Is this the right time for FPL managers to unleash that ‘Triple Captain’ chip?

Fantasy Premier League managers have a double gameweek to look forward this weekend and the big question for many will be whether this is the opportune moment to play that ‘priceless’ Triple Captain chip?

Well, the obvious place to start is with those all-important goal projections to get a feel for the difficulty of the upcoming fixtures.

Manchester City get another chance to wrap up the title when they face Spurs at Wembley, following a run of 3 defeats in 7 days.

The Citizens only play once though, while their opponents on Saturday have the benefit of the additional fixture along with 7 other teams – Manchester United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Bournemouth, Burnley, Chelsea, Leicester City and Southampton.

After progressing to the Champions League semi-finals, Liverpool will be guaranteed a terrific reception at Anfield on Saturday when they host Bournemouth. However, with the Reds playing just once, it’s testament to Mo Salah’s brilliance that he features so highly in our GW34 Armband Rankings (below).

Salah will be at a distinct disadvantage though in terms of potential bonus points for clean sheets, playing time and general play, even though his side boast one of the highest projected goals figures (2.95) of the season so far.

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In terms of a potential ‘Triple Captain’, Romelu Lukaku, Harry Kane and Alexis Sánchez look the 3 to focus on.

Kane thought he was hard done by not to be awarded Spurs’ opener against Stoke City and the dubious goal panel ruled in his favour. Unfortunately, it came too late for those that gave him the Gw33 ‘armband’ but it does mean that he should be in great spirits and will surely relish the opportunity to heap more misery on Pep Guardiola’s Man City team.

Tottenham take on Brighton at the Amex on Tuesday in the second of their double gameweek fixtures.

Manchester United, fresh from their 3-2 comeback victory again the champions-elect, certainly have the pick of the fixtures. The Red Devils face bottom side West Brom on Sunday ahead of a trip to the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday.

Sánchez showed glimpses of his best form as he chipped in with 2 assists against the Citizens but just how much playing time will he be afforded over the 2 fixtures?

United take on Spurs in the FA Cup just 3 days after their clash with the Cherries, so he could easily see his game minutes being ‘managed’ by José Mourinho.

In terms of playing time, Lukaku looks a much safer option, having only failed to complete the 90 minutes in 2 of his 31 Premier League appearances this season.

However, to find the last occasion in which Lukaku scored more than once in a Premier League match, we need to go all the way back to the opening day of the season.

Could rock-bottom West Brom, one of his former clubs, turn out to be the whipping boys? Fantasy Premier League managers who opt to hand him that Triple Captain honour will certainly be hoping so!