The Hard Tackle recommends the best candidates to choose from while zeroing in on the best FPL captain for Gameweek 34.
Just five more rounds of fixtures remain before an action-packed 2023/24 Premier League season ends. Speaking of “action-packed”, the upcoming Gameweek 34 will produce a raft of chips and different strategies in FPL, with the latest matchday being the biggest Double Gameweek of the campaign.
Every Double Gameweek produces much excitement, and they are arguably the most highly-anticipated periods of an FPL campaign. DGW 34 should be no different, with seven clubs playing twice in the latest round of fixtures.
Arsenal, Bournemouth, and Liverpool have the most enticing matches, with their players being the prime candidates to don the captain’s armband in DGW 34. However, a wildcard pick from Sheffield United might be an option if you are feeling ludicrous while still going about it with some logic.
With that in mind, The Hard Tackle recommends five players who are prime candidates to be your FPL captains in the much-awaited Double Gameweek 34.
Mohamed Salah (£13.5m)
Our list begins with the most obvious pick for DGW 34. We are talking about Mohamed Salah. With Liverpool under the pump and facing Fulham and Everton in the latest round of fixtures, the Reds’ talisman should be your first choice.
However, Salah’s recent form is a cause for concern, as he has drawn a blank in three of his last five Premier League outings. Include the recent UEFA Europa League drubbing, and some might think twice before investing heavily in Liverpool’s assets.
But Jurgen Klopp’s men are not known as “Mentality Monsters” for nothing. In addition, Salah produced a combined haul of 21 points in the reverse FPL fixtures against Fulham and Everton. So, it might be worthwhile to hedge your bets on one of the top scorers in FPL this season.
Bukayo Saka (£9.0m)
Like Liverpool, Arsenal recently endured a week from hell, losing to Aston Villa to concede the top spot in the Premier League while bowing out of the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich.
However, Saka’s recent form is a cause for concern, much like Salah’s. The Englishman started 2024 with a bang, hardly going a game without finding the back of the net. However, he has only produced a haul in FPL in one of his last four outings.
The 22-year-old also left much to be desired with his performance against Bayern Munich earlier this week. However, Saka was on target in the reverse fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers while providing an assist against Chelsea to have a combined haul of 13 points. That might not be too appealing but makes him a candidate for the armband.
Dominic Solanke (£7.2m)
Solanke is enjoying an unprecedented 2023/24 campaign thus far. The Englishman is finally showing signs of fulfilling his tremendous potential, the potential that compelled Liverpool to poach him away from Chelsea several years ago.
The Bournemouth striker has had to go through the grind in the last few seasons but has finally stamped his authority. Solanke is the joint-fourth-highest scorer in the Premier League this term, finding the back of the net 17 times thus far, with Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland only netting three more times.
So, it is hardly surprising that Solanke’s name appears on the wishlists of several top clubs, including Arsenal. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old has already scored against Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers this season and will be in contention to do a double over both clubs. So, he is an option worth considering if you do not back Salah or Saka on their current form.
Kai Havertz (£7.4m)
Our next pick might surprise a few, considering his move from Chelsea raised many eyebrows, considering the money Arsenal spent to secure his services. However, Kai Havertz has proven his naysayers wrong, amassing nine goals and five assists in the Premier League.
Most of that tally has come in 2024, with Havertz producing a combined haul of 70 points in his last eight FPL outings. So, he might even be a more appealing candidate to hand the captain’s armband heading into DGW 34. Revenge might also be on Havertz’s mind when he faces former club Chelsea in the latest round of fixtures.
Ben Brereton Diaz (£5.0m)
We have finally come to our wildcard captaincy pick for DGW 34. Seeing this player’s name might surprise a few, considering Sheffield United’s plight in the Premier League. However, the Blades face two vulnerable defensive units in the latest round of fixtures.
So, Ben Brereton Diaz is a reasonably attractive candidate, considering his impact for Sheffield United since arriving from Villarreal this past winter. The Chilean international has four goals and one assist in Sheffield United colours.
However, he has not produced a haul in his last three outings. That said, Burnley and Manchester United have dreadful defensive units, bringing Ben Brereton Diaz and Oliver McBurnie into the picture to produce sizeable hauls in FPL in DGW 34.