We hope you followed last week’s column because the team performed monstrously. Marcos Senesi, Noah Okafor and Viktor Gyokeres all chipped in with double figure hauls to give us a whopping 83 points. It’s now time for FPL Gameweek 36 and the FPL chip strategy very much comes to the fore again here. If you still have chips to play, now is seriously time to start thinking about how you’ll utilise them, but if you’re struggling, we’ve got some tips to help you out. There’s still an incredible amount to play for this season, which makes the game super competitive and fun, and this weekend there are some incredible fixtures to get stuck into.
FPL Gameweek 35 Team
GK: Darlow (3.9m) – 2pts
DEF: Saliba (6.1m) – 6pts, Senesi (5.2m) – 14pts, Guehi (5.1m) – 4pts, Bijol (3.9m) – 5pts
MID: Okafor (5.6m) (C) – 20pts, Rogers (7.5m) – 1pt, Cherki (6.5m) – 5pts, Tavernier (5.4m) – 3pts
FWD: Haaland (14.5m) – 7pts, Gyokeres (8.8m) – 16pts
SUB: Hermansen (4.2m) Isak (10.3m), Mavropanos (4.5m) Gros (5.5m)
TOTAL: 83pts
FPL Gameweek 36 Recommended Chip
Triple Captain – A double gameweek for the best attacking side in the league? What could be better. The triple captaincy is a no-brainer this week, if you have it available.
FPL Gameweek 36 Target Fixtures & Players
Manchester City (vs Brentford & Crystal Palace, both home)
A more attractive double gameweek there has not been this FPL season. Two home ties with City needing to win both. This is where we’ll be utilising the triple captain chip, and you don’t need to be Pep Guardiola to work out who we’ll be placing it on.
Top picks:
Nico O’Reilly (5.2m) – Continues to impress in a more advanced position and is now one of the first names on the City team sheet. Creative, an eye for goal and a pure technician, he’s become many people’s go to from City’s defence.
Rayan Cherki – Got an assist against Everton to continue his hot-streak, no one would criticise a triple captain punt on the Frenchman either.
Jeremy Doku (6.4m) – Scored two wonderful goals at Everton on Monday and looks a real differential as one of Guardiola’s preferred wingers.
Erling Haaland (14.6m) – Despite City’s wobbles all season Haaland is still the runaway Golden Boot leader and a must-have this week. Triple captain material.
Arsenal (vs West Ham, away)
Many pundits are saying this is the key fixture in Arsenal’s title run-in, so you can expect Mikel Arteta to resist the temptation to rotate despite his men’s heroic efforts in the Champions League. They look like they’re back to their best, and have a plethora of options for this week’s team.
Top picks:
Ricardo Calafiori (5.6m) – Has returned to the Arsenal side following injury and the Gunners look a different team. Steps into midfield and had a lovely headed goal just ruled out for offside against Fulham.
Eberechi Eze (7.3m) – Seems to be Arsenal’s preferred player in the No.10 at the moment. Scored a great goal against Newcastle and is always finding pockets of space where he can work his magic.
Bukayo Saka (9.8m) – Back to FPL with a bang last week with a goal and assist in his 45 minute appearance, building up fitness nicely and will be looking to get more minutes here.
Viktor Gyokeres (8.9m) – Put in his best display in an Arsenal shirt with two goals and an assist against Fulham, and with Kai Havertz being nursed back to fitness, looks sure to start again here.
Liverpool (vs Chelsea, home)
Liverpool lost again to Manchester United at the weekend but can bounce back here against a dreadful Chelsea team who look like they’ve thrown in the towel in the league, at least. Changes are expected at Anfield this summer, not least with Mo Salah departing, and they’ll want to send their fans away happy, so a strong attacking performance is in order.
Top picks:
Freddie Woodman (3.9m) – With Alisson still out, Woodman is worth a crack given his low price point into Liverpool’s defence.
Dominik Szoboszlai (7.0m) – Unlucky to be on the losing team at Old Trafford last week, scoring a brilliant individual goal and assisting another. The Hungarian has been magnificent this season.
Florian Wirtz (8.3m) – Scored a brilliant goal against Crystal Palace and with Chelsea defending terribly at the moment, he’ll like his chances of returns here.
Crystal Palace (vs Everton & Manchester City, home & away respectively)
The other side who play two fixtures. Likely to have a European final to focus on, but these are still two of Glasner’s last games as manager, so he’ll want to show his best. Everton conceded three at home in a gruelling game on Monday, and while Palace play Thursday, they should be able to play with some freedom if they overcome Shakhtar.
Top picks:
Daniel Munoz (5.9m) – Scored in Palace’s loss at Anfield recently and hasn’t let down managers who backed him all the way this season.
Ismaila Sarr (6.4m) – Probably Palace’s player of the year, has been electric in Europe and his pace and direct running cause all sorts of problems for defenders.
Jorgen Strand-Larsen (5.9m) – The striker signed in January to boost the Eagles’ attack has been a mixed bag so far, but two chances to haul make him worth a punt here.
Brighton (vs Wolves, home)
A home fixture against a relegated side is always one to target so Brighton assets should be on your agenda this week. The Seagulls have a number of really interesting players, so you there are plenty of options all over the pitch, with many in the ‘value enabler’ category.
Top picks:
Jan-Paul van Hecke (4.5m) – A defensive contribution monster and a major threat at set pieces, van Hecke is a cracking 4.5m option in defence.
Ferdi Kadioglou (4.4m) – Recently got a goal against Chelsea and while we love defensive contributions, we still love attacking returns from our defenders, and the Turkey international will fancy his chances here.
Pascal Gros (5.5m) – Will go down as a really shrewd signing given his impact since returning. On set pieces and looks to have slotted back into life on the South Coast wonderfully.
FPL Gameweek 36 Captain Picks
Erling Haaland (C) – With the chip still in play you’d be mad not to triple captain Haaland this weekend. He’s scored three goals in his last three games and is still by far the safest pick from the City team for these make-or-break fixtures.
Jeremy Doku (VC) – As good a back-up as any after his heroics on Monday.
Worth a Punt
Antonin Kinsky (3.9m) – Spurs have tightened up at the back and Kinsky has laid to rest the demons of Madrid. A good value pick in goal for a promising home fixture.
Noah Okafor (5.6m) – Rewarded column readers last week with a double figure haul as the captain and can cause Tottenham’s unreliable defence problems in a crucial relegation tussle.
Mathys Tel (6.2m) – Assisted at Villa Park and with so many injuries, the Frenchman looks a solid differential.
Thierno Barry (5.7m) – Benefitted from a wretched City defensive display with two goals on Monday and looks a good option for the third striker slot this week against a Palace side that may have one eye on a European final.
FPL Gameweek 36 Team
GK: Kinsky (3.9m)
DEF: Calafiori (5.6m), O’Reilly (5.2m), Munoz (5.9m)
MID: Szoboszlai (7.0m), Saka (9.8m), Doku (6.4m), Sarr (6.4m), Tel (6.2m)
FWD: Haaland (14.5m) (C), Gyokeres (8.9m)
SUB: Woodman (3.9m), van Hecke (4.5m) Kadioglou (4.4m), Barry (5.7m)
TOTAL: 98.4m