The best midfielders for a Double Gameweek 37 Free Hit
Just two opportunities remain for FPL managers to activate a Free Hit. If used for Double Gameweek 37, here are the best midfielders.
In December, it was announced that all FPL managers would be given an extra Free Hit chip to cope with the unprecedented number of Covid postponements. It altered the chip strategy of many, allowing them to ride the winter wave and keep two Free Hits for the latter stages.
According to LiveFPL’s Gameweek 36 post-deadline data, 4,248 of the top 10k still have a Free Hit to use. 5.96 million overall. Therefore, with the next round including Double Gameweeks for five less-chosen sides, Gameweek 37 seems a good time for activation.
So below are the leading candidates for the Free Hit midfield spots.
Best midfielders
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace, £6.9m)
The brilliant form of Wilfried Zaha is coming at just the right time for Free Hitters. Goals in the last two matches have taken him up to seven from ten. In fact, Zaha’s last seven away outings have seen him score six times. Therefore the trips to Aston Villa and Everton look attractive, especially considering Zaha is on penalty duty.
Anthony Gordon (Everton, £4.7m)
The popularity of Anthony Gordon has escalated over recent weeks. A key player for Everton at a price of just £4.7m, any fears that he’d be rotated are long gone. He is vital to the Toffees’ quest for survival.
Not only does he have an enticing pair of home matches against Brentford and Crystal Palace but the bargain price also makes him an enabler. It allows managers to squeeze in more premium assets for one final push up the rankings.
Son Heung-min (Tottenham, £11.0m)
At Spurs, Son Heung-min continues his phenomenal form. The goal at Anfield made it nine from his last seven appearances, averaging 11.43 points per match. Such relentless numbers could see him overtake Mohamed Salah to win this season’s Golden Boot, now just two behind.
By hosting a side fighting relegation, Son is a fine example of why Free Hit managers shouldn’t be blinded by players with Double Gameweeks. There are always one-match players that end the week amongst the top scorers and, with this form and fixture, Son is expected to haul.
Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham, £6.3m)
Although his immediate form isn’t quite as good as the South Korean star, only Son and Harry Kane amassed more points than Dejan Kulusevski between Gameweeks 26 and 35. The January loanee initially went under the radar but quickly established himself as a strong, generously-priced FPL option.
Nine assists already rank amongst the season’s best, topped by just Salah, Mason Mount and Jarrod Bowen. What could hold back the much-owned Kulusevski amongst Free Hit users is the duel problem of having too many single Gameweek players and feeling the need to justify the chip by making lots of changes.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, £13.3m)
Liverpool already couldn’t afford any more slip-ups in the race to catch Manchester City. Then they did so against Spurs. Luckily, they travel to a Southampton side known for their vulnerability to big defeats, having recently done so against Chelsea, Brentford and Aston Villa.
Mohamed Salah has a good record against the Saints too – seven goals and three assists from nine previous meetings.
Kevin De Bruyne (Man City, £11.9m)
Naturally, it’s tough to predict the next spin of ‘Pep Roulette’. It was the turn of Phil Foden to sit on the bench against Newcastle, whilst Kevin De Bruyne sat out the week before at Leeds. Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez did so on both occasions. Does this mean it’s their turn to start again?
Going for either of those options on a Free Hit is begging for heartbreak. If Pep Guardiola doesn’t give any hints in his pre-match press conference, the safest pick is De Bruyne. At such a crucial stage of the season, it’s best to keep selecting the player with four goals and five assists from his last seven league matches. For many managers, having City attacking coverage will be a top priority.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, £6.7m)
Perhaps currently overshadowed by the popularity of cheaper team mate Eddie Nketiah, there is still a lot of appeal in Bukayo Saka. Since Gameweek 18, only Salah has had more touches in the opposition penalty area and the 20-year-old also ranks fourth for goal attempts.
Additionally, he has an attacking return from each of his three previous meetings with Newcastle. In the race to secure fourth place and Champions League football, expect Saka to continue being the focal point of Arsenal’s attacks.
