Cherki Your Man for Double Gameweek 36: The Ultimate FPL Free Hit Team

Fantasy Premier League managers, welcome to the final frontier. Double Gameweek 36 is here, and it is the last chance to deploy that Free Hit chip with maximum impact. With the season hurtling towards its conclusion, every point matters. This week, all eyes are on Manchester City and Crystal Palace, the only two sides blessed with a double fixture. While the obvious captaincy choice is Erling Haaland, the real art of building a successful Free Hit squad lies in identifying the differentials—the players who can outscore the template while staying within the £100m budget.

In this article, I’ll break down my ideal Free Hit team for Double Gameweek 36. We’ll look at which City assets to double down on, how many Palace players to invest in as Oliver Glasner’s side chases European football, and why Lyon-born talent Rayan Cherki—wait, no, we are talking Premier League—why a player like Eberechi Eze or Phil Foden could be your secret weapon. Let’s dive into the data, the form, and the fixtures to build a squad that can deliver a massive green arrow in the final stretch.

Why Double Gameweek 36 is a Free Hit Goldmine

Double Gameweeks are the lifeblood of FPL success, and this one is particularly special. Manchester City face a tricky trip to Fulham before hosting Tottenham in a midweek blockbuster. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, travel to Wolves before welcoming Manchester United to Selhurst Park. Both teams have everything to play for: City are chasing a fourth consecutive title, while Palace are eyeing a European spot under the inspired leadership of Oliver Glasner.

When you activate your Free Hit chip, you get a one-week reset. You can pick any 15 players without worrying about future transfers or budget constraints beyond the £100m limit. This is the perfect moment to load up on double-gameweek players, but you must be selective. Overloading on both City and Palace assets can leave you with a bloated bench and a lack of balance. The key is to identify the three or four core players from each team who offer the highest ceiling for points.

Let’s start with the obvious: Erling Haaland. The Norwegian robot is the top scorer in the league and has a habit of punishing any defence. He is the captaincy lock for most managers. But the real question is: who joins him? Do you go for Phil Foden, who has been electric in the second half of the season? Or do you gamble on Kevin De Bruyne, who can produce a moment of magic but has been rotated more frequently? The answer lies in the fixture complexity.

Manchester City Assets: Beyond Haaland

Manchester City’s double gameweek features two very different opponents. Fulham at Craven Cottage is no walk in the park—Marco Silva’s side have been resilient at home, and City often struggle to break down deep blocks. Then comes Tottenham, a team that historically gives City problems, especially in high-intensity matches. Pep Guardiola is notorious for rotation, especially in the run-in, so you need to pick players who are almost certain to start both games.

Here is my breakdown of the best City assets for your Free Hit team:

• Erling Haaland (£14.1m): Non-negotiable. He is the best captaincy option this week. Even if he blanks in one game, he can haul in the other. His price is high, but with a Free Hit, budget is irrelevant. He is the first name on the team sheet.
• Phil Foden (£8.3m): The form player of the season. Foden has 16 goals and 8 assists in the league, and he is playing with incredible confidence. He is less likely to be rotated than De Bruyne because he can play across the front line. Foden is my second City pick.
• Josko Gvardiol (£5.0m): A differential that could pay off huge. The Croatian defender has been playing as an inverted left-back, often drifting into midfield and even scoring goals. He has three goals in his last five games. At £5.0m, he offers attacking threat from the back with clean sheet potential.
• Avoid: Kevin De Bruyne (£10.5m): As much as I love KDB, his minutes are a major risk. He has been subbed off early or benched in recent games. With Haaland and Foden already in the team, you don’t need a third City attacker. Save the budget for Palace assets.

My final City selection is three players: Haaland, Foden, and Gvardiol. This gives you exposure to goals, assists, and clean sheets without overcommitting to a team that might rotate heavily.

Crystal Palace: The European Dream Team

Oliver Glasner has transformed Crystal Palace. Since taking over in February, the Austrian manager has instilled a high-pressing, attacking style that has seen Palace climb the table. They are now genuine contenders for a European spot, and Double Gameweek 36 offers them a chance to solidify that push. Their fixtures—Wolves away and Manchester United at home—are tricky but winnable. Wolves have been inconsistent, and Manchester United are a defensive mess.

The question is: how many Palace players should you pick? I recommend three. Two attackers and one defender. Here is why:

• Eberechi Eze (£6.2m): The star man. Eze has been unplayable under Glasner, scoring 4 goals and providing 3 assists in his last 6 games. He takes set pieces, has license to roam, and is the creative heartbeat of this team. He is a must-have for your Free Hit.
• Jean-Philippe Mateta (£4.9m): The budget hero. Mateta has scored 7 goals in his last 9 games. He is the focal point of the attack, and at £4.9m, he is an absolute steal. He allows you to spend big elsewhere. Pair him with Haaland up front.
• Daniel Muñoz (£4.8m): The attacking full-back. Muñoz has been bombing forward under Glasner, registering 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 5 games. He is a constant threat on the overlap and has clean sheet potential against a struggling Manchester United side. At £4.8m, he is a fantastic budget enabler.
• Avoid: Michael Olise (£5.7m): While Olise is incredibly talented, he has been struggling with a hamstring injury and is a rotation risk. Glasner might manage his minutes. Eze is the safer, more in-form pick.

With Eze, Mateta, and Muñoz, you have coverage of goals, assists, and defensive returns. This trio could easily deliver 30+ points combined in a double gameweek.

The Best Budget Enablers and Differential Picks

Once you’ve locked in your City and Palace core, you need to fill the remaining slots with players who have good single-gameweek fixtures. The Free Hit allows you to cherry-pick from the entire league. Here are my top recommendations for the other positions:

Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson (£4.4m)

Crystal Palace’s goalkeeper is a no-brainer. He has kept 3 clean sheets in his last 6 games under Glasner, and with a double gameweek, he offers the highest ceiling for save points and clean sheets. At £4.4m, he is cheap and effective.

Defender: Kieran Trippier (£6.6m)

Newcastle face Brighton at home. Trippier is on set pieces and corners, and Brighton’s defence has been leaky. He is a proven FPL asset who can deliver assists and clean sheet points. He is expensive, but worth it for a single gameweek punt.

Midfielder: Anthony Gordon (£6.4m)

Gordon has been Newcastle’s best attacker in recent weeks. He has 11 goals and 10 assists this season, and he faces a Brighton side that concedes chances. He is dynamic, direct, and could easily haul.

Forward: Alexander Isak (£7.5m)

If you have the budget, Isak is a brilliant third forward option. He is Newcastle’s penalty taker and has scored 5 goals in his last 7 games. Brighton’s defence is vulnerable to pace, and Isak has it in spades. He can be a captaincy differential if you want to be brave.

Bench Fillers: The £4.0m Enablers

To fit everyone under the £100m budget, you will need two cheap bench players. Pick the cheapest possible: Ben Brereton Díaz (£4.3m) from Sheffield United or Tommy Doyle (£4.4m) from Wolves. They are unlikely to play, but they free up funds for your starting XI.

My Complete Free Hit Team for Double Gameweek 36

Here is the final 15-man squad, built within the £100m budget. This team is designed to maximize points from the double gameweek while minimizing risk:

• GK: Dean Henderson (CRY) – £4.4m
• GK: Mark Flekken (BRE) – £4.5m (cheap backup, unlikely to play)
• DEF: Josko Gvardiol (MCI) – £5.0m
• DEF: Daniel Muñoz (CRY) – £4.8m
• DEF: Kieran Trippier (NEW) – £6.6m
• DEF: Tino Livramento (NEW) – £4.4m (budget enabler, unlikely to start)
• MID: Phil Foden (MCI) – £8.3m
• MID: Eberechi Eze (CRY) – £6.2m
• MID: Anthony Gordon (NEW) – £6.4m
• MID: Cole Palmer (CHE) – £5.8m (fixture against Nottingham Forest at home)
• MID: Tommy Doyle (WOL) – £4.4m (bench fodder)
• FWD: Erling Haaland (MCI) – £14.1m (captain)
• FWD: Jean-Philippe Mateta (CRY) – £4.9m
• FWD: Alexander Isak (NEW) – £7.5m
• FWD: Ben Brereton Díaz (SHU) – £4.3m (bench fodder)

Total Cost: £99.9m. This leaves you with £0.1m in the bank, perfect for any last-minute price changes. The starting XI is Henderson; Gvardiol, Muñoz, Trippier; Foden, Eze, Gordon, Palmer; Haaland (c), Mateta, Isak. This team has 7 double-gameweek players (3 from City, 3 from Palace, 1 from Newcastle) and 4 single-gameweek players with strong fixtures.

Captaincy and Strategy: Why Haaland is the Safe Bet

I know many managers will be tempted to captain Phil Foden or even Eberechi Eze as a differential. But in a double gameweek, the safest captain is always the player with the highest ceiling. Erling Haaland has scored 31 goals this season. He is on penalties. He plays 180 minutes. Even if he blanks against Fulham, he can score a hat-trick against Tottenham. The risk of captaining a single-gameweek player like Isak or Palmer is too high when Haaland has two bites at the cherry.

My advice: give the armband to Haaland and set your vice-captain to Phil Foden. This covers you if Haaland is unexpectedly benched (unlikely but possible under Guardiola). Foden is the vice because he is the most likely City player to haul if Haaland rests.

Final Thoughts: Trust the Data, Not the Hype

Double Gameweek 36 is the ultimate test of FPL management. The temptation to load up on 4 or 5 players from one team is strong, but it often backfires due to rotation or poor form. My Free Hit team balances the explosive potential of Manchester City with the consistent form of Crystal Palace, while adding differentials like Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak who have favourable single-gameweek fixtures.

Remember, the Free Hit chip is a one-off. Use it wisely. Do not waste it on a team that relies on too many punts. Stick with the proven performers: Haaland, Foden, Eze, and Mateta. This squad is built to deliver a massive green arrow and propel you up the rankings in the final weeks of the season.

Good luck, managers. May your arrows be green and your differentials haul.

Source: Based on news from BBC Sport.