This will be the largest Double Gameweek of 2023/24, with SEVEN sides playing twice – Arsenal, AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton, Liverpool, Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Scout is comparing players in each position who have a Double Gameweek 34 (DGW34) to help Fantasy Premier League managers make the right moves.
Forwards
Who's in the best form?
Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta (£5.0m) and Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke (£7.2m) have each scored three goals and earned five bonus points.
Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez (£7.7m) has been involved in four goals, scoring two and assisting two to pick up 25 points. That places him just two points clear of Sheff Utd’s Oli McBurnie (£5.4m), who produced two goals and an assist.
Similar to McBurnie, Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus (£7.7m) has also been involved in three goals in his last six outings, sitting just one point behind Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.8m).
DGW34 forwards, last six matches
| Player | Points | Goals | Assists | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mateta | 28 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Solanke | 26 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Darwin | 25 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| McBurnie | 23 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Calvert-Lewin | 21 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Jesus | 20 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Who's most likely to score or get an assist?
Darwin and Jesus rank first and second respectively in the analysis for both shots and shots in the box over their last six matches in Fantasy.
The Liverpool star’s 21 shots in the box is more than twice the total of Calvert-Lewin and McBurnie, with a dire goal conversion rate of 8.3 per cent showing why Nunez is such a frustrating figure for Fantasy managers.
Solanke, meanwhile, shows the most all-round promise. He’s joint-third with Mateta for shots in the box, with 10 each.
The Cherries’ striker is well clear of his rivals for creativity; Solanke’s 12 key passes are at least three times the total of any other DGW34 forward.
Mateta’s numbers are worth paying attention to. The Palace star leads the way here on six big chances.
Attacking stats, GW28-33
| Player | Shots | Shots in box | Big chances | Shots on target | Goal conversion | Key passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin | 24 | 21 | 4 | 8 | 8.3% | 3 |
| Jesus | 17 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 5.9% | 4 |
| Solanke | 14 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 21.4% | 12 |
| Mateta | 12 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 25% | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin | 11 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 18.2% | 3 |
| McBurnie | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 25% | 4 |
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What about the opposition defences?
Assessing the recent defensive displays of the DGW34 sides’ opponents can help give a better indication of their chances of attacking returns.
The underlying numbers certainly offer the most encouragement to McBurnie and Solanke backers.
Sheff Utd’s opponents Burnley and Manchester United have a combined Expected Goals Against (xGA) score of 26.80 across their last six matches.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, face Aston Villa and Wolves sides who have a combined xGA of 22.03.
Opposition defensive stats, last six matches
| Team | Opponents' xGA | Opponents' combined xGA |
|---|---|---|
| Sheff Utd | BUR (10.24), MUN (16.56) | 26.80 |
| Bournemouth | AVL (11.72), WOL (10.31) | 22.03 |
| Liverpool | FUL (8.56), EVE (11.90) | 20.46 |
| Arsenal | WOL (10.31), CHE (8.55) | 18.86 |
| Crystal Palace | WHU (11.12), NEW (7.26) | 18.38 |
| Everton | NFO (6.33), LIV (6.26) | 12.59 |
So, who should managers buy?
The statistics highlight why Solanke is likely to be a very popular pick for DGW34 forward lines.
Bournemouth’s talisman ticks a number of boxes here; a secure starter who is on penalty duties, he boasts strong potential for goals and assists.
Although the data also highlights the goal threat of Darwin and Jesus, their minutes seem more at risk and there are better option in the Liverpool and Arsenal midfields.
Mateta looks the next-best options after Solanke, with both offering a strong case for consideration.
The opposition data does indicate Mateta could be the most productive pick.
McBurnie’s appeal is very likely to be limited to FPL Challenge, where players from promoted teams will earn double points in DGW34.
Given that Sheff Utd are the only promoted side to have two matches, it stands to reason that their players will outscore Burnley and Luton Town assets.