FPL 2023-24 | Double Gameweek 34 | Captain Picks
Following a number of English clubs being knocked out of Europe, attention is set to turn back onto the Premier League and specifically the title race. But from an FPL point of view, all we care about is selecting the players capable of gaining a big haul, especially on a crucial round of fixtures such as Double Gameweek 34. A number of enticing assets have the benefit of two fixtures and with that in mind, we’ve marked out three premium captain picks with two games in which to feast upon, alongside an alternative differential option ahead of Saturday’s 13:30 deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Mo Salah (£13.5m) vs FUL (a), EVE (a)
Any gameweek which sees Mo Salah and Liverpool with two fixtures will immediately draw the attention of most FPL managers. The Egyptian has previous for huge point-scores across a double gameweek down the years and this time could prove no different. Still one of the highest FPL midfield scorers this season with 186 points overall, Salah boasts 17 goals and nine assists to his name so far in the 2023-24 Premier League.
With every match crucial in the PL title race, Salah is primed to be the focal point of Klopp's attack.
— The FPL Bois (@thefplbois) April 18, 2024
He's been steadily regaining form, scoring twice in his last 4 PL appearances. Salah's record against the opponents -
5G in 5 games vs Everton
3G in 5 games vs Fulham
CAP!! pic.twitter.com/TC9wKn3k33
For Liverpool, both Fulham and Everton away are simply must win games in their race for the title and in order to improve their goal difference, winning both by a wide margin would obviously be preferable. This potentially increases the likelihood of Salah grabbing more than one goal and/or assist, which would lead to a monster haul for those who do captain him.
Bukayo Saka (£9.0m) vs WOL (a), CHE (H)
On the back of a disappointing exit to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Arsenal now turn their attention back to the Premier League title race with two crucial Double Gameweek 34 encounters against Wolves and Chelsea respectively. This enhances the fantasy appeal of Bukayo Saka from a captaincy point of view, despite his recent patchy form in the Premier League.
5 - Previous Fixtures with said teams.
— FPL Dragon (Sam) (@FPLDRAGON3) April 16, 2024
Arsenal beat Wolves 2-1 in the reverse fixture, Odegaard and Saka with the goals.
Arsenal drew with Chelsea last time with Rice and Trossard getting the goals. pic.twitter.com/GFUP0aezB2
Arsenal’s last away league fixture saw Saka find the net and accrue 10 FPL points. The England international boasts more points than Salah across the season so far with 193 points. Having recorded 14 goals and ten assists, not to mention penalties falling under his domain, selecting Saka as your Double Gameweek 34 captain should be afforded plenty of consideration.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.4m) vs FUL (a), EVE (a)
Despite injury having bogged down Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold for a long period now, the notoriously attacking full-back returned to Premier League action in Gameweek 33 against Crystal Palace, coming off the bench to replace Conor Bradley, who has since been ruled out of action for the next few weeks with a knee injury, which should nail Alexander-Arnold’s spot as starting right-back for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Bradley off injured?
— Fella (@FPLFella) April 14, 2024
TAA for DGW34
Whilst it represents a significant risk captaining a defender, not to mention one with the recent injury history of Alexander-Arnold. But in Double Gameweek 24, he gives FPL bosses two cracks at not only clean sheet points, but also attacking returns when taking into account the license Alexander-Arnold is afforded to roam forward, not to mention his set-piece potency.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
Jean-Philippe Mateta (£5.0m) vs WHU (H), NEW (H)
Crystal Palace assets have been of very little focus building up to Double Gameweek 34 but with two home fixtures on the horizon and coming off the back of an incredible win over Liverpool at Anfield, an FPL manager looking for a differential skipper should focus upon the Eagles. Jean-Philippe Mateta is arguably the stand out candidate, the Palace forward having scored in three of his last five Premier League appearances.
Across those five games, Mateta has accrued 26 fantasy points and home matches against West Ham and Newcastle respectively gives the striker a good chance to acquire a substantial haul of points. Of course, captaining Mateta would be a big risk but with the two fixtures that come with a double gameweek and with it being this late in the season, it may prove a risk worth taking.
