Man City were the winners in the highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. It was a masterful display by Pep Guardiola’s side and Kevin De Bruyne (£12.1m), who racked up a massive 19-point haul following two goals and an assist. Teammate Erling Haaland (£12.3m) didn’t miss out on the action, setting up two goals and scoring himself for a total score of 14 fantasy points. It was disappointment for the Gunners and those FPL managers with Gabriel Martinelli (£6.9m), the Brazilian failing to register an attacking return for the first time since Gameweek 26. There was also frustration for those who captained Mo Salah (£13.0m), the Liverpool star blanking despite a 1-2 win for the Reds away at West Ham.
The potential for a massive glut of points is on the horizon with Double Gameweek 34 just around the corner. The likes of Man City, Liverpool and Man Utd all benefit with two fixtures across this period, so FPL managers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a captain. As always though, we’re on hand to assist with three selected premium options, alongside a potential differential call ahead of Saturday’s 11:00 deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Erling Haaland (£12.3) vs FUL (a), WHU (H)
Due to a potential muscle injury sustained by De Bruyne against Arsenal, Erling Haaland is who we will focus on when assessing Man City’s fantasy assets. Who came blame us after the Norwegian netted his 49th goal of the season in all competitions last time out! It was also his 33rd Premier League goal of the campaign, breaking Mo Salah’s record of most goals scored in a 38-game Premier League season. From an FPL perspective, Gameweek 33 was his third consecutive double-figure points return.
With an incredible 38 fantasy points racked up across his last three league appearances, the vast majority of FPL managers will understandably hand Haaland the armband in Double Gameweek 34 as Man City travel to Fulham, before hosting West Ham in midweek. The expectation will be that the free-scoring forward nets a monster haul and all eyes within the FPL community will be on him.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5) vs TOT (H), FUL (H)
It’s been a while since this particular FPL star made an appearance in one of these captain picks articles, but following his recent glut of assists, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) will be back on the radar of many ahead of Double Gameweek 34. It’s now five assists in his last four league matches to be specific and 24 fantasy points to boot. The flying full-back has failed to accrue a score of less than 5 points since Gameweek 30.
Liverpool boast consecutive home fixtures in Double Gameweek 34, with Spurs the visitors to Anfield on Sunday, one week after their 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle. Fulham then travel to Liverpool three days later and Jurgen Klopp’s side will eying up a pair of clean sheets, which they have found hard to come by in recent weeks. When also taking into account Alexander-Arnold’s run of assists, it could prove a lucrative gameweek for the 24-year-old from an FPL point of view.
Marcus Rashford (£7.1) vs AVL (H), BHA (a)
Before we start, it’s important to note that this has been written prior to Man Utd’s Gameweek 33 fixture away at Spurs, which could affect this particular captain pick. However, Marcus Rashford (£7.1m) has a history of big fantasy returns during a double gameweek which makes him an enticing option when it comes to choosing a Double Gameweek 34 skipper. Back in Double Gameweek 22, the England international bagged a whopping 20 fantasy points, scoring in both fixtures that he played.
Man Utd host Aston Villa and then travel to Brighton in Double Gameweek 34. As it stands at the time of writing, Rashford has 15 goals and five assists to his name over the course of the season so far in the Premier League and is still a crucial part of the Man Utd attack under Erik ten Hag. Whilst Haaland will understandably command all the attention in terms of captaincy, Rashford shouldn’t be ruled out by any means.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Lucas Paqueta (£5.9m) vs CRY (a), MCI (a)
After having made a slow start to life in the Premier League, West Ham’s big-money summer signing from Lyon has really started to show his class in recent weeks. Lucas Paqueta (£5.9m) comes into this match having found the net in each of the Hammers’ last three games in all competitions, both domestically and in Europe. From an FPL perspective, two goals and an assist since Gameweek 31 has seen him accrue 21 fantasy points.
Paqueta’s goal against Gent in the Europa Conference League came from the penalty spot, which further enhances his FPL appeal should he have been handed penalty responsibilities on a full-time basis ahead of Said Benrahma and from a differential standpoint, the Brazilian offers an alternate option for those fantasy managers with no choice but to pick a captain with a tiny ownership in a bid to try and make up ground.
