Gameweek 4 captaincy options: Erling Haaland overdue a big one but Raheem Sterling leads midfield alternatives
THERE'S nothing quite like closing out the working week with a Friday afternoon debate about Dream Team captaincy options.
Before we dive into Gameweek 4's best candidates, a quick review of our Gameweek 3 suggestions.
Last week we stated that Erling Haaland (£8.4m) was the obvious choice for a good reason and that would have been justified had the Norwegian poacher not missed a penalty against Sheffield United.
Manchester City's No9 did score at Bramall Lane but he definitely left some points out on the pitch when all was said and done - he settled for seven at the final whistle.
Two of our alternative recommendations, Bukayo Saka (£6.1m) and Bruno Fernandes (£6.2m), delivered 14 points each - congratulations to all gaffers who were brave enough to back them over Haaland!
Right, to the matter at hand...
Erling Haaland
Yes, it's Groundhog Day.
The Premier League's resident cyborg rarely misses out on a double-digit haul against favourable opposition twice in a row so it feels as if he's overdue a big one - such are the sky-high standards he's set for himself.
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Fulham visit the Etihad this weekend and the stats don't make for pretty reading for Marco Silva - his side have conceded the most shots on target across the first three Gameweeks.
Bernd Leno (£3.3m) performs nobly between the sticks but if the Cottagers offer up another porous defensive display in the treble-winners' lair then it could get embarrassing in a hurry, with Haaland likely to be the primary beneficiary.
Plus, if Joao Palhinha (£2.8m) and/or Harrison Reed (£2m) leave Craven Cottage on deadline day then Fulham fans will be fearing the absolute worst.
Raheem Sterling (£3.6m)
Fresh off an 18-point haul at Luton's expense, Chelsea's No7 leads our Haaland alternatives in Gameweek 4.
The 28-year-old has rediscovered his best form and is the most-popular recruit among Dream Team gaffers this week.
At Stamford Bridge this weekend, Sterling will be unleashed upon a Nottingham Forest side who continue to struggle on the road - he scored three goals against Steve Cooper's mob last season.
A reminder that Sterling is also among the exclusive crop of players to have earned the maximum of five bonus points in a single fixture so far in 2023/24.
The majority of gaffers will be blind to anybody other than Haaland but many who bet against the prolific poacher last week were duly rewarded - who is to say the same won't happen again?
Jarrod Bowen (£4.6m)
We don't mean to pick on Luton but the fact is Rob Edwards' side will be considered a favourable opponent until they prove otherwise.
The Hatters will be highly motivated when they welcome West Ham to Kenilworth Road this evening for the club's first ever home Premier League fixture but, sentimentality aside, the Hammers are favourites to claim the three points.
David Moyes' men are flying high in second after spirited wins over Chelsea and Brighton with Bowen once again the main man from a Dream Team perspective.
The ex-Hull winger has plundered 27 points in three outings via two goals and an assist.
Again, it will take considerable courage to back Bowen over Haaland but the former is certainly a viable option for the armband.
James Maddison (£4.1m)
Having left the stadium in a protective boot after Tottenham's win over Manchester United in Gameweek 2, the England international took a few gaffers by surprise when he started away to Bournemouth in Gameweek 3.
What resulted came as no surprise, however, as the talented playmaker ran the show from the middle of park to bank 15 points - he added another two to his tally against Fulham in midweek.
With 31 points in total, Maddison is Dream Team's second-best player overall at this stage and a trip to Turf Moor on Saturday could send him top of the pile above Bukayo Saka (£6.1m).
Burnley have conceded six goals in their first two fixtures and Ange Postecoglou's dynamic attack will test their defensive resolve to the full extent.
We've said it many times but Maddison is such a great Dream Team asset - he always looks as if he's on the cusp of a goal involvement.
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MOST-POPULAR CAPTAINS FOR GAMEWEEK 4 AMONG ALL DREAM TEAM MANAGERS:
- Ering Haaland (£8.4m)
- Bukayo Saka (£6.1m)
- Bruno Fernandes (£6.2m)
- Martin Odegaard (£5m)
- Mohamed Salah (£6.7m)
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