Summary

Send your FPL questions for expert Gianni

  1. Recap – FPL Q&Apublished at 16:50 BST

    FPL Q&A with Gianni

    That's all we have time for during this week's FPL Q&A with Gianni.

    We received plenty of questions today. Thanks for sending them through and here are some of the best replies from Gianni:

    And here's some more information which could come in handy as you head into today's 18:30 BST deadline:

    Earlier in the day, we also listened into a host of Premier League managers speaking to the media before the latest set of fixtures and all the key team news and quotes can be found on the summary points at the top of this page too.

    With that, it's goodbye from us. Enjoy your weekend and best of luck in with your FPL teams. See you all soon!

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    Get Involved - Who should I drop? Watkins, Welbeck or Thiago for Haaland?published at 16:45 BST

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    David: Hi Gianni, I'm firming up my forward line for the last four gameweeks. I currently have Watkins, Welbeck and Thiago, but now want to bring in Haaland for the finish. Who to drop then for the best lineup for the run-in?

    Gianni: Thanks, David. Haaland definitely feels like a must-have but I understand you have a good trio already. Reluctantly I would sell Watkins to bring in the City front man. Thiago and Welbeck are cheaper and have better final four fixtures.

    Ollie WatkinsImage source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - Cherki or Semenyo?published at 16:43 BST

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    James: I'm on Wildcard this week. Top of my mini-leagues, sitting 67k overall at the moment. I really want to go with Cherki over Semenyo but terrified that a Semenyo haul with his high ownership could tank my rank. Who should I go with?

    Gianni: Good stuff James, I’m on Wildcard too and have a similar rank. I’m very comfortable going Cherki and taking on Semenyo’s high ownership. Anyone that has watched City in the last couple of months will agree than Cherki has been their standout attacker. Semenyo now playing wide right has been fine but lacked the explosive potential of Cherki. The system doesn’t look set to change anytime soon and with the Frenchman playing in the 10 I expect him to outscore Semenyo for the run-in.

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    Get Involved - Should I play Calvert-Lewin as my captain?published at 16:40 BST

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    Mateu: Hi Gianni! I'm not a big fan of playing my captain on the first fixture of the gameweek. However, I'm leaning heavily towards Dominic Calvert-Lewin...what are your thoughts? Thanks!

    Gianni: Honestly, I have never worried about when the game falls with regards to captaincy. Calvert-Lewin has the same (or incredibly similar) odds of scoring if he’s playing Friday night or Sunday afternoon, so I wouldn’t worry about that. If you think he gets the most points then do it! Personally I think the best two captaincy options this week are Haaland and Bruno, but the Leeds man is a close third.

    Dominic Calvert-LewinImage source, Getty Images
  5. Which players are doubts?published at 16:38 BST

    FPL Q&A with Gianni

    And here's a round-up of those players who remain injury doubts:

    • Leeds - Okafor
    • Burnley - Mejbri, Tuanzebe
    • Brentford - Henderson, Henry, Janelt
    • Newcastle - Gordon
    • Wolves - Krejci
    • Sunderland - Angulo, Traoré, Ta Bi
    • Arsenal - Odegaard
    • Fulham - Tete
    • Crystal Palace - Clyne
    • Man Utd - Cunha
    • Liverpool - Alisson, Kerkez
    • Aston Villa - Alisson
    • Chelsea - James, Colwill
    • Nott'm Forest - Aina, Cunha, Sangare, Murillo, Ndoye
    • Man City - Rodri
  6. Which players are out?published at 16:35 BST

    FPL Q&A with Gianni

    When assessing that Wildcard, Roy, it might be handy to know which players are definitely not available.

    Here is a look at some of the major team news for the gameweek, starting with those who have been ruled out of this set of fixtures:

    • Leeds - Bijol, Gudmundsson, Gruev
    • Burnley - Beyer, Cullen, Roberts
    • Brentford - Carvalho, Dasilva, Furo,Milambo
    • West Ham - Fabianski
    • Newcastle - Krafth, Livramento, Schär
    • Brighton - Gomez, Milner, March, Tzimas, Webster
    • Wolves - Sa, Johnstone, Medina
    • Sunderland - Mundle, Moore
    • Arsenal - Havertz, Timber, Merino
    • Fulham - Iwobi, Kevin, Sessegnon
    • Bournemouth - Kluivert, Cook
    • Crystal Palace - Nketiah, Guessand, Doucoure
    • Man Utd - De Ligt, Dorgu, Martinez
    • Liverpool - Mamardashvili, Ekitike, Leoni, Bradley
    • Aston Villa - Kamara, Onana
    • Spurs - Davies, Kudus, Kulusevski, Maddison, Odobert, Romero, Sarr, Simons, Solanke, Vicario
    • Chelsea -Jorgensen, Estevao, Gittens
    • Nott'm Forest - Boly, Hudson-Odoi, Victor, Savona
    • Everton - Branthwaite, Grealish
    • Man City - Dias, Gvardiol
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    Get Involved - 'Wildcard this week and set yourself up'published at 16:32 BST

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    Roy: I foolishly (in retrospect!) sold Haaland and Gordon last week and bought Salah and Watkins. I want to keep my last chip (Wildcard) for GW38. I am thinking of rolling this week to avoid a -4 and then get Haaland back next week. Is it too much of a gamble?

    Gianni: I would be tempted to Wildcard this week and set yourself up for a strong final four weeks. This way you avoid the hit and can still roll a couple of transfers until gameweek 38 to have some one-week punts on the final day. Haaland feels like a good bet this week with the title on the line.

  8. Gibbs-White delivers, but has the time to pick him passed?published at 16:27 BST

    FPL Q&A with Gianni

    FPL podcast graphic

    Statman Dave's differential pick for gameweek 34 was Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White, and it proved to be an inspired choice.

    The midfielder scored 20 FPL points thanks to a goal and an assist in Forest's 5-0 win against Sunderland.

    "That's my favourite pick of the season. That was so nice to watch Forest score early, him get involved with the goals, great performance," Statman Dave said on BBC Sport's FPL Podcast.

    "First half, they scored four goals from four shots on target. It was an absolute dream.

    "But I would say: Don't pick him now. Chelsea next away, Newcastle home, Manchester United away and then Bournemouth at home. Those are some tough fixtures, interspersed with the Europa League semi-finals."

  9. Spot the differentialpublished at 16:23 BST

    FPL Q&A with Gianni

    Gianni Buttice
    FPL expert and eight-time top-50k finisher

    Dango OuattaraImage source, Getty Images

    If the FPL run-in is all about finding a nugget or two that your rivals have failed to unearth, which players offer the most value as a differential?

    Here's five key players who just might give you the advantage:

    • Dango Ouattara (2% owned)
    • Jeremy Doku (3% owned)
    • Daniel Munoz (8% owned)
    • James Hill (8% owned)
    • Danny Welbeck (8% owned)

    Not convinced? Click here to find out why....

  10. Postpublished at 16:21 BST

    Craig Nelson
    BBC Sport reporter

    This brings us back to this week's burning question - how to find steal a march on your rivals...

  11. Why ‘stats monster’ Thiago is captain materialpublished at 16:19 BST

    FPL Q&A with Gianni

    Thomas Woods
    BBC Sport FPL writer, best finish 9,100th

    Brentford striker ThiagoImage source, Getty Images

    This is a great scenario for 21-goal Thiago, against a relegation-threatened West Ham side who will be aiming for three points in their bid to avoid the drop and could come out and play.

    Thiago could have had a hat-trick at Manchester United on Monday.

    Behind Haaland, he is an underlying stats monster. His expected goals (xG) is nearly five goals higher than any other striker except Haaland, and he has 15 more big chances than all but the City man.

  12. Postpublished at 16:16 BST

    Have you noticed anything unusual about that team?

    Yes, Thomas Woods has gone for Brentford striker Thiago as captain, over Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland and Manchester United's consistently high scorer Bruno Fernandes...

  13. BBC Sport’s Team of the Weekpublished at 16:12 BST

    FPL Q&A with Gianni

    Thomas Woods
    BBC Sport FPL writer, best finish 9,100th

    BBC Sport's FPL team of the week - Raya; Justin, Gabriel, Saliba, Hill, O'Reilly; Fernandes, Rogers, Okafor; Thiago, Haaland

    The team of the week is selected based on current FPL prices to fit within a £100m budget, as if you were playing a Free Hit.

  14. Postpublished at 16:11 BST

    Craig Nelson
    BBC Sport reporter

    It feels like a lot of our readers are undecided going into gameweek 35.

    The pressure is certainly on.

    For any of you with a Wildcard or Free Hit chip to use, BBC Sport's Thomas Woods has compiled a team of the week...because he's nice like that.

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    Get Involved - Sell or keep Gordon?published at 16:09 BST

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    Kevin: What are your thoughts on Anthony Gordon - should I hold or sell?

    Gianni: I think it’s time to sell, Kevin. He’s a major doubt with his recent injury, there is speculation over his future and Newcastle are in a bad place at the moment. Morgan Rogers is a similar price point and Aston Villa play Spurs and Burnley in their next two matches.

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    Get Involved - Swap Wilson for Sarr?published at 16:04 BST

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    Dhruvya: Would you swap Fulham's Harry Wilson for Crystal Palace's IsmaïlaSarr?

    Gianni: Hi Dhruvya, I know Sarr has the double next week but he’s been rested between big European matches recently and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have reduced minutes this weekend. Personally, I would hold on to Wilson, who has a good run of games after this weekend as Fulham chase a European spot.

    Fulham's Harry WilsonImage source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - Should I use three tranfers on Arsenal players?published at 16:01 BST

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    Ram: Hello Gianni, I have got three free transfers, but no Arsenal players. Do you advise moving a Bournemouth defender out for Gabriel this week or wait until next week and use four free transfers to get a couple of Crystal Palace players in, along with Gabriel?

    Gianni: Honestly, I don’t think there is much in it this week and because Bournemouth's James Hill and Marcos Senesi are so good for defensive contribution points I would be reluctant to sell this week. Gabriel is needed soon though and I would sell any other Bournemouth defender for him straight away. Bringing in Palace players next week feels sensible too. Note that it’s their defenders that we will be more confident of for two starts in the double.

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    Get Involved - Palmer out for Eze or Saka?published at 15:57 BST

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    Paul: Would you replace Cole Palmer with Eberechi Eze or Bukayo Saka?

    Gianni: Remember the league could come down to goal difference, so an Arsenal attacker could be the route to take, but I’m not sure this is the week, with the Fulham game part of three games in seven days. Saka should be ready for a start now, but expect an early sub as he is eased back to full fitness. I would hold Palmer myself and buy Saka in gameweek 36 or 37, ahead of Burnley at home.

    Cole PalmerImage source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - Darlow & Struijk or Darlow & Hill in defence?published at 15:54 BST

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    Rishi: Would you start with two Leeds players (Darlow & Struijk) in defence in split the risk by having Darlow and Bournemouth defender in James Hill - inside top 1k so trying to reduce risk.

    Gianni: Both Hill and Struijk come with not only good clean sheet odds this week but a strong likelihood of defensive contributions. I think because Hill clocks DEFCON better than any other defender in the game, hitting it 12 times in his last 16 starts, I would edge towards him and split the risk. I have picked Struijk over Hill on Wildcard, however, but I don’t own Darlow and that’s the difference maker here.

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    Get Involved - Would you bench Enzo, Semenyo or Welbeck?published at 15:49 BST

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    Liam: Hi Gianni, who would you bench out of Enzo, Semenyo and Welbeck?

    Gianni: Benching dilemmas like this are never easy, Liam. Enzo Fernandez has the home fixture and will likely start as the 10 against a potentially tired Nottingham Forest team. Danny Welbeck’s Brighton are in red-hot form and he’s the focal point of their attack, while Antoine Semenyo hasn’t been producing from the right side of late and has been outshone by Cherki. I think, reluctantly, I would bench Semenyo. Just.

    Antoine SemenyoImage source, Getty Images