The Hard Tackle lists the players you should draft into your FPL teams in Gameweek 33 as you prepare for Double Gameweek 34.
The most exciting period of the 2023/24 season is here, especially in FPL, with three Double Gameweeks greeting us in the next five rounds of fixtures. The first of these DGWs will come in Gameweek 34, with seven clubs playing twice in the upcoming matchday.
Arsenal will travel to the Molineux to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers before hosting Chelsea at the Emirates. The other eye-catching DGW comes from Liverpool, with the Reds travelling twice to lock horns with Fulham and Everton.
Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Sheffield United also have attractive prospects, with Wolverhampton Wanderers offering the possibility of a defensive asset. Everton might be the only club to overlook heading into DGW 34, considering the Toffees take on a resurgent Nottingham Forest and the title-chasing Liverpool.
Nevertheless, we have produced a list of seven players you should keep your eyes peeled on heading into Gameweek 34, with some of them also offering good value in this weekend’s matches.
Mohamed Salah (£13.4m)
Our list begins with the most obvious pick, considering Liverpool will be in action in DGW 34. While Darwin Nunez is a potential candidate, every Liverpool player apart from Mohamed Salah provides too much variance.
Salah himself has not been among the most prolific players in the Premier League since returning to action a few weeks ago. The Egyptian international has alternated between a haul and a blank in the last four matchdays.
One of those hauls only came to be because he found the back of the net from the penalty spot against Manchester United. However, Liverpool’s two games come against teams in the bottom half of the Premier League table, giving Salah the opportunity to deliver the goods in FPL.
Bukayo Saka (£8.9m)
The next most obvious pick in FPL heading into DGW 34 comes from Arsenal, considering the North London club’s irresistible form in 2024. Remarkably, this player has produced a haul in seven of his last nine outings. We are talking about Bukayo Saka.
The Arsenal attacker has 81 points in his last nine outings, amassing eight goals and two assists. He has been one of the best players in the world since the turn of the year, pushing Arsenal on two fronts as they look to win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.
The Gunners face Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea in DGW 34, two tantalising fixtures for Arsenal, especially considering neither of the two opponents tend to keep clean sheets. Expect the English international to produce a big haul in those outings.
William Saliba (£5.9m)
We continue with Arsenal as we extend our list to a third player. The Gunners do not have many reliable defenders in FPL but have kept the most clean sheets thus far in 2024 in the Premier League. So, that brings William Saliba into the picture.
Like Saka, Saliba has racked up points galore in his last few outings, amassing 47 points in the eight most recent matches, only failing to produce a haul in two of those games. Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers might carry an offensive threat. But Arsenal should be in contention to keep two clean sheets, considering the team’s incredible form on both ends in 2024.
Dominic Solanke (£7.3m)
Our next pick has been among the best players in the Premier League this season. He might even be the top “pound-for-pound” performer in the top flight this term, considering where his team is in the standings and his impact.
The Englishman has a whopping 16 goals in his 31 outings thus far in the Premier League, making him one of the top scorers in the Premier League and giving him the third-highest points among forwards in FPL.
Solanke has not been in the best of touches in the last few weeks. However, with Bournemouth having reasonably attractive fixtures in DGW 34 against Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the former Chelsea striker might be in business.
Ben Brereton Diaz (£5.0m)
Our next pick might surprise some readers, considering he comes from the worst team in the Premier League. However, Ben Brereton Diaz has been among the best performers in the top flight since arriving from Villarreal this past winter.
The Chilean international is already the fifth-highest points scorer among Sheffield United midfielders in FPL and will likely end the 2023/24 season second behind Gustavo Hamer. As for his performances, he has racked up 38 points in seven outings, making it a respectable tally for a Sheffield United player.
While Brereton Diaz drew a blank against Liverpool and Chelsea, he was integral to the gameplay as Sheffield United scored thrice in those games. Meanwhile, the Blades face Burnley and a vulnerable Manchester United in DGW 34, giving the 24-year-old the chance to rack up the points.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.7m)
Wolverhampton Wanderers might not have the most appealing fixtures in DGW 34, and they might suffer against Arsenal in one of those games. However, we have picked Rayan Ait-Nouri due to his offensive potential.
The Algerian international has produced a haul in four of his last six outings in FPL, amassing two goals and two assists while racking up 36 points. That is equivalent to a clean sheet plunder in every match without getting an offensive return.
So, it is hardly surprising that Ait-Nouri has attracted interest from high-profile clubs like Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester United. The 22-year-old plays as a wing-back, giving him more opportunities to make his mark in the final third. Expect him to produce a haul in at least one of his two outings in DGW 34.
Jean-Philippe Mateta (£5.0m)
Our list ends with another surprise pick. However, Jean-Philippe Mateta might be the dark horse for FPL managers to zoom through the rankings in DGW 34, considering his incredible form in the last few weeks.
The Frenchman has been among the most prolific forwards in FPL in the last four relevant matchdays. Mateta is the third-highest scorer among attackers during this run, with only Alexander Isak and Chris Wood racking up more points.
Crystal Palace will face West Ham United and Newcastle United at Selhurst Park in DGW 34. With both teams having fragile defensive units, especially on their travels, Crystal Palace will have the chance to pull away from the drop zone, with Mateta being among the best prospects to amass loads of points.