Backing Haaland and Semenyo to Impress at Chelsea – FPL Team of the Week

Introduction to a New Gameweek

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) enthusiasts can rejoice as the competition resumes post a 19-day hiatus, coinciding with the announcement of double gameweeks. This upcoming week is crucial, as six teams will play on two occasions, presenting an opportunity for strategic team adjustments.

In-depth analyses, focusing on chip strategies, will be provided by our specialist, Pras, who will also be live on the BBC Sport website at 15:30 BST to field last-minute inquiries.

Overview of Upcoming Matches

Though the double gameweek might not seem particularly alluring—especially since every participating team faces a blank week afterwards—it opens up interesting strategic possibilities. Your moves will heavily depend on the chips you have available.

This gameweek could be an ideal moment to utilize the bench boost, or you might consider using a wildcard to enhance your setup. A common strategy observed will be to free hit in gameweek 33, allowing you to field 11 players from this double gameweek.

However, first, attention should be on gameweek 32, which features thrilling matchups for squads like Manchester United and Liverpool, who do not double up next week.

Note: The FPL team selection is formulated based on current price points while adhering to a hypothetical £100m budget, akin to a Free Hit game.

Last Week’s Performance Recap

The squad from last week excelled, achieving a commendable 66 points, primarily driven by a formidable midfield, with Bruno Fernandes (26 points) leading the charge along with notable contributions from Anthony Gordon (10 points) and Harry Wilson (9 points).

FPL Team Selection for Gameweek 32

Keeper and Defense

• David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – Opponent: Bournemouth (Home)
  While not the most thrilling choice, Raya has proven his worth as the top-scoring goalkeeper in FPL. Arsenal boasts back-to-back clean sheets and are predicted to maintain this form against a Bournemouth side struggling to score on their recent away fixtures.

• Gabriel, Arsenal, £7.2m – Opponent: Bournemouth (Home)
  Once fit, Gabriel’s presence is essential for any fantasy lineup. He has garnered 29 points over his last three starts.

• Nordi Mukiele, Sunderland, £4.5m – Opponent: Tottenham (Home)
  Despite Sunderland’s dip in form, they possess a strong defense and Mukiele remains a savvy pick for potential attacking returns.

• Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £6.3m – Opponent: Fulham (Home)
  Despite Liverpool’s inconsistency, Van Dijk’s goal threats and Fulham’s poor away record make him a worthwhile consideration.

• Diogo Dalot, Manchester United, £4.6m – Opponent: Leeds (Home)
  With Leeds’ away performances lagging, Dalot could deliver significant points, having both potential attacking contributions and clean sheet prospects.

Midfield

• Bruno Fernandes (Captain), Manchester United, £10.3m – Opponent: Leeds (Home)
  A critical FPL asset, Fernandes has shown consistency with high scores in recent fixtures, making him a prime candidate for captaincy.

• Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City, £8.2m – Opponent: Chelsea (Away)
  Despite the challenging matchup against Chelsea, Semenyo has been in excellent form, securing five goals in his last eight appearances.

• Anthony Gordon, Newcastle, £7.4m – Opponent: Crystal Palace (Away)
  Gordon, with a strong scoring record, may continue to shine, especially if played in a more advanced role.

Strikers

• Igor Thiago, Brentford, £7.3m – Opponent: Everton (Home)
  Thiago’s prowess in front of the goal makes him a confident pick, particularly against a defensively shaky Everton.

• Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m – Opponent: Wolves (Home)
  Bowen is poised to deliver, having significant involvement in West Ham’s attacking play.

• Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £14.4m – Opponent: Chelsea (Away)
  With Chelsea’s defensive woes, Haaland’s return to form, highlighted by a recent hat-trick, positions him as a formidable threat this weekend.

Substitute Bench

• Mads Hermansen, West Ham, goalkeeper, £4.2m – Opponent: Wolves (Home)
• Yankuba Minteh, Brighton, midfielder, £5.5m – Opponent: Burnley (Away)
• Elliot Anderson, Nottingham Forest, midfielder, £5.5m – Opponent: Aston Villa (Home)
• James Tarkowski, Everton, defender, £5.7m – Opponent: Brentford (Away)

Total Budget for Team: £95.7m