FPL Gameweek 34 Review: BGW Carnage, Haaland Captain Trap, Igor Jesus 14pts
A seven-fixture Blank Gameweek punished captains backing Haaland, while a £5.9m Forest forward at 1.9% ownership emerged as the differential of the season.
Gameweek 34 was the season's big Blank Gameweek, with only seven fixtures played as Burnley, Bournemouth, Brighton, Chelsea, Leeds and Manchester City — the exact six clubs that doubled in GW33 — all sat the round out. The average score collapsed to 36 points, the highest score was 114, and around 1.09 million managers activated their Free Hit chip. The headline story was a captaincy disaster: 59.3% of squads still captained Haaland and were left holding a 0 from a non-playing club. The biggest winners were managers riding Forest's 5-0 mauling of Sunderland and a sub-2% owned forward in Igor Jesus, who delivered the gameweek's standout 14-point haul. Here's the full breakdown for your FPL captain picks, transfers and chip plans heading into the run-in.
GW34 BGW Snapshot
Six teams blanked. The 14 that played produced a brutal seven-fixture round in which the home side won every match.
- Sunderland 0-5 Nottingham Forest: A complete demolition. Igor Jesus 14pts, Gibbs-White 13pts, Wood 7pts, Aina 9pts, Anderson 9pts.
- Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace: Mac Allister 13pts (2 assists, 3 bonus), Wirtz, Robertson and Isak all goaled.
- Manchester United 2-1 Brentford: Casemiro 12pts (1G, 3 bonus), Šeško goaled, Maguire chipped in 7pts.
- West Ham 2-1 Everton: Bowen 10pts (2 assists), Souček 10pts (1G, 3 bonus). No clean sheet anywhere.
- Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa: Sessegnon 11pts (G + CS + 3 bonus), Andersen 11pts in defence with a clean sheet.
- Wolves 0-1 Tottenham: Spence, Pedro Porro and Kinsky all clean-sheeted; J. Palhinha goaled off the bench for 9pts.
- Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle: Raya 10pts in goal, Hincapie 9pts, Gabriel and Saliba clean-sheeted; a tense 1-0 grind.
The takeaway: home advantage was decisive (7/7 home wins) and clean sheets carried managers more than goals. Picking the right BGW one-week punt was the difference between a green arrow and red.
The Haaland Captain Trap
The defining mistake of GW34: Haaland remained the most-captained pick at 59.3% ownership, but Manchester City were one of the six blanking sides. Every Haaland captain returned 0 points (most managers were forced onto their auto-vice). Combined with the BGW's low ceiling, it produced the season's lowest captain hit rate.
Managers who pivoted to a playing premium — or punted on Igor Jesus, Mac Allister or Gibbs-White — gained huge ground. With more BGWs and DGWs likely in the run-in, treat the captain's fixture as the first check, not the last.
Top Performers by Position
With only 14 sides playing, top scores were lower than usual — but the BGW's differential winners stood out clearly.
Goalkeeper: Raya (10pts) ⭐
David Raya led the keepers with 10 points in Arsenal's 1-0 home win over Newcastle (clean sheet, saves and 3 bonus). At 34.2% ownership he was a popular Free Hit captain alternative and the pick of the BGW keepers. Leno (Fulham, 7pts) and Sels (Forest, 7pts) also clean-sheeted, but neither matched Raya's bonus haul.
Defender: Andersen (11pts), Aina & Hincapie (9pts) ⭐⭐
Joachim Andersen was the top BGW defender with 11 points — a clean sheet and 3 bonus in Fulham's 1-0 win over Villa. Ola Aina (Forest, 9pts) added an assist and clean sheet in the Sunderland rout, while Piero Hincapie (Arsenal, 9pts) anchored the Newcastle clean sheet. Pedro Porro and Spence (Spurs, 8pts each) and Gabriel and Saliba (Arsenal, 8pts and 7pts) provided template defensive coverage.
Midfielder: Mac Allister, Gibbs-White (13pts), Casemiro (12pts) ⭐⭐⭐
A three-way fight at the top. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, 13pts) supplied two assists and 3 bonus from midfield in the win over Palace. Morgan Gibbs-White (Forest, 13pts) added another big haul to his GW33 hat-trick — a goal, an assist, a clean sheet and 2 bonus in the Sunderland demolition. Casemiro (Man Utd, 12pts) goaled and produced 3 bonus in the Brentford win. Sessegnon (Fulham, 11pts) was an excellent £4.0m differential, while Souček, Jensen and Wirtz all returned 8-10pts.
Forward: Igor Jesus (14pts), Bowen (10pts) ⭐⭐⭐
The performance of the gameweek. Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest, 14pts) bagged a goal, two assists, a clean sheet and maximum 3 bonus in the 5-0 win over Sunderland — at just 1.9% ownership and £5.9m, comfortably the differential of the season for those who pivoted onto him via a Free Hit. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham, 10pts) supplied two assists in the 2-1 win over Everton. Isak (Liverpool) and Šeško (Man Utd) goaled for 8pts apiece.
Team Performance Analysis
Best Performing Teams
Nottingham Forest (5.19 avg) ⭐ — 5-0 vs SUN
Forest crushed Sunderland 5-0 to deliver the highest team average of the BGW. Igor Jesus (14pts), Gibbs-White (13pts), Aina (9pts), Anderson (9pts), Milenković (8pts) and Wood (7pts) all returned. A perfect Free Hit one-week target and the gameweek's outstanding attacking performance.
Arsenal (4.40 avg) — 1-0 vs NEW
Arsenal's 1-0 home win over Newcastle wasn't a goal-fest, but the clean sheet powered defenders and Raya. Hincapie (9pts), Gabriel (8pts), Saliba (7pts), White (6pts) and Raya (10pts) all returned — a textbook BGW haul for triple-up Arsenal owners.
Fulham (4.20 avg) & Liverpool (4.20 avg)
Fulham's 1-0 home win over Villa was a defender-friendly result. Sessegnon (11pts) and Andersen (11pts) led the way, with Leno (7pts) adding the keeper bonus. Liverpool's 3-1 vs Palace was their typical attacking distribution: Mac Allister (13pts), Wirtz (8pts), Isak (8pts), Robertson (8pts) and Cody Jones (7pts).
Tottenham (4.06 avg) — 1-0 at WOL
A workmanlike 1-0 away win at Wolves. Spence and Pedro Porro (8pts each) were the pick of the defenders, Kinsky took the GK clean sheet, and J. Palhinha goaled off the bench for 9pts. A reliable BGW pivot for owners.
Teams to Avoid (and Blanking Sides)
Sunderland (0.69 avg) ⚠️
The lowest playing-side average of the gameweek after the 0-5 home humbling by Forest. No goals, four conceded plus an own goal, no defensive returns — a complete write-off for any Sunderland holders.
Aston Villa (1.63 avg) — lost 0-1 at Fulham
Villa drew a blank away at Craven Cottage. Premium owners of Watkins (2pts) and Rogers were left with empty afternoons, especially painful for managers who didn't Free Hit out.
Newcastle (1.93 avg) — lost 0-1 at Arsenal
Another scoreless away day for Newcastle — Pope (2pts) the only mild defensive contribution. The premium Newcastle attackers continue to struggle for FPL value with the run-in tightening.
Blanking Six: BUR, BOU, BHA, CHE, LEE, MCI ⚠️
Six teams didn't play at all — and managers who held assets (especially Haaland captains) without an active Free Hit took zeroes from those slots. The biggest pain points were Haaland (59.3% capt), Palmer, Saka-equivalent Leeds and Brighton attackers, and any Bournemouth/Burnley defensive cover.
BGW34 Lessons: Plan the Captain First
A thin gameweek tested squad planning more than skill. Three lessons stood out:
- Always confirm your captain's fixture: The Haaland trap was avoidable — Man City had no fixture on the official schedule. Even auto-managed squads should check the captain box before the deadline. Set your vice-captain on a guaranteed playing premium.
- Free Hit was the sharpest chip in BGW34: ~1.09M Free Hits vs only ~22.8k Bench Boosts shows where the value was. With six teams blanking, the chip paid for itself for managers who built around Forest, Liverpool or Arsenal triples.
- Differentials at <2% can win the week: Igor Jesus (1.9% sel) out-scored every single template attacker. In a thin BGW, going one or two steps off-template into a side with a beatable home opponent is the highest-EV play.
Key FPL Statistics — BGW34 Summary
Gameweek 34 featured 7 fixtures, six blanking teams and a 100% home-win rate:
- Average score: 36 pts (one of the lowest of the season)
- Highest score: 114 pts
- Top player: Igor Jesus (NFO) — 14 pts (1G, 2A, CS, 3 bonus)
- Most captained: Haaland — 0 pts (Man City blanked)
- Free Hits played: ~1,091,500 (massive BGW response)
- Wildcards played: ~415,000
- Bench Boosts: ~22,800 (low — as expected in a BGW)
- Triple Captains: ~54,800
- Best team avg: Nottingham Forest 5.19 (5-0 vs SUN), Arsenal 4.40, Fulham 4.20, Liverpool 4.20
- Worst playing avg: Sunderland 0.69, Aston Villa 1.63, Newcastle 1.93
Notable Results & Talking Points
Sunderland 0-5 Forest — The BGW Goldmine
Forest steamrolled hosts Sunderland 5-0 to deliver the highest team haul of the BGW. Igor Jesus headlined with 14pts (1G, 2A, CS, 3 bonus), Gibbs-White produced his second straight double-digit haul (13pts), and Aina, Anderson and Milenković all delivered defensive returns. The single best one-week Free Hit pivot of the gameweek.
Liverpool 3-1 Palace — Mac Allister Masterclass
Liverpool's biggest contribution to the BGW came from midfield. Mac Allister's two assists (13pts, 3 bonus) led the way, with Wirtz, Isak and Robertson all goaling. A reminder that Liverpool's creativity remains spread across the squad rather than concentrated in one premium.
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle — Defenders Only
A grinding 1-0 home win for Arsenal that paid out almost exclusively from defence. Raya (10pts), Hincapie (9pts), Gabriel (8pts), Saliba (7pts) and White (6pts) all returned, while attacking premiums (Saka, Ødegaard) blanked. A great BGW for triple-Arsenal-defence builds, far less so for premium attack stacks.
Fulham 1-0 Villa — £4.0m Sessegnon Sparkles
Sessegnon's goal and clean sheet at £4.0m made him one of the highest points-per-million performers in the gameweek (11pts). For Free Hit builds, his fixture profile and price made him a perfect bench enabler that actively scored.
Man Utd 2-1 Brentford — Casemiro Comes Alive
Casemiro's 12pts (1G, 3 bonus) was a reminder that mid-priced Man Utd assets remain alive late in the season. Šeško goaled for 8pts and Maguire chipped in 7pts. United have quietly become a viable BGW one-week pivot.
Tactical Takeaways for FPL Managers
1. Captain Hygiene Is Non-Negotiable in BGWs
The Haaland trap punished 59.3% of squads. Always confirm your captain has a fixture and set a vice-captain who is also nailed and playing. Use our captain picks tool to compare expected points across fixtures, never relying on default ownership.
2. Free Hit Was the Right Chip — Bench Boost Was Not
~1.09M Free Hits vs ~22.8K Bench Boosts confirms the chip hierarchy in a major BGW: Free Hit unlocks an entire one-week BGW XI; Bench Boost burns 4 bench slots that can't play. Save Bench Boost for a confirmed DGW with eligible bench players, not a thin round.
3. Mid-Price Differentials Are the BGW Edge
Igor Jesus (£5.9m, 1.9%), Sessegnon (£4.0m), Hincapie (0.9%) and Souček (0.3%) all returned 8-14pts. In thin gameweeks, low-ownership players from sides with strong matchups out-perform the template — and they're cheap enough to enable triple-stacks elsewhere.
4. Re-Build Around the Run-In Schedule
With four gameweeks remaining and another DGW likely, plan transfers around fixture density — not last week's scorers. Forest, Arsenal and Liverpool look the strongest fixture profiles into GW35-38; Newcastle, Wolves and Sunderland are persistent fades. Use our fixture planner to map the run-in.
Looking Ahead: Transfer Priorities
Based on Gameweek 34 data and the run-in schedule, consider these strategic moves for your FPL squad:
Priority Targets
Gibbs-White (Forest mid, double-digits in back-to-back gameweeks), Mac Allister (Liverpool mid, 13pts), Igor Jesus (Forest forward, 14pts at £5.9m and rising fast), Andersen (Fulham def, 11pts), and Casemiro (Man Utd mid, 12pts). All combine current form with strong run-in fixtures.
Consider Offloading
Haaland holders should at minimum re-evaluate captaincy strategy — and if a non-Haaland premium fits the run-in, the swap pays for itself if MCI face another awkward fixture. Newcastle attackers continue to underdeliver, Sunderland and Wolves remain uninvestable, and any Brighton/Bournemouth/Burnley assets you held purely for the GW33 DGW have now finished their useful run.
Differential Options
Igor Jesus (NFO, 1.9% sel, 14pts), Hincapie (ARS, 0.9%, 9pts), Souček (WHU, 0.3%, 10pts), Andersen (FUL, 4.6%, 11pts), Sessegnon (FUL, 0.2%, 11pts) and Spence (TOT, 0.9%, 8pts). All sub-5% owned and delivered in BGW34 — watch price rises before ownership catches up.
Monitor Closely
Forest's fixture run (Igor Jesus and Gibbs-White momentum), Arsenal's clean-sheet odds in the run-in, Liverpool's top-four chase shaping rotation, and any GW35-37 DGW announcements. If a confirmed DGW lands with eligible bench players, that's the time to play Bench Boost — and Triple Captain on a premium with a juicy double-fixture profile.
Maximize Returns with FPL Pulse
Gameweek 34 underlined the single highest-leverage habit in FPL: confirm your captain's fixture before every deadline, especially in BGWs and DGWs. FPL Pulse gives you the live FPL tracking, fixture grading, captain comparisons and differential tools needed to dodge the next Haaland trap and find the next Igor Jesus.
From a 14-point sub-2% differential to ~1.09M Free Hits played and a 100% home-win round, our suite of fantasy premier league tools helps you turn unusual gameweeks into a consistent edge as the run-in accelerates.
FAQs
- Which teams blanked in FPL Gameweek 34?
- Six teams had a Blank Gameweek 34 and did not play: Burnley, Bournemouth, Brighton, Chelsea, Leeds and Manchester City — the same six clubs that doubled in GW33. Only 14 teams played across 7 fixtures, which is why the average score collapsed to just 36 points and managers without a Free Hit chip lost out heavily on bench coverage.
- Was Haaland a good captain pick in GW34?
- No — Haaland was the most-captained player at 59.3% of squads, but Manchester City did not play in Gameweek 34, meaning every Haaland captain returned 0 points (most managers fell back to their vice-captain). It was one of the season's biggest captaincy traps and a stark reminder to always double-check your captain's fixture in a BGW.
- Who was the top FPL scorer in Gameweek 34?
- Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest) was the GW34 top scorer with 14 points — a goal, two assists, a clean sheet and 3 bonus in Forest's 5-0 demolition of Sunderland. At just 1.9% ownership and £5.9m, he was the differential of the week. Mac Allister (Liverpool) and Gibbs-White (Forest) tied for second on 13 points.
- What was the average score in FPL Gameweek 34?
- The GW34 average was just 36 points with a top score of 114 — among the lowest averages of the season, reflecting the seven-fixture Blank Gameweek. Approximately 1.09 million managers played their Free Hit chip to navigate the BGW, while only ~22,800 played a Bench Boost and ~54,800 risked a Triple Captain.