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All the latest Gameweek 9 injury news from each Premier League pre-match press conference ahead of the deadline can be found in our Fixtures, Team News & Predicted Line-ups article
It was a difficult Gameweek 8 for a number of FPL managers with players such as Erling Haaland (£15.4m) and Cole Palmer (£10.9m) blanking, not to mention injury ruling out Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (£10.0m). However, there was some joy as Mo Salah (£12.6m) recorded a goal and assist for Liverpool in their win over Chelsea, picking up 12 FPL points.
We now look towards Gameweek 9 and the most enticing captaincy options currently on the table. As always, we’ve picked out three premium options, along with a differential choice ahead of Friday’s 6:30pm deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Erling Haaland (£15.4m) vs SOU (H)
You get the feeling that a monster haul is coming soon from Haaland and it would be no surprise to see it arrive in Gameweek 9, which sees Man City host Southampton. The Norwegian striker already boasts one hat-trick against a newly promoted club this season and is coming off the back of a brace against Sparta Prague midweek in the Champions League.
It’s now been three gameweeks in a row where Haaland has failed to find the net, but it’s very unlikely that it will end up being four. Southampton has defended terribly all season, conceding 18 goals overall which is the second-worst record in the 2024-25 Premier League so far. Expect Haaland to rediscover his domestic scoring touch and reward what will be his exceedingly large captaincy percentage.
Ollie Watkins (£9.1m) vs BOU (H)
Since the beginning of Gameweek 3, Watkins has blanked just once from an FPL perspective, having firmly rediscovered the form that made him such a lucrative asset to own back in the 2023-24 campaign. Five goals and two assists have seen him rack up 45 fantasy points over this period and his captaincy credentials are clear to see.
Aston Villa take on Bournemouth in Gameweek 9 and Watkins will be expected to start for Unai Emery’s side after being on the bench in their Champions League game against Bologna in midweek. The England international’s prowess going forward makes him well worth considering as skipper for FPL managers.
Cole Palmer (£10.9m) vs NEW (H)
Despite a tough fixture away to Liverpool, it was still a surprise that Cole Palmer didn’t record an attacking return. He’s very-much a fixture-proof asset and his ownership has now passed the 50% mark. The best way to capitalise on the points-potential of Palmer is to captain him in Gameweek 9, especially against an opponent like Newcastle.
The Magpies have kept only two clean sheets this season so far and Palmer has racked up two assists, four goals and 37 FPL points over the course of Chelsea’s last three home Premier League fixtures. The numbers stack up and only serve to encourage captaining the Blues’ main talisman.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Bernardo Silva (£6.5m) vs SOU (H)
Whilst it’s always a gamble choosing a Man City midfield asset when taking into account Pep Guardiola’s penchant for rotation, Bernardo Silva has started each of the champions’ last four Premier League games and has to be considered very likely to be in the XI against Southampton in Gameweek 9.
Whilst Bernardo is yet to score in the Premier League this season, Southampton are the ideal opposition to break that duck and when it comes to differentials, the Portuguese international is generously priced at £6.5m. It’s a very high-risk captain pick, but if Southampton defend like they have done across most of the campaign so far, then Bernardo should get opportunities for multiple attacking returns.
