who to captain in Gameweek 19?