The Scout on whether managers should captain Mohamed Salah (£13.7m) against Manchester City in Gameweek 26 of in Fantasy Premier League.
It’s fair to say that in seasons gone by, a visit to the Etihad Stadium has typically been enough for most managers to take the armband off Liverpool’s Egyptian.
But Salah’s exploits in 2024/25 mean he is already on course to smash his own record of 303 points in a single Fantasy season.
His goal and assist against Aston Villa on Wednesday evening took the Reds’ talisman to 271 points for the campaign – that’s already the joint-sixth highest score of all-time, and Liverpool still have 12 matches remaining this season.
As evidenced by his showing at Villa Park in midweek, Salah’s form on the road has been pivotal to his extraordinary campaign.
He has produced 11 double-figure hauls from 14 road trips, averaging 12.0 points per match.
Indeed, Salah’s total of 168 points in away matches is just seven points fewer than Cole Palmer (£11.2m), the second top-scoring player in Fantasy, has produced all season. It beats the 163 points of Chris Wood (£7.1m), the third top-scoring player.
Salah's away record v Palmer and Wood's seasons
| Palmer (all matches) | Salah (away matches) | Wood (all matches) | |
| Goals | 14 | 15 | 18 |
| Assists | 8 | 10 | 2 |
| Double-digit hauls | 8 | 11 | 4 |
| Points | 175 | 168 | 163 |
That only helps to underline why Salah has to be considered as the best armband option for Gameweek 26.
Who are the best armband alternatives to Salah?
If you’re looking to go against Salah, Ollie Watkins (£8.9m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£7.9m) have both the form and fixture for consideration.
Villa and Watkins host Chelsea he extended his excellent run of returns at Villa Park with goals against Ipswich Town and Liverpool in Double Gameweek 25.
That means the England international has blanked just ONCE in his last seven starts in home matches. Watkins has produced five goals, three assists and 53 points in those encounters.
Other options
Mbeumo’s output against promoted clubs also indicates he is set for a bumper haul when Brentford visit Leicester City on Friday evening.
The Bees’ talisman has amassed an incredible 50 points in four meetings with such opponents this season, thanks to six goals and an assist. Mbeumo scored twice in three of those four contests.
Elsewhere, it seems an unnecessary risk to captain either of the two most-owned forwards, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak (£9.5m) or Nottingham Forest’s Wood, for their showdown at St James’ Park.
AFC Bournemouth, however, offer two budget midfield alternatives at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Dango Ouattara (£5.1m) has thrived since being moved up front, with four goals and an assist over the last four Gameweeks.
Penalty-taker Justin Kluivert (£6.0m) combined four goals with three assists over that same spell, returning hauls of 22 and 13 points against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.