The final double gameweek of the FPL season is upon us, with Manchester City and Crystal Palace both playing twice. Beyond the obvious choice of Erling Haaland, which City assets should you target? And how many Palace players are worth selecting as Oliver Glasner’s side pushes for European qualification? Here is my ideal Free Hit squad for this crucial week as the campaign winds down.
The team of the week is assembled based on current FPL prices within a £100m budget, mimicking a Free Hit scenario.
**How did last week’s team perform?**
A triple Arsenal defense paid off with three clean sheets, Noah Okafor and James Hill delivered 10-point returns, and captain Igor Thiago found the net. This resulted in a solid 64 points.
**Goalkeeper and Defense**
**Bart Verbruggen (Brighton, £4.5m) and Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton, £4.6m) – vs. Wolves (h)**
Wolves have lost their last two away matches 3-0 and 4-0, managing only seven goals on the road all season. Backing Brighton’s defense is a logical move.
**Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City, £5.2m) – vs. Brentford (h) and Crystal Palace (h)**
There’s a case for a double City defense, but with goal difference likely decisive in the title race, this squad prioritizes attacking returns from Pep Guardiola’s side. If you pick only one City defender, O’Reilly is the man—he contributes goals and bonus points.
**Jaydee Canvot (Crystal Palace, £4.5m) – vs. Everton (h) and Manchester City (a)**
Rotation fears are mitigated by Palace’s potential Europa Conference League final on Thursday, leaving three weeks before the big game. Rotation hasn’t worked for Glasner anyway—his side has earned just one point from the last three games, eyeing the relegation zone nervously. Canvot has started eight straight matches and earned defensive contribution points in five of them.
**Gabriel (Arsenal, £7.2m) – vs. West Ham (a)**
Arsenal’s defense is on a roll, so Gabriel remains a must-pick. Four clean sheets in their last six, and the Brazilian had an xG of 0.64 against Fulham last time out—he is due a goal.
**Midfield**
**Rayan Cherki (Manchester City, £6.6m) – vs. Brentford (h) and Crystal Palace (h)**
Cherki has emerged as City’s best midfield asset as Antoine Semenyo’s output has faded. While Jeremy Doku’s two-goal performance at Everton is tempting, the Belgian has only four goals this season. Cherki boasts 12 assists in 18 starts during his debut season, and with two home games for a City side chasing goals, he offers a more reliable chance of returns.
**Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, £10.4m) – vs. Sunderland (a)**
Fernandes is delivering every week and is an essential FPL pick.
**Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace, £6.4m) – vs. Everton (h) and Manchester City (a)**
Assuming Palace’s first XI plays both games, Sarr is the top attacking pick. Only Cole Palmer has a higher xG per 90 than Sarr’s 0.43, and only Bournemouth’s David Brooks creates more big chances per 90 (0.7). Additionally, when Jean-Philippe Mateta is absent, Sarr takes penalties.
**Harry Wilson (Fulham, £5.9m) – vs. Bournemouth (h)**
Wilson has netted more goals at home than any other midfielder, scoring eight of his 10 this season at Craven Cottage. He blanked in his last home game, but Bournemouth’s defense is leaky on the road—only Burnley have conceded more.
**Strikers**
**Erling Haaland (Manchester City, £14.6m) – vs. Brentford (h) and Crystal Palace (h)**
