Best FPL differentials: Target title chasers and double gameweek including hidden Manchester City gem in defence
By Sanjay Suri
Published 07/05/2026 at 22:53 GMT+1
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With just three rounds left of the Premier League, including a crunch double-header for Manchester City and Crystal Palace, Fantasy Premier League returns for Gameweek 36.
'We made history' - Arteta 'cannot be happier' after Arsenal reach UCL final
Video credit: SNTV
The Premier League is back, and FPL managers across the world are scratching their heads over how to make marginal but crucial gains to make some late moves in their respective leagues.
While chip strategy - whether wildcard, bench boost, free hit or triple captain - will always be team-dependent, here is a set of differential picks we believe can give you the edge ahead of Gameweek 34.
Here are three low-owned options that could prove the difference this weekend:
The categories:
Player 1: Max 10% ownership
Player 2: Max 5% ownership
Player 3: Max 2% ownership
Gameweek 36 gets underway as Liverpool host Chelsea, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, meaning the deadline to lock in your team is 11:00 UK time on Saturday, May 9.
Bukayo Saka £9.9m, (Midfielder, Arsenal, 8.7%)
It has not been Bukayo Saka’s finest season in an Arsenal shirt, but the winger is coming to the fore at a crucial part of the season for his side and FPL managers alike.
He will cost a pretty penny, but if you can rejig your budget, he is more than worth it for this weekend’s clash with West Ham United and the run-in as a whole.
Saka bagged a goal and an assist in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Fulham, before scoring the only goal against Atletico Madrid as The Gunners reached the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in 20 years.
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Highlights: Arsenal reach UCL final after Saka winner downs Atletico
Video credit: TNT Sports
Saka boasts a strong record against West Ham too, having scored four times in his last three matches against The Hammers.
The England international also has three assists in that period, all coming in the 5-2 win at the London Stadium in 2024.
Any return similar to that would present a huge haul of points, especially if you opt to hand him the captain's armband.
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Beto £5.0m, (forward, Everton, 2.9%)
Beto may have drawn a blank in the 3-3 draw against Manchester City, but he is still the striker preferred by David Moyes and is in strong form.
He has four goals and an assist in his last four matches and Everton have scored 10 goals in their last five matches, despite winning just one of them.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have shipped six in their last two league matches and have been preoccupied with their UEFA Conference League semi-final win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
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Highlights: Sarr scores fastest Conference League goal as Palace record fine win
Video credit: TNT Sports
Palace have managed just three wins in their 14 league matches immediately after a Conference League fixture, so Everton will feel they have the upper hand with a European spot of their own in sight.
Beto has started the last seven matches he has been available for, so it seems likely he will be preferred over Thierno Barry against Palace.
Abdukodir Khusanov £5.4m, (defender, Manchester City, 0.7%)
With Manchester City having a double gameweek against Brentford and Crystal Palace, both at the Etihad, having several Citizens in your team is paramount.
While Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki are undoubtedly strong options, those looking to gain a jump on their rivals might like to take a gamble at the other end of the pitch.
Enter Abdukodir Khusanov. The Uzbek defender has become a mainstay at the heart of defence and is going from strength to strength.
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Video credit: SNTV
Khusanov has eight clean sheets this season but has also picked up defensive-contributions points in his last three matches.
His defensive partner Marc Guehi has failed to do that in any of those matches, despite being owned by nearly 47 times as many managers.
City kept clean sheets in both reverse fixtures, so Khusanov could be a decent points-spinner who could have a slight edge on Guehi.
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