FPL Banger Run Through Their Best Captain Top Picks and a Surprise Managerial Choice in their FPL Week 26 Tips 3i2y2k

FPL Banger’s week 26 tips include a reliable captain choice, top player picks, and a bold managerial punt that could give you the edge in your mini-leagues.

Welcome back to our series for the 2024/25 season, provided by Siva & Sam, the twisted minds behind the FPL Banger Podcast.

We nearly had a full house last week with Salah ©, Trent, Kluivert and Mateta all returning. Let’s see if we can keep it up in GW26.

FPL Week 26 Tips 511a23

BEST CAPTAIN 4x3t3d

Mohamed Salah (£13.7m) – Man City (A) 4b1c71

I won’t lie, at the start of the week I had the armband on someone else. But then I made the mistake of watching Man City play Real Madrid. Pep’s side look old, tired, and old. Wracked with injuries and basically little left to play for this season, up against Mo Salah in what might be his last ever game at the Etihad. I’m boring, and I’m sticking with Mo ©.

All 1⃣3⃣ of Mo Salah's goal involvements vs Man City, the most by any opponent in the Pep Guardiola era.

Will he strike again on Sunday? #MCILIV pic.twitter.com/REzzLDcDWg

— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) February 20, 2025

TOP PICKS 4e4v6p

Older Arsenal fans will the first time Graham Potter visited Arsenal. Back in 2018, Potter, then managing Swedish side Ostersunds FK, upset the odds to win 2-1 at the Emirates in the final days of Arsène Wenger’s reign.

Thankfully Arsenal have come a long way since then and now have slightly better players than Callum Chambers and Rob Holding. I do not expect Potter to be able to work his magic this time, especially with Lucas Paquetá unavailable for selection. Clean sheets are hard to predict, but I’ll happily bet on this Arsenal side keeping out the Hammers.

Leicester’s form over the last 10 games: LLLLLLLWLL

And that 1 win was against Spurs, so does it even count? Not for me, mate.

Fairplay to Ruud van Nistelrooy for making Steve Cooper look like prime Jose Mourinho. Wissa and Mbeumo have been unlucky to blank in recent weeks, but have no fear, Wout Faes & Co are here to help.

ASSISTANT MANAGER 356z6y

Oliver Glasner (£0.8m) – Fulham (A) 4p5x3p

You could pick Arteta against West Ham, sure. He’ll probably win 2-0, which adds up to 11 points. But why would you do that when you could select Oliver Glasner, who, with a 2-0 win, could get 21 points?

Some people might be scared of backing Palace away from home, but Craven Cottage isn’t exactly a fortress – it’s literally a cottage.

Where Fulham have already dropped points to lowly, relegation-battling sides like Ipswich (2-2), Southampton (0-0) and Man United (0-1). I’m prepared to risk it all on Glasner. See you on the other side.

Thanks for reading the article in this new series for SportsCasting. Be sure to follow @FPL_Banger for more FPL tips and hints, including their weekly podcast and team reveals.