Last updated on May 6th, 2022
By MATTHEW PETERSEN @Matt_Petersen13
Gameweek 35 saw Man City and Liverpool continue to take the title fight down to the last gameweek as they beat Leeds and Newcastle 4-0 and 1-0 respectively. Chelsea continued their topsy-turvy form and lost 1-0 to relegation fighters Everton, a result that no doubt would have pleased Frank Lampard for his team and personal sake. Arsenal picked up a hard-fought 2-1 win over West Ham while Spurs beat Leicester 3-1 to ensure their clash this week becomes a 4th place final. Man United also kept their slim but not impossible top 4 hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Brentford.
There was a GW35 average of 44 points with many managers falling to rotations, especially at Liverpool and Man City. The two final double gameweeks of the season are approaching and as advised last week, this is the ideal week to use whatever chips any FPL managers still have. The teams with DGWs in GW36 and GW37 are:
DGW36 teams: Arsenal; Aston Villa; Chelsea; Everton; Leeds; Leicester; Liverpool; Man City; Norwich; Spurs; Watford; Wolves.
DGW37 teams: Aston Villa; Burnley; Crystal Palace; Everton; Leicester.
While ideally there are plenty of options for players from these teams, I will mention why I’ve picked my 6.
Gameweek 35 top 3 performers
1. Heung-Min Son – 19 points (90 minutes, two goals, one assist, clean sheet, 3BPS)
2. Raphael Varane – 14 points (90 minutes, clean sheet, one goal, 2BPS)
=3. Alex Telles – 12 points (90 minutes, clean sheet, one assist, 3BPS)
=3. Ruben Dias – 12 points (90 minutes, clean sheet, one assist, 3BPS)
Let’s take a look at the picks for this week, reviewing their GW35 performance and previewing their GW36 points potential, looking at recent form and favourable fixtures.
1. Joao Cancelo – £7.2m (DEF); 40.7% ownership
GW35 review – 5 points (90 minutes, clean sheet, yellow card)
GW36 preview – Newcastle (H); Wolves (A)
On paper, Man City have the easiest set of fixtures and come into the game in the best vein of form. Pep is aware of the magnitude these two games hold, as any dropped points hands the advantage to Liverpool. I expect Cancelo to start both games especially as Kyle Walker (£5.4m) coming off injured midweek in the Champions League. Other City assets to consider are Ederson (£6.1m), Bernardo Silva (£7/0m) and Raheem Sterling (£10.5m).
2. Luis Diaz – £8.0m (MID); 3.5% ownership
GW35 review – 3 points (90 minutes, clean sheet)
GW36 preview – Spurs (H); Aston Villa (A)
The Colombian has added more fuel to Liverpool’s attacking fire since arriving in January. He has three goals and two assists in just 11 games this season and I expect him to feature in both games this GW, starting at least one of them. Roberto Firmino (£8.7m) is still out with an injury meaning any one of the other three attacking options are worth considering this week too, depending on your budget to work with.
3. Gabriel Magalhaes – £5.4m (DEF); 8.3% ownership
GW35 review – 11 points (90 minutes, one goal, 3BPS)
GW36 preview – Leeds (H); Spurs (A)
Arsenal have two contrasting fixtures on paper. They would be expected to keep a clean sheet against Leeds, especially considering the importance of taking all three points in the context of the upcoming fixture against Spurs. Gabriel has been brilliant defensively and has contributed on the other end of the pitch too. Alternatives for Arsenal in defence would be Aaron Ramsdale (£5.1m), Nuno Tavares (£4.3m) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (£4.5m).
4. Andy Robertson – £7.3m (DEF); 11.7% ownership
GW35 review – 6 points (90 minutes, clean sheet)
GW36 preview – Spurs (H); Aston Villa (A)
The second Liverpool pick this week is the reliable Scotsman. Robertson has been outstanding this season, notching 11 assists and keeping 17 clean sheets. Their form has been brilliant of late and I expect them to keep a clean sheet in at least one of the games. Liverpool have a stacked defence so anyone of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.4m) or Virgil Van Dijk (£6.8m) could have been great alternatives this week.
5. Kasper Schmeichel – £4.9m (GK); 16.8% ownership
GW35 review – 2 points (90 minutes, four saves)
GW36 preview – Everton (H); Norwich (H)
The Leicester keeper has been a mainstay in the team this season with the team not being as consistent in the league as they were in the previous two seasons. European football has been at the centre of their focus of late but they are still in with an outside shot at Europe next season through the league. They have a DGW in 36 and 37 so I expect Schmeichel to play every game until the end of the season.
6. Jacob Ramsey – £4.7m (MID); 7.9% ownership
GW35 review – 2 points (90 minutes)
GW36 preview – Burnley (A); Liverpool (H)
Villa have two tricky games as Burnley are still fighting for survival and Liverpool are pushing for the title but, like Leicester, they also have a DGW in 36 and 37. Ramsey has been a brilliant starter at his price tag and I think he will continue to play bar a massive loss of form or an injury. Other Villa options include Matty Cash (£5.3m), Phillippe Coutinho (£7.1m) and Ollie Watkins (£7.5m) if you do have extra budget to work with.
*Prices and ownership statistics correct as of 5 May 2022*
To see the picks of last week, click the link below:
