The Hard Tackle lists the five best options to consider to bring into your team heading into FPL Gameweek 34 of the 2025/26 season.
Gameweek 34 of the 2025/26 Premier League season is right around the corner, and for FPL managers staring at their teams, it is transfer deadline day that can make or break the run-in. With some clubs sitting out due to a blank gameweek after doubles last time around, the focus sharpens on players from teams like Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton, and Aston Villa who face juicy match-ups.
This piece dives deep into the top five transfer shouts, explaining why they’re primed to deliver hauls against their specific opponents in GW34. The beauty of FPL at this stage is spotting those gems who combine form, fixtures, and underlying stats into point explosions. These are not knee-jerk picks but players backed by season-long trends and recent fireworks that scream value in your squad.
Managers juggling chips like Free Hit or Bench Boost will love how these players tick boxes for clean sheets, bonuses, attacks, and penalties. It is a chance to captain bold, triple up on differentials, and climb those mini-leagues before the madness of Gameweek 35 looms.
Forget the hype trains derailed by rotation risks, as these five stand tall because their clubs need them firing, opponents are vulnerable, and FPL scouts are buzzing. Let us break down each one, starting with the Arsenal wall who could feast on set pieces and clean sheets.
Gabriel Magalhaes: Arsenal’s set-piece beast
Gabriel Magalhaes has been a defensive colossus for Arsenal this season, anchoring one of the league’s stingiest backlines while chipping in with goals that turn matches. The Brazilian has racked up over 150 points already, blending clean sheet hauls with bonus magnets from his no-nonsense tackling and aerial dominance; his goals in the opposition box make him a cheat code in FPL.
Facing Newcastle United in Gameweek 34 at the Emirates, Gabriel’s appeal skyrockets. The Magpies have stuttered offensively away from home, managing just sporadic bursts amid injuries and tactical tweaks, conceding chances galore to set-piece heavy hitters like Arsenal. History shows Gabriel thrives here, and with Newcastle’s attack inconsistent, he is set for another double-digit return, bonuses included.
Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool’s leader
Liverpool have not nailed every clean sheet this term, but Virgil van Dijk remains a premium defender who pays his price tag through sheer presence and surprise attacking returns. The Dutchman’s composure reads attacks like a book, earning him top-five bonus tallies among defenders, and his forays forward, including that towering header winner against Everton last week, keep owners grinning.
Crystal Palace roll into Anfield in Gameweek 34, and they are a side that has shipped goals like confetti lately, especially against top sides. Crystal Palace’s high line leaves gaps for van Dijk to exploit on overlaps or dead balls, and despite Liverpool’s occasional slips at the back, their home form screams shutout potential. Expect him to reward his FPL managers with a haul, either through a clean sheet or a goal.
Bruno Fernandes: The record-chasing engine
Bruno Fernandes might hit the odd quiet spell, but he is Manchester United’s heartbeat, dictating play with passes that slice defences and a penalty boot that is pure gold. Chasing that all-time Premier League assists crown, he has been Manchester United’s top creator, having amassed 18 assists and turning blanks into hauls via bonuses and shots.
Brentford come to Old Trafford in Gameweek 34, and after Fernandes’s muted reverse fixture where he fired blanks amid chaos, expect fire from the skipper. Manchester United owe them one, and the Portuguese playmaker is eager to atone, especially with his set-piece duties and talisman status under pressure. Brentford’s press-resistant but goal-shy away form is perfect for his through-balls to explode.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: Everton’s creative spark
West Ham United’s backline has been a revolving door this season, leaking from crosses and counters, which lines up beautifully for Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in Gameweek 34 at the London Stadium. The midfielder’s vision unlocks doors, with recent hauls like 13 points vs Fulham and 9 against Brentford showing his knack for assists and shots in tight games.
Dewsbury-Hall’s creativity shines brighter against shaky backs, as he produces key passes galore. Additionally, and West Ham’s defensive woes scream opportunity. The Englishman’s last six starts average ~6 points per game, blending tackles for bonuses with forward surges, making him a budget enchanter to turbocharge midfields without breaking the bank.
Ollie Watkins: Aston Villa’s red-hot finisher
Ollie Watkins is on fire, smashing six goals across his last five outings in all competitions and turning Aston Villa’s attack into a machine. The English striker’s movement drags markers, earning penalties and tap-ins, with his price justified by his recent form.
Fulham host Aston Villa in GW34, but their backline’s inconsistencies hand Watkins a banquet. The Englishman has feasted on similar setups, bagging a brace against Sunderland last week, and with Aston Villa chasing Europe, expect him to prowl for hauls. Six in five is not luck; it’s form meeting fixture perfection.
FPL Transfer Recommendations at a Glance
| Player | Club | Opponent | Main Appeal | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Magalhaes | Arsenal | Newcastle United (H) | Set-piece goal threat + clean sheet upside | Low |
| Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool | Crystal Palace (H) | Bonus king + attacking headers | Medium |
| Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | Brentford (H) | Assists chase + revenge motivation | Low |
| Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall | Everton | West Ham (A) | Creativity vs leaky defence | Medium |
| Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa | Fulham (A) | Six-goal streak + pen magnet | Low |
Honourable Mentions
Honourable mentions for differentials include Nordi Mukiele, Joachim Andersen, Andy Diouf, James Tarkowski, Matheus Cunha, Morgan Gibbs-White, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Richarlison, Adam Armstrong, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Alexander Isak, and Jarrod Bowen. Keep an eye on their haul.
