Picking the right captain for FPL in Gameweek 25 feels like choosing your star player in a schoolyard kickabout. Get it right, and you are the hero; mess it up, and you are explaining yourself all week. With matches kicking off on Friday, the fixtures offer juicy opportunities for big hauls.
This matchday’s captaincy debate boils down to five standout names: Erling Haaland, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, Bruno Fernandes, and Jarrod Bowen. Each has a favorable match-up against a defence that has shown cracks lately, plus personal form that screams points potential. Whether it is a striker feasting on shaky backlines or midfield maestros pulling strings, these guys could double your points and boost your mini-league standing.
In a tight season where every point counts toward achieving one’s objectives, nailing Gameweek 25 could be your ticket to climbing ranks. We have dug into recent stats, opponent weaknesses, and hot streaks to rank these options.
Gameweek 25’s schedule packs drama, with all eyes on Anfield and Old Trafford. Bournemouth face Aston Villa, Arsenal host Sunderland, and Wolves welcome Chelsea. These are setups ripe for attackers to shine. Let us break down why these five rise above the rest.
Erling Haaland remains the go-to captain pick even when his boots seem glued to the turf, and facing Liverpool at Anfield is a tricky yet appealing tie. The Norwegian powerhouse heads into Gameweek 25 with just one goal from his last seven games. Yet, his season tally keeps him averaging nearly 10 points per match, making him a fixture in these debates. Liverpool’s backline has leaked 33 goals in 24 outings across competitions, only hitting that mark last season towards the end, exposing real defensive jitters under pressure.
Haaland thrives in chaos like this, bullying centre-backs with his pace and power. Despite the dry spell, his shots on target stay high, bonus points roll in for his relentless work rate, and City’s attack overloads any defence. Liverpool’s recent concessions from set pieces and counters play right into his strengths; expect him to snap the drought and rack up double digits. Owners ignoring his underlying threat do so at their peril.
Hugo Ekitike steps up as a sneaky captaincy bomb against Manchester City at home, where the visitors’ defence has flickered more than a faulty bulb this term. The French forward boasts 10 goals and 2 assists from 15 Premier League starts, including a brace in a recent 2-0 home win over Newcastle United. City’s back four, once a fortress, now shows gaps amid fixture pile-ups and injuries, handing the summer arrival the perfect stage to plunder.
The Frenchman’s integration into Liverpool’s high-octane system means he is everywhere, pressing, linking play, and finishing clinically, much like a kid who scores then sets up the next one. His minutes are locked at around 1,332 so far, with zero cards disrupting flow, and recent outings scream form: two goals in one game alone. If City rotate or slip, Anfield erupts, and Ekitike captains your team to glory.
Joao Pedro is firing on all cylinders for Chelsea, making him a captaincy dart at Wolves, whose defence punches above its weight in tackles but crumbles under real pressure. The Brazilian has netted three goals and chipped in two assists over his last three games, extending to four strikes in five Premier League outings, making him pure FPL gold. Wolves rank high in tackles won but sit rock-bottom in the table, their backline prone to silly errors that gift strikers like Pedro tap-ins.
Imagine Pedro as the class clown who suddenly nails every shot; his recent streak turns Wolves’ grit into easy pickings. With Chelsea pushing forward, his shots, dribbles, and bonuses stack up fast in open games. This match-up smells like a multi-point explosion; captaining him feels like betting on fireworks.
Bruno Fernandes pulls the strings for Manchester United at home to Tottenham, where the visitors’ defence mirrors a sieve with inconsistent showings all season. The Portuguese midfielder’s 2025/26 haul includes steady returns. Spurs’ backline woes let the Manchester United captain’s creativity flourish in the final third.
Fernandes is Manchester United’s heartbeat, dictating tempo like the boss on the playground, feeding killers and striking from distance. Against Tottenham’s flux, expect the veteran playmaker to captain your side through a midfield masterclass.
Jarrod Bowen rides a wave of red-hot form into Burnley away, where the hosts’ defence qualifies as woeful, perfect for another West Ham rampage. The winger bagged a goal in a recent 3-2 loss to Chelsea building to 20 points in his last two games amid five shots on target and key passes in six outings. Burnley’s backline invites punishment, amplifying Bowen’s threat from wide areas and set pieces.
The Englishman’s like that teammate who turns games solo. Goals, dribbles, crosses; he delivers it all, especially now with two goals in two and consistent starts. West Ham’s attack clicks around him, and Burnley’s frailty means corners, pens, or open play could spark a 15+ point monster haul. Captain him for the safe-yet-explosive vibe.
| Player | Club | Opponent | Main Appeal | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | Liverpool (A) | Season avg 10+ pts; Reds leaky (34 GA) | Low |
| Hugo Ekitike | Liverpool | Manchester City (H) | 10G/2A; brace vs Brighton | Medium |
| Joao Pedro | Chelsea | Wolves (A) | 3G/2A last 3; Wolves error-prone | Low |
| Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | Tottenham (H) | 7.3 form, bonuses; Spurs inconsistent | Medium |
| Jarrod Bowen | West Ham United | Burnley (A) | 20 pts last 2 games; Burnley defense weak | Low |
If the top five do not fit your squad, glance at these: Florian Wirtz for his flair, Enzo Fernandez’s engine, Harry Wilson’s set-piece magic, Bryan Mbeumo’s consistency, Morgan Rogers’s upside, Matheus Cunha’s bite, and Evanilson for his predatory instincts. Each lurks as differential captaincy gold in this stacked gameweek.
