This article is part of our FPL Best XI series.
Following an abbreviated slate last weekend, Gameweek 34 of the Premier League features 12 matchups, as some teams make up their respective games in hand.
One of those teams is league-leaders Chelsea, who after winning 1-0 over Manchester United last Saturday, now cross London to play at second-place Arsenal this Sunday. After that Emirates affair, the Blues travel to face Leicester on Wednesday, with the Foxes having won three straight to move into 18th place on the table.
In terms of the standings, Leicester's match against Chelsea starkly contrasts with their other match this round, a road trip to Burnley, who now sit in last place and will be desperate for a result at home Saturday versus Leicester.
Similarly, 17th-place Hull City will aim to make the most of their two matches in Gameweek 34. First, the Tigers play at Crystal Palace on Saturday, before hosting Liverpool on Tuesday.
That will also be the Reds' second appearance of the round, with their opening encounter coming at West Brom on Saturday.
With the double-match teams now sorted, the remaining games this weekend begin Saturday with seventh-place Southampton welcoming sixth Tottenham with just one point between the sides.
Later on, a Newcastle side reeling from six straight losses will look to get back on track at home versus Swansea City. The Swans are only one point ahead of ninth-place Stoke City, who host Newcastle's Tyneside foe, Sunderland, at the same time Saturday.
Meanwhile, bragging rights will be on the line in London, where Queens Park Rangers plays West Ham in a derby that pits a side desperately trying to get out of the drop zone against one that is out of European competition but well above the relegation battle.
To close Saturday, a Manchester City side that secured a rebound-win last weekend will await Aston Villa, who are fresh off securing a place in the FA Cup final after their win over Liverpool at Wembley last Sunday.
Then, the lone unmentioned match takes place Sunday, with Everton opening their doors to Manchester United, whose six-game Premier League win streak was snapped just last weekend.
Now that Gameweek 34's expanded slate has been fully unpacked, let's target some potential fantasy difference makers in this week's Best XI.
Goalkeeper
Asmir Begovic
Coming off two matches unbeaten, Begovic will lead Stoke into Saturday's home game against Sunderland, who have scored the second-fewest goals in the Premier League this season. The Black Cats have failed to score in three of their last six matches, while Stoke has won four games over that same span, including a couple of clean sheets from Begovic. Aside from Southampton's league-best defense, only England's current top five teams have allowed fewer goals than Stoke this season, and Begovic could keep a goal-shy Sunderland at bay to bolster that record this weekend.
Defenders
Branislav Ivanovic
A regular in the Best XI over the course of this season, Ivanovic's totals of four goals, five assists and 15 clean sheets have been well documented. That production makes him a fine selection most weeks, but since Chelsea is slated to play twice in Gameweek 34, the Serbian's stock soars even higher. Although Sunday's match at in-form Arsenal is less than ideal, Chelsea has kept a clean sheet in four straight games against the Gunners. Then, Ivanovic's second outing of the round comes at Leicester City, who have barely scored one goal per game at home this season.
Martin Skrtel
After a massive disappointment in the FA Cup semifinal last weekend, Skrtel will hope Liverpool can use their two games this week to shape-up ahead of the final push of the Premier League campaign. Fortunately, a pair of favorable matchups await, as Skrtel first faces a West Brom team that has notched the fifth-fewest goals this season. Even better, Skrtel's second appearance is scheduled against Hull City, the league's fourth-worst offense. Liverpool has blanked Hull in two straight meetings, including earlier this season, and the Tigers have now gone winless from their last six appearances in the Premier League.
Scott Dann
Speaking of the toothless Tigers, Hull City's first match of two this round will come at Crystal Palace, who are led in part by Dann defensively. Along with five clean sheets, Dann has also picked up two goals and three assists this season. This Saturday, the veteran center-half sports a decent chance of earning another clean sheet, especially considering Hull has failed to score in five of their last seven away matches in league play. Furthermore, the Tigers have posted a goose egg on the scoresheet in three of their last four visits to Selhurst Park, where Palace will strive to bounce back from a disappointing loss last weekend.
Midfielders
Eden Hazard (C)
With four goals and two assists over Chelsea's last six Premier League matches, Hazard has carried the league leaders toward the summit. In doing so, he has brought his season tally to 13 goals, just two shy of a new personal record since arriving in England. However, with two games set for Gameweek 34, Hazard could very well close the gap on that individual achievement. To begin, the Belgian plays Arsenal, who he has scored from the penalty spot against on two straight occasions. Subsequently, Hazard is then gifted with a matchup against Leicester City, who previously spent the better part of this season in last place. Additionally, only two teams have conceded more goals than the Foxes this season, making Hazard's second match of the round enough to earn him the Best XI captain's armband this week.
Raheem Sterling
Despite the recent skepticism surrounding his status at Liverpool, Sterling netted the match-winning goal in the Reds' most recent Premiership outing, a 2-1 victory over Newcastle at Anfield. Teammate Daniel Sturridge (hip) did not play in that match due to injury, resulting in Sterling playing a more central "False 9" role. That deployment could continue in Liverpool's two Gameweek 34 contests, which bodes well for Sterling and his team-leading total of seven goals. What also projects well is the fact that Sterling's two opponents this round, West Brom and Hull City, constitute the two teams that have leaked the most goals over their last three matches.
Cesc Fabregas
The former Arsenal player should hear plenty of opinions during his return to the Emirates Stadium, but Fabregas' fantasy stock this week is at least warmer than the reception he's expected to receive Sunday. That's because in recent weeks, he has been pushed forward into Chelsea's "No. 10" role, which offers itself nicely to the Spaniard's creative skill set. In his past four Premiership appearances, Fabregas has produced one goal and two assists, bringing his season account to a league-best 17 helpers on the campaign. As previously mentioned, Fabregas and Chelsea play twice this round, and their latter appearance comes against a Leicester team that has not been hard to break down this season.
Alexis Sanchez
44 total matches into his Arsenal career, Alexis' 22 goals already represent more than Fabregas ever scored in any of his seven seasons in North London. That impressive tally includes a pair of goals last weekend, as Alexis helped the Gunners advance to next month's FA Cup final. A big-game player, the beloved former Barcelona man has scored for Arsenal at home versus Manchester City and Liverpool this season, so Sunday's tie against Chelsea seems like another occasion fit for his talents. With Arsenal riding an unmatched streak of nine straight wins across all competitions, and a separate stretch of eight consecutive league wins, Alexis should be vital in continuing their joyful run versus hated opposition come Sunday.
Forwards
Charlie Austin
Before having last weekend off, Austin had supplied two goals and three assists over Queens Park Rangers' last four matches. Overall, he's now personally accounted for 17 of QPR's 38 goals all season heading into Saturday's home game against West Ham. Outside of Newcastle, only the Premier League's three worst teams have conceded more road goals than the Hammers, who have also shipped at least two goals in four straight away appearances. That poor record certainly bodes well for QPR leading into this weekend's London derby, and if the Rs' play to this point in the season is any indication, Austin should have a large imprint on his team's success.
Jamie Vardy
Entering this weekend in special form, Vardy has been responsible for two goals and two assists during Leicester's current period of 10 goals in their last four games. This weekend, Vardy will hope to keep the ball rolling versus last-place Burnley, who have just one win from their last 12 tries and are actually tied with Leicester for the third-most goals allowed this season. While that matchup should be a good one for Vardy, his second of the round comes against Chelsea. Fortunately, that game is at home, which fares better for his outlook. Nonetheless, with two matches, as well as some fantastic form, heading into Gameweek 34, Vardy's stock is on the rise and he could capitalize on playing the league's worst team before playing the best later in the week.
Sergio Aguero
In rediscovering his scoring form recently through three goals in Man City's last two games, Aguero has maintained a tie for the Premier League-lead in scoring with 20 goals on the campaign. This weekend, the Argentine should be hungry for more, as Aston Villa travels to the Etihad Stadium to play late Saturday. Aguero has done well against the Villains in recent seasons, scoring three goals in Man City's last five matches versus the Birmingham club. Over that span, the Citizens have also bagged 14 goals as a team, so this season's team-leader in goals should be a prime candidate to find the scoresheet.
