Captaincy options & Booster strategies for Gameweek 14: Target Liverpool fixtures for healthy returns

GAMEWEEK 14 is a special one in the Dream Team calendar this season as it’s the first time all 20 Premier League clubs have two fixtures to fulfil.

Now more than ever, it’s crucial gaffers get every aspect of their strategy correct.

With that in mind, let’s analyse the best captaincy options and potential Booster strategies.

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In regards to the captain’s armband, it looks to be a classic toss-up between Erling Haaland (£7.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m).

Manchester City’s No9 is 38 points clear at the top of the rankings and just 15 shy of a rapid double century.

On paper, his upcoming fixtures are tough given Tottenham are fifth in the table and Aston Villa are fourth.

However, Ange Postecoglou’s side have lost three in a row amid an injury crisis and there’s a good chance Spurs will field Emerson Royal (£2.3m) at centre-back at the Etihad, a prospect that should have Haaland salivating.

Unai Emery’s men boast a fantastic home record but their high defensive line has occasionally been exposed by top sides – Newcastle and Liverpool have registered comfortable wins against the Villains this term utilising effective runs in behind.

As for Salah, he has the luxury of a home game against Fulham followed by a trip to Sheffield United.

However you spin it, that’s a mightily favourable double header for a player of the Egyptian’s quality.

The Reds have won all six of their league games at Anfield this campaign and while Marco Silva’s side are not the worst team in the league by any stretch of the imagination, they have rolled over against superior opposition in recent weeks.

Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) probably deserves a mention in the captaincy conversation too having drawn level with Salah on 147 points this past week – Arsenal face Wolves then Luton.

However, the vast majority of Dream Team bosses will stick by Haaland with Salah comfortably the most-popular alternative.

Both forwards look set for big returns but the outright best option is not entirely clear – trust your gut!

As for Booster strategies, many gaffers will be tempted to activate Park the Bus for Gameweek 14.

The game’s most-powerful Booster doubles the points earned by all selected defenders for the duration of the Gameweek.

Instinctively, it feels as if targeting the aforementioned Liverpool and Arsenal fixtures could result in a tidal wave of points.

The Gunners have conceded just ten league goals this season, the lowest number in the top flight at this stage, with the Reds nearby on 11 goals conceded.

Hypothetically, a back five consisting of William Saliba (£3.8m), Gabriel (£4.1m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.5m), Virgil van Dijk (£3.9m) and another defender of your choice would look strong ahead of the favourable match-ups.

Newcastle play Manchester United at home then Everton away so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Kieran Trippier (£5.2m) provided another double-digit haul.

Gaffers who want to keep Park the Bus up their sleeve could exploit the same fixtures by opting to use the 12th Man Booster.

Alexander-Arnold is perfectly viable candidate as he has the necessary attributes to combine attacking returns with a pair of clean sheets.

Alternatively, Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) may fit the bill as all signs indicate plenty of goals for Jurgen Klopp’s troops in the coming days.

The Uruguay international only played 34 minutes as a second-half substitute against LASK on Thursday night so he should be fresh enough to start against the Cottagers on Sunday.

Any player can be temporarily recruited as 12th Man for free so it may be that gaffers who can’t afford a permanent transfer for the likes of Salah or Saka decide to use this Booster to capture one of the expensive star’s points for Gameweek 14 at least.

Whatever you decide, lock in your strategy before Saturday’s 2pm deadline!