Cherki Leads FPL Team of the Week for Double Gameweek 36

Explore the ideal FPL Free Hit team for double gameweek 36 featuring Manchester City and Crystal Palace. Key picks include Cherki, Haaland, and Sarr within a £100m budget.

Final Double Gameweek 36 Features Manchester City and Crystal Palace

This week marks the final double gameweek of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season, with both Manchester City and Crystal Palace scheduled to play twice.

Which Manchester City players should you select beyond the standout Erling Haaland?

And how many Crystal Palace players are worth including, considering Oliver Glasner's team is pursuing European success?

Here, I have assembled my ideal Free Hit team for this crucial week as the season nears its conclusion.

The team of the week is chosen based on current FPL prices and fits within a £100m budget, simulating a Free Hit scenario.

Don't miss the FPL special Q&A session with expert Holly Shand, streaming live on the website this Friday at 15:30 BST.

Performance of Last Week's Team

The triple Arsenal defence strategy paid dividends with three clean sheets. Noah Okafor and James Hill contributed 10 points each, and captain Igor Thiago scored a goal.

This combination resulted in a strong total of 64 points.

's FPL Team of the Week for Double Gameweek 36

Goalkeeper and Defence Selections

Bart Verbruggen, goalkeeper, £4.5m, and Jan Paul van Hecke, £4.6m, both from Brighton, face Wolves at home.

Wolves have lost their last two away matches 3-0 and 4-0 and have scored only seven goals on the road all season, making Brighton's defence a sensible choice.

Nico O'Reilly of Manchester City, priced at £5.2m, has home fixtures against Brentford and Crystal Palace.

While there is a case for selecting two City defenders this week, considering the title may be decided on goal difference, this team opts for two attacking assets from Pep Guardiola's squad.

If choosing only one City defender, O'Reilly is the preferred option due to his goal-scoring and bonus point potential.

Jaydee Canvot from Crystal Palace, £4.5m, faces Everton at home and Manchester City away.

Concerns about Palace rotation are minimal, as if they reach the UEFA Conference League final on Thursday, they have three weeks before that match.

Rotation has not been effective for Glasner's side recently, with only one point from their last three games. They are also monitoring the relegation zone closely.

Canvot has started eight consecutive games and regularly earns defensive contribution points, having done so in five of those matches.

Gabriel from Arsenal, £7.2m, faces West Ham away.

Arsenal's defence remains strong, warranting Gabriel's inclusion again.

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They have kept four clean sheets in their last six matches, and Gabriel had an expected goals (xG) value of 0.64 against Fulham last time, suggesting he may be due a goal.

Midfield Choices

Rayan Cherki of Manchester City, £6.6m, has home games against Brentford and Crystal Palace.

Cherki has emerged as City's top midfield asset, especially as Antoine Semenyo's recent output has declined.

While Jeremy Doku impressed with a two-goal performance against Everton and has explosive potential, he has only scored four goals this season.

Cherki boasts 12 assists in 18 starts during his debut season and, with two home games this week for a goal-hungry City side, he offers a more consistent chance of returns.

Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United, £10.4m, plays Sunderland away.

Fernandes is delivering points consistently and is a must-have FPL asset at this stage.

Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace, £6.4m, faces Everton at home and Manchester City away.

Assuming Palace's first-choice XI participates in both games this double gameweek, Sarr stands out among attacking options.

Only Cole Palmer has a higher expected goals per 90 minutes (0.43) than Sarr, and only Bournemouth's David Brooks has more big chances per 90 minutes (0.7).

Additionally, when Jean-Philippe Mateta is off the pitch, Sarr takes penalties.

Harry Wilson from Fulham, £5.9m, hosts Bournemouth.

Wilson has scored more goals at home than any other midfielder this season, with eight of his 10 goals coming at Craven Cottage.

Although he did not score in his last home game, Bournemouth's away defence is vulnerable, conceding only fewer goals than Burnley on the road.

Forward Lineup

Erling Haaland of Manchester City, £14.6m, has home fixtures against Brentford and Crystal Palace.

Haaland is the clear captain choice this week. If you still possess your Triple Captain chip, this could be the perfect opportunity, as he may score four or five goals.

Richarlison from Tottenham, £6.3m, hosts Leeds.

Following a strong performance, Spurs are regaining FPL attention after a quiet second half of the season.

Richarlison was Tottenham's primary threat in their win over Aston Villa, has scored in each of his previous two games, and has accumulated 10 goals and four assists in 17 starts.

If Tottenham maintains this form, Richarlison will be central to their attacking efforts.