Who are the best midfielders for Double Gameweek 34?

The upcoming Double Gameweek 34 (DGW34) in the 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is set to be the largest of the season, with SEVEN teams playing twice: Arsenal, AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton, Liverpool, Sheffield United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. To help FPL managers make informed decisions, The Scout has analyzed players in each position.

Midfielders The most likely goal-scorer among midfielders in DGW34 is Mohamed Salah (£13.5m), who has been in fine form despite scoring only twice over the last six Gameweeks . His underlying statistics are impressive, with 26 shots, 19 shots in the box, six big chances, and 11 shots on target during this period . His 14.2 minutes-per-shot average is notable, though his goal conversion rate is just 7.7%.

His Liverpool teammate Luis Diaz (£7.8m) and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz (£7.4m) rank among the top three midfielders for shots in the box and big chances. However, Havertz edges out Diaz in terms of accuracy, with seven shots on target compared to Diaz's five, and a 16.7% goal conversion rate compared to Diaz's 12.5%.

Bukayo Saka (£9.0m) is averaging 32 minutes per shot, quicker than Havertz and Martin Odegaard (£8.6m). Despite this, Saka and Odegaard each have only one big chance, while Havertz has four . Other notable midfielders with a strong presence in Fantasy include Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert (£4.6m), Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze (£6.0m), and Sheff Utd's Ben Brereton Diaz (£5.0m) .

Goal Threat (GW28-33) Here is a summary of shots, shots in the box, big chances, shots on target, and goal conversion:

• Salah: 26 shots, 19 in the box, 6 big chances, 11 on target, 7.7% goal conversion
• Diaz: 16 shots, 11 in the box, 4 big chances, 5 on target, 12.5% goal conversion
• Havertz: 12 shots, 10 in the box, 4 big chances, 7 on target, 16.7% goal conversion
• Kluivert: 14 shots, 9 in the box, 3 big chances, 6 on target, 14.3% goal conversion
• Eze: 11 shots, 8 in the box, 3 big chances, 5 on target, 9.1% goal conversion

Assist Potential Diaz is among four Liverpool players who have made 10+ key passes over the last six Gameweeks, tying with Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.1m) and Everton’s Dwight McNeil (£5.4m), all with 14 key passes. Crystal Palace's Eze has 11 key passes, matching Salah's total and creating two big chances . Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie (both £5.0m) are also worth considering; Cook has 13 key passes while Christie has 10, with three big chances created compared to none for Cook . Arsenal's Odegaard and Saka have 10 and eight key passes respectively, indicating less involvement in big chances. Sheff Utd's Gustavo Hamer (£4.9m) has scored once and provided three assists in his last five appearances, a good value pick for FPL Challenge .

What About the Opposition Defenses? Sheff Utd and Bournemouth have the best chance to score, facing defenses with high Expected Goals Against (xGA). Sheff Utd's opponents, Burnley and Manchester United, have a combined xGA of 26.80, while Bournemouth's opponents, Aston Villa and Wolves, have a combined xGA of 22.03 . Liverpool ranks third with 20.46 xGA. On the tougher end, Everton and Wolves face defenses with combined xGA scores of 12.59 and 11.27 .

Who Should FPL Managers Pick? Given these stats, Salah is the top choice for DGW34, with his shot volume and Liverpool's offensive strength. Diaz's numbers suggest he’s a strong choice to pair with Salah. From Arsenal, Havertz's goal threat makes him a top pick alongside Saka. Eze offers excellent all-round potential, while Kluivert from Bournemouth is a hidden gem. In FPL Challenge, Brereton Diaz and Hamer are valuable due to Sheff Utd's double matches .

For more insights on Fantasy Premier League, check out the Fantasy Premier League official website .