Clarke’s four-player list for potential captaincy in Gameweek 1 was successful with all four winning the Sky Sports Man of the Match award. Sterling (20pts), Kane (13pts) and Salah (12pts) delivered multiple attacking returns, while Aubameyang (6pts), unlucky not to bag additional bonus points, scored the match-winning goal versus Newcastle.

Admittedly, these four were standout options and the outcome was fairly predictable, however, I purposefully left out the likes of Callum Wilson, unlike some other outlets. I strongly believe that taking risks through captaincy, particularly in these early stages of the season, is an unforced error – you may hit the jackpot now and again, but just owning them is enough of a differential.

With this in mind, I will continue to keep my list of candidates to a minimum and only to those with the full potential of wearing your armband. Last week, there were four, this week I share three. I’m not a fan of top 5 or 10 lists as the number of potential captains always alternates and so my weekly article will reflect this.

Pierre Aubameyang (£11m)

Arsenal vs Burnley

One of the first things I like to do when researching potential captains is to see how the player performed against the club, or the current manager, in the past. Aubameyang has met Burnley and Sean Dyche three times since switching Germany for England, scoring a brace in every meeting.

Unai Emery has picked up where Arsene Wenger left off with Arsenal’s dominance versus Burnley. Since Sean Dyche was appointed in October 2012, and after seven attempts and 15 goals conceded, they have never picked up a point when facing The Gunners.

Most notable is Burnley’s recurring trend of shipping goals at the Emirates. At home, they concede an average of one goal per game, while they leak three on the road. Last season, Aubameyang had a 67% FPL goal involvement in this fixture – comfortably his best ratio against a Premier League opponent.

Looking at his average ‘Goal Threat’ in the 2018/19 campaign vs. Burnley (on the right) and the remaining 19 Premier League clubs (on the left), it’s clear that Aubameyang enjoys this fixture. Although the sample size is small, 45 minutes per goal and 18 minutes per attempt is ridiculously good.

Mourinho just about put the rest of the Sky Sports panel into a coma with his in-depth discussion of low block defences, which Arsenal have struggled with in the past. However, it’s never seemed to limit them in this fixture and Burnley’s lack of pace and mobility leaves them susceptible to the likes of Aubameyang and Pepe to pounce.

With Lacazette on the verge of a return to the starting XI, there’s a possibility that Aubameyang will be deployed as an inverted left-winger. Now, before you flee with worry on how this will impact his output, just hear me out…

As mentioned before, Burnley will, without doubt, set up with a low block defence. They will sit deep with men behind the ball and attempt to soak up the pressure: this plays into Aubameyang’s hands. If he played left wing vs. Liverpool for example, he would be forced to contribute more defensively and in the build-up, but versus Burnley, he’ll be floating around their penalty area for the majority of the game anyway.

Aubameyang equalled his best ever FPL return (16pts) while positioned at left wing against Burnley at The Emirates. His play improves with Lacazette on the pitch and their link-up is key to unlocking stubborn defences. He’s clearly excited to link up with his strike partner and Pepe:

“For sure it’s going to be crazy. I’m sure of that. I think everybody is excited about that. We will have time to play together. The next game we play at home and we will see what is the decision of the coach, but as I say I’m looking forward to it.”

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m)

Southampton vs Liverpool

Salah was fairly wasteful when presented with chances in the Community Shield a couple of weeks ago, but the way he killed the ball and shifted it onto his left foot in one smooth movement before placing it into the bottom left corner vs. Norwich fills his owners with confidence.

This goal, as trivial as it seems, is big. A settled, confident Salah is extremely dangerous for opponents and for FPL in general. If he failed to convert in the opening week, regardless of the final result, his past tendencies might have led to a hasty performance versus Southampton.

Of course, his neediness, or should I say greediness to keep up in the golden boot race is not a bad desire. Though in the past when Salah has a spell without scoring he often begins to force things, and as a result, wastes huge opportunities and any chance of bonus points when he finally converts.

Currently, there’s nothing to worry about and you can be optimistic of Salah hitting another double-figure return in Southampton.

Carrying on from where he left off last season, Salah (Number 11) is playing the most advanced of any Liverpool player as seen in the Gameweek 1 average positions map above.

Salah’s average position was the most advanced of any player in the opening week. He should really be classified as a forward, and it’s worth reminding yourself if that each week as he gains an additional point for every goal and clean sheet, unlike Aubameyang for example.

Salah also recorded the second-most penalty area touches (11), just behind Kane (12), in Gameweek 1. This is to be expected with his aforementioned advanced positioning, though his dominance over Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool’s corner kicks was a pleasant surprise. Particularly when he planted it on the head of Van Dijk to nod home.

Just like Aubameyang, Liverpool’s two-time golden boot winner has an excellent record in this fixture. He has a goal contribution of 55% with five goals and an assist in four matches.

Unlike the Arsenal man, only Salah’s minutes per goal ratio improves significantly in this fixture. In the last two seasons, he’s averaged a goal every 73 minutes versus Southampton and a goal every 121 minutes on average against the remaining 19 clubs. Salah’s chance every 33 minutes vs. Southampton is worse than his average versus the remaining 19 clubs (22mins).

This is not to say go out there and place your total faith in Aubameyang. In fact, Salah’s minutes per attempt ratio (home and away) is so elite, regardless of the opposition, that he was presented with an opportunity every 23.8 minutes last season, comfortably the best ratio of any player who’s completed more than 2500 minutes.

Annoyingly, but not something worth over-thinking is the fact he played 120 minutes in the Super Cup. In the past, following his 12 midweek fixtures, he’s had six attacking returns and six blanks. It’s not worth trying to predict what will be the outcome this time and, in my mind, it’s another week and another go-to captaincy option in Mohamed Salah.

Kevin De Bruyne (£9.5m)

Man City vs Tottenham

De Bruyne is renowned for being a ‘big-game player’ and that’s exactly why he makes the cut. He’s been in excellent form throughout pre-season and impressed in the opening weekend. His desire to run beyond the last line of defence is one of the many highlights.

The reason I have included the Belgian International over Raheem Sterling is purely down to my expectation of how this game will play out. Throughout the match, I expect Man City to be patient, dominate possession and tempt Tottenham’s backline out of position or into mistakes.

This all points to some scrappy engagements in the middle of the park and in the final third, lending itself to numerous direct and in-direct free-kicks, as well as multiple corners, particularly for Man City as the home side look to control the play.

De Bruyne will be the main beneficiary of these situations as his clubs designated direct and in-direct freekick taker and corner taker. This home and away fixture was decided by a single goal last season, and again, could be lower scoring than some are anticipating.

On the other hand, the pair met in the 2018/19 Champions League Quarter Final. The first leg ended in a 1-0 away defeat for Man City, in which De Bruyne was thrown on for just one minute, before Man City and De Bruyne turned up in the second leg with a 4-3 win and a trio of assists for the midfielder, despite getting knocked out on aggregate.

I’ve watched back this fixture, and although Sterling scored twice, it was De Bruyne who really grabbed hold of the game and made things click throughout. He was involved in almost every move as he surged forward before laying it on a plate for his teammates, as he so often does in these sort of fixtures.

Mauricio Pochettino is fully capable of providing an upset. Ndombele is a solid acquisition and a huge upgrade on their current crop of defensive midfielders. His physicality and mobility will have a positive effect on Tottenham’s overall structure, and he will attempt to break up the play whenever possible.

His squad are also very well-drilled. Indeed, Spurs have seen a huge boost in their clean sheet and goals conceded fortunes since his appointment. His debut 2014/15 season was tough (53 goals conceded, 9 clean sheets), but in the following three seasons they averaged 32 goals conceded and 15 shutouts.

Nevertheless, Man City will create chances against any opposition, and Tottenham were very poor in their opener as they hosted Villa. Furthermore, there are still question marks surrounding Vertonghen’s inclusion and, if he doesn’t feature, I expect De Bruyne and co. to take full advantage.

Sterling is also a superb player to own for Gameweek 2 and rubbing shoulders with the rest for captaincy, although De Bruyne just has the edge for me in this specific fixture. I tipped Sterling ahead of him last week based on the fixture, and now it’s the same case but in reverse.