It is the time of the season for one last throw of the dice. In this article, we focus on the captaincy decision, offering some differential choices for those needing to make up the ground.
Dominic Szoboszlai
Anfield is our first port of call for the differential captain’s armband. Dominic Szoboszlai and Liverpool have done just about enough to secure Champions League football, but will be looking to end a disappointing title defence on a high note.
The Hungarian has been one of Liverpool’s few bright sparks this season. He has deputised wherever needed and been a constant feature in the Reds’ starting XI. His minutes are almost untouchable; he has missed out just twice through injury and has completed the full 90 in all but one of his 35 starts.
His minutes have resulted in a modest six goals and seven assists, but encouragingly, five of those contributions have come in the last six. This could be due in part to his more advanced positioning of late, which has been forced due to injuries to players such as Wirtz and Salah.
Szoboszlai doesn’t take many shots in the box, but he is a talisman for this Liverpool side in so many other aspects. With Salah out, he has penalty duties and is the set-piece taker from both sides. It was the set-piece duties that led to his haul in gameweek 37, assisting Van Dijk from both a corner routine and a set piece.
His main points’ potential lies in his distribution. In the last six gameweeks, he has created five big chances and delivered fourteen successful crosses.
These creative numbers help boost his standings in the bonus points system. It is little wonder that he already has 21 bonus points this season. If he gets an attacking return, it is nearly always supported by some bonus.
Szoboszlai’s gameweek 38 opponents, Brentford, need a win themselves to have any chance of reaching Europe. This could make for an open game if the Bees push men forward in search of a winner.
Morgan Gibbs-White
It would be rude to ignore one of the league’s most in-form players when considering differential captains for gameweek 38. Morgan Gibbs-White may have come close to leaving Forest in the summer, but he has delivered for them since, especially in the second half of the season.
In a tough campaign for Forest, Gibbs-White has somehow emerged as the 5th highest scoring player in FPL. A lot of these points have come in his incredible run since gameweek 20. He has eleven goals and three assists in this time.
The last home game of the season gives Forest a chance to give their fans some joy now that the pressure is off. They are looking forward to next season after securing safety, so the stadium could be rocking as they host Bournemouth. The Cherries need a big win if they want to convert their Europa League spot into a Champions League berth, so the game could be quite open.
To add to this, Bournemouth have been a poor defence on their travels this season. They sit second bottom for expected goals conceded (xGC) away from home.
Selfishly, Gibbs-White will also be looking to do all he can to ensure that he is in Thomas Tuchel’s plans for the summer. While his form has been great, England have a host of number 10’s to call upon, so he will want to do anything he can in gameweek 38 to strengthen his case.
Will Osula
Speaking of in-form players, Newcastle’s number 18 Will Osula has enjoyed an incredible end to the season since his fantastic winner against Manchester United in gameweek 29.
Since then, he has earned himself a starting role for the Magpies, starting the last six. In that spell, he has found the back of the net on five occasions and looks to really be settling into life as Newcastle’s front man. It has taken nearly the entire season, but Osula appears to have provided Eddie Howe a solution to the hole left by Alexander Isak’s departure.
He finds himself behind only Erling Haaland for big chances in the last six, and is only one off the Norwegian’s tally despite playing almost 90 fewer minutes. He is also second in the league for expected goal involvement since securing the starting role.
Like a few sides, Newcastle require a big win on the final day for any hope of Europe. This will be their target after a disappointing league campaign off the back of qualifying for the Champions League last season.
Their opponents, Fulham, don’t share the same ambitions in gameweek 38. Their European push is effectively over due to their goal difference. With nothing to play for, it could make for quite an end-to-end game as the Cottagers look to give their fans an entertaining send-off. They have also been quite leaky of late, conceding the third-most big chances in the last six.
Given Osula’s proclivity for getting big chances himself, the matchup could set up a very shrewd differential captaincy opportunity.
