erling haaland is back at the center of Fantasy Premier League captaincy talk for gameweek 36 after reaching 25 Premier League goals and 219 FPL points. Manchester City’s striker has scored in three straight games, and City now have two home matches against Brentford and Crystal Palace, the sort of schedule that puts him straight into triple-captain discussion.
Haaland and Manchester City
Haaland leads the league in goals and also sits top of the FPL points table, with 219 to Bruno Fernandes’ 209. That gap is enough to make him the clearest premium option in a week when managers with a chip left need one player who can absorb both fixtures.
Manchester City go into the double after drawing 3-3 with Everton on Monday, leaving them five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. They need wins against Brentford and Crystal Palace to cut that gap, and Haaland’s form gives them the best chance of turning the double into a meaningful swing.
Haaland’s recent numbers
Holly Shand said Haaland is “bang in form” and added that he has already scored three goals past his upcoming opponents earlier in the season. That is the practical case for the armband: recent scoring, a season total of 25, and a fixture set that keeps both games at home.
Statman Dave backed the data angle as well, saying, “Looking at the data over the last five games and it all points to picking Erling Haaland as captain. He has the most xG [expected goals] for City and had seven big chances.” He also noted that Haaland has the most expected goals for City and seven big chances over the last five games.
Crystal Palace and the gamble
Crystal Palace are the only other side with two games in gameweek 36, but their schedule runs through Everton on Sunday and Manchester City on Wednesday. Jack Ukiah said Oliver Glasner has admitted he plans half-time transfers and the Premier league is not his priority, which leaves Palace’s double looking less secure than City’s from an FPL angle.
That is why the advice around Palace is narrower. Statman Dave pointed to Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix as the players to target, while Jorgen Strand Larsen was described as the big gamble. Haaland, by contrast, offers the more direct route: a top scorer, a top FPL scorer, and two home games for managers still holding the triple-captain chip.
Holly Shand said there should be no doubts over holding him for the final two gameweeks. For managers making the gameweek 36 call, the question is not whether Haaland belongs in the conversation; it is whether this is the week to use the chip on the league’s leading scorer before the season runs out.
