FPL experts: Who to captain in Gameweek 21?

The Scout's panel of Fantasy Premier League experts give their thoughts on who to captain in Gameweek 21 ahead of the deadline at 18:15 GMT on Friday 12 January.

Bukayo Saka (£9.1m) has the ownership and the fixture, at home to Crystal Palace, to be the most popular choice, and while I will consider him, I also like the look of Phil Foden (£7.9m) given his impressive performances of late. Newcastle have been weak defensively of late but at St James' Park, it's risky backing against them. 

There isn't a standout captaincy option in my mind this week. Saka and Cole Palmer (£5.7m) will likely be popular but there are options like Julian Alvarez (£7.0m) if Erling Haaland (£13.9m) isn't back. Foden has returned in each of his last three Premier League matches while Ollie Watkins (£8.9m) is also an attractive option. I am leaning towards captaining Pascal Gross (£6.5m), who has one goal and five assists from the last eight league matches and his 52 chances created are the second-most among all players. 

It's a close one between Palmer and Saka this week. Fulham made the midweek trip to Liverpool in the EFL Cup before facing Chelsea this weekend, while Crystal Palace will play Everton in the FA Cup replay before the Eagles visit Arsenal, so there's not much to split them there either. As a Chelsea fan, I'm wary of putting too many eggs in one basket, and will therefore likely go with Saka.

With Fulham having had to go to Anfield in midweek, they may not then welcome the trip to Stamford Bridge in Saturday's early kick-off. Palmer has proven that he can get the double-digit hauls we look for in our captain with his performance against Luton Town, so I'll be entrusting him with the armband.

Captaincy for me is between Palmer and Saka this week. Both have early Saturday kick-offs, but on different weekends. Currently leaning towards Saka, but it is close.

View all the latest FPL tips ahead of Gameweek 21 in Fantasy Premier League