Fantasy Premier League managers face a crucial decision this week as two highly-owned players compete for the captain's armband. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, owned by 71.9% of players, and Chelsea's Cole Palmer, with 60.7% ownership, present compelling choices for gameweek 27.
The dilemma centers on whether to trust Salah's consistent performance at home against Newcastle's defense, which recently showed vulnerability by conceding four goals to Manchester City and three to Nottingham Forest, or to gamble on Palmer, who despite being out of form, faces a struggling Southampton side.
The recommended team for this week, designed to fit within a £100m budget as if playing a Free Hit, features both players but makes an intriguing captaincy choice. Last week's team performed poorly, scoring just 26 points without Salah and a failed Bournemouth triple-up strategy.
In defense, West Ham's assets look promising against Leicester City, who have failed to score in eight of their past 11 games. Alphonse Areola (£4.2m) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.4m) are selected, with the latter enjoying his best offensive season since 2020-21. Chelsea's Marc Cucurella (£5.1m) is included for a favorable home fixture against Southampton.
The midfield features Bryan Mbeumo (£8m), who scored 14 points against Leicester last time out, and Mohamed Salah (£13.7m) as vice-captain. Cole Palmer (£11.1m) receives the captain's armband despite recent poor form, banking on Chelsea's potential to score multiple goals against Southampton, who recently conceded four to Brighton.
Pedro Neto (£6.2m) and Jarrod Bowen (£7.3m) round out the midfield selections, with Bowen particularly noteworthy having contributed to more than half of West Ham's goals this season.
A player to watch is Manchester United's young striker Chido Obi (£4.5m), who could get his chance given the team's current striking woes. Additionally, Wolves emerge as a team to target with favorable upcoming fixtures against Fulham, Everton, and Southampton.
The team selection reflects a careful balance between form and fixtures, with Palmer's captaincy representing a calculated risk against Southampton's defensive frailties, despite his recent dip in form.
