Welcome back to Hive FPL for GW33 of the season.
The Premier League has been a bit of a slow burner this year but maybe, just maybe we're in store for an epic last month of action.
Arsenal's defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday and Man City's comfortable victory across town at Chelsea brings huge significance to the match between the top 2 this weekend.
Not so long ago it felt like this would be Arsenal's chance to all but seal the title at the Ethiad in front of Pep and the City supporters. Now, there's the very real possibility that City can get within touching distance of the Gunners with their game in hand coming on Wednesday night against 2nd bottom Burnley.
For FPL managers it'll be that double game week that has their interest. 6 sides play twice in GW33 including the 2 mentioned above as well as Brighton, Chelsea, Bournemouth and Leeds. You can view our tips for players from all 6 clubs below.
The other thing to note about the remainder of the season is that we've entered the Hive FPL cup. The first round was completed last week, albeit that some teams got a by through it to even up the numbers. We're now at the round of 64.
Can you win 6 straight head to head matches to be crowned Hive Cup champion?
Remember there is 10 Hive that will be split between the winners at each round so the further you get, the higher the rewards! We'll start picking up on the results and favorites for that trophy from next week.
BlockchainFPL have taken the lead in Division 1. Since losing to Likodra (currently 2nd) they've gone on a 5 match winning streak while by contrast, Likodra have won just once in the same period.
With BlockchainFPL 7 points clear of 3rd place, it feels like either Likodra will have to snap out of their current poor run or BlockchainFPL will need to 'do an Arsenal' and stumble at the final hurdle if there's to be a change at the top.
At the bottom, things continue to be very tight! 50 points would, in my opinion, guarantee safety. 48 or 49 might well end up being enough.
That means that we still have 5 sides who need to pick-up a win to ensure they don't get sucked into a relegation battle.
There are then another 7 sides who are really in the thick of it and separated by just 10 points. Our preview focuses on 2 of those sides who know a win this week would pull them clear of the bottom 5.
@sperosamuel15 v 
@mckanePredict the winner of this H2H match on Sportsblock
The first thing to note is that Spero FC dropped their 2nd wildcard last week and have set themselves up for this double game week by having 11 players (including 2 goalies) who have the potential to play twice.
Why might they have done so in GW32 rather than this week? Well I suspect it's because they plan to play another chip in this round, most likely their bench boost which would give them at minimum 26 scoring opportunities across GW33.
Of course, there is a very good chance that McKane will counter that themselves with a chip. After all, they still have 4 of them left and only 6 weeks in which to play them!
They themselves already have 8 players benefiting from the double gamweek although Enzo's participation is less than certain.
That does put them at a disadvantage but it probably opens up the possibility for a free hit which of course they could use to bring in 11 players that they believe will all play twice, giving them 22 routes to points.
The other option for both sides would be a triple captain probably on either Haaland or Semenyo.
| Team | Hive Account | Score | Score | Team | Hive Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Herbae |  @herbae | 55 | 54 | Hungry Lions |  @gvkanten |
| Hiveheadz |  @borran | 76 | 64 | Jungle squad |  @george-dee |
| nonzy fc |  @nonsowrites | 66 | 52 | Hijos del VAR |  @aaalviarez |
| samostically |  @samostically | 43 | 58 | @blockchainFPL H2H |  @blockchainfpl |
| Vickoly FC |  @vickoly | 55 | 44 | Likodra FC |  @teofilex11 |
| Shamzy FC | @Shamzy | 51 | 32 | YAGMAN FC |  @yagman01 |
| FC McKane | @mckane | 58 | 79 | Legion fc |  @b0s |
| Cunha Do Sum' 4 Mee |  @deniskj | 57 | 65 | Spero FC | @sperosamuel15 |
| Red Cards of Rohan |  @thoth442 | 51 | 53 | Skander |  @skanderh |
| Suffragette City |  @talesfrmthecrypt | 57 | 41 | Formidable Milano� |  @damolexy |
| Team | Hive Account | Team | Hive Account | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungry Lions | @gvkanten | v | Suffragette City | @talesfrmthecrypt |
| Formidable Milano� | @damolexy | v | Red Cards of Rohan | @thoth442 |
| Skander | @skanderh | v | Cunha Do Sum' 4 Mee | @deniskj |
| Spero FC | @sperosamuel15 | v | FC McKane | @mckane |
| Legion fc | @b0s | v | Shamzy FC | @Shamzy |
| YAGMAN FC | @yagman01 | v | Vickoly FC | @vickoly |
| Likodra FC | @teofilex11 | v | samostically | @samostically |
| @blockchainFPL H2H | @blockchainfpl | v | nonzy fc | @nonsowrites |
| Hijos del VAR | @aaalviarez | v | Hiveheadz | @borran |
| Jungle squad | @george-dee | v | Steve Herbae | @herbae |
You might remember back in GW30, we did a fixture difficulty analysis of the top 24 teams in Division on the premise that they were in the hunt for promotion. 3 weeks on and I think we can now narrow that down again to the top 16 at most but certainly the top 12 with the race for the final 3 promotion spots really tight - just 3 points seperate 3rd and 12th place.
On that basis I'll look to do another FDR next week for the final 5 weeks of the season.
@pingpongfrimpong v 
@chineduokaforPredict the winner of this H2H match on Sportsblock
Our featured match includes 2 of those teams very much in the hunt for promotion although both are coming off the back of defeats in GW32. For Large in the Rear, this is a must win game. Defeat would likely leave them 6 points off the top 5 with just 5 to play.
The most immediate fact that you can see from the infographic above is that Large in the Rear come into this match having comfortably outscored their opponents in recent GWs.
Whether that trend will continue is likely to hinge on whether Large in the Rear play a chip in GW33. Jermie Ping Pong dropped their wildcard last week and have 10 players who could benefit from the double gameweek. At present, Large in the Rear have just 2.
As with the match-up in Division 1, by going early with their wildcard, JPP have left themselves the opportunity to use their bench boost too should they wish. Both these sides have already used their triple captain.
On the captaincy, as you can see above, Large in the Rear like to pick a defender! Had they have handed Mavropanos (21 points) the armband last week then they would have recorded a truly huge total! Let's see if they can pull a rabbit out of the hat in GW33. They made need to to keep their chances of promotion alive.
| Team | Hive Account | Score | Score | Team | Hive Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelsco FC |  @kilvnrex | 68 | 42 | Mighty Fc |  @twicejoy |
| Queen dynasty |  @princess-dara | 38 | 36 | Emeka4 |  @emeka4 |
| Itachi FC |  @justfavour | 48 | 53 | Hadji |  @hadji |
| Dapomola Fc |  @dapomolaaaa | 53 | 42 | valchiz Fc |  @valchiz |
| Blugrana |  @ronnie10 | 73 | 50 | Könttyrät FC |  @pvmihalache |
| Top 10k? |  @elvisking | 57 | 45 | Jeremie Ping Pong | @pingpongfrimpong |
| Sutter Kane |  @suttercane | 48 | 42 | Kingsleyy |  @kingsleyy |
| hamzamusic | @Hamza-art | 39 | 79 | Deals on Wheels |  @derek-trotter |
| The People's XV |  @publioscelta | 40 | 62 | Uwabbs FC |  @uwabbs001 |
| Amirirans |  @amirtheawesome1 | 56 | 46 | Pepzerbi |  @pepzerbi |
| Fire Power |  @emekaj | 53 | 54 | Eh, No, Ah, Meh. |  @stuartcturnbull |
| Krake99 |  @kraken99 | 49 | 60 | Teamkoko |  @myanmarkoko |
| Cygnus FC |  @donjaun | 60 | 59 | K Empire Balls |  @kenechukwu97 |
| Akatsuki |  @seki1 | 27 | 29 | Funwarriors | @Jmis101 |
| Bankai |  @belemo | 52 | 35 | adewalehafis |  @adewaleopeyemi63 |
| Six and the City |  @princekwame | 56 | 53 | ARFANTASY FC |  @arfa |
| Tengo Rangers |  @tengolotodo | 54 | 40 | Matz Sels Seashells |  @doombot75 |
| Corner |  @artniche | 68 | 30 | HappyBoys FC |  @happyboy1 |
| Blue Mooners |  @leebennett | 52 | 63 | Garuda XI |  @aditya-p |
| TheVulcAns⚓️ |  @the9thcreator | 61 | 46 | gentleshaid |  @gentleshaid |
| Large in the Rear | @chineduokafor | 61 | 69 | The Cellas |  @blanchy |
| Newton Heath RFC |  @samirich | 51 | 28 | WIKE BOYS |  @gone-hive |
| racibo |  @racibo | 51 | 50 | Bennett's Boys |  @olibennett |
| ThtHive |  @tht | 24 | 73 | Rys FC |  @omrys5 |
| Noobmaster69 |  @workingdad | 42 | 52 | PHOENIX FC |  @kelvinpeters |
| Sportin |  @depar | 58 | 41 | Micheal Fc |  @micheal87 |
| Murima |  @youngvic | 62 | 26 | Rubilu |  @rubilu |
| Los Magos del Balón |  @el-maestro | 60 | 56 | SportsNerd |  @saif-ul-wahab |
| Working 9 to 5 |  @aunt-granny | 56 | 39 | Tangram |  @desro |
| Magical McFizzy |  @mcfizzy | 52 | 72 | Hasaaland |  @earplugs |
| Chrisamuda FC |  @hive-world | 62 | 50 | Holohive |  @acidyo |
| Show Not Tel |  @jmehta | 63 | 35 | Stevenson Fc | @Stevenson7 |
| Corkscrew |  @deraaa | 59 | 28 | Wongi |  @wongi |
| Team | Hive Account | Team | Hive Account | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Fc | @twicejoy | v | Micheal Fc | @micheal87 |
| PHOENIX FC | @kelvinpeters | v | Rubilu | @rubilu |
| Rys FC | @omrys5 | v | SportsNerd | @saif-ul-wahab |
| Bennett's Boys | @olibennett | v | Tangram | @desro |
| WIKE BOYS | @gone-hive | v | Hasaaland | @earplugs |
| The Cellas | @blanchy | v | Holohive | @acidyo |
| gentleshaid | @gentleshaid | v | Stevenson Fc | @Stevenson7 |
| Garuda XI | @aditya-p | v | Wongi | @wongi |
| HappyBoys FC | @happyboy1 | v | Corkscrew | @deraaa |
| Matz Sels Seashells | @doombot75 | v | Show Not Tel | @jmehta |
| ARFANTASY FC | @arfa | v | Chrisamuda FC | @hive-world |
| adewalehafis | @adewaleopeyemi63 | v | Magical McFizzy | @mcfizzy |
| Funwarriors | @Jmis101 | v | Working 9 to 5 | @aunt-granny |
| K Empire Balls | @kenechukwu97 | v | Los Magos del Balón | @el-maestro |
| Teamkoko | @myanmarkoko | v | Murima | @youngvic |
| Eh, No, Ah, Meh. | @stuartcturnbull | v | Sportin | @depar |
| Pepzerbi | @pepzerbi | v | Noobmaster69 | @workingdad |
| Uwabbs FC | @uwabbs001 | v | ThtHive | @tht |
| Deals on Wheels | @derek-trotter | v | racibo | @racibo |
| Kingsleyy | @kingsleyy | v | Newton Heath RFC | @samirich |
| Jeremie Ping Pong | @pingpongfrimpong | v | Large in the Rear | @chineduokafor |
| Könttyrät FC | @pvmihalache | v | TheVulcAns⚓️ | @the9thcreator |
| valchiz Fc | @valchiz | v | Blue Mooners | @leebennett |
| Hadji | @hadji | v | Corner | @artniche |
| Emeka4 | @emeka4 | v | Tengo Rangers | @tengolotodo |
| Kelsco FC | @kilvnrex | v | Six and the City | @princekwame |
| Queen dynasty | @princess-dara | v | Bankai | @belemo |
| Itachi FC | @justfavour | v | Akatsuki | @seki1 |
| Dapomola Fc | @dapomolaaaa | v | Cygnus FC | @donjaun |
| Blugrana | @ronnie10 | v | Krake99 | @kraken99 |
| Top 10k? | @elvisking | v | Fire Power | @emekaj |
| Sutter Kane | @suttercane | v | Amirirans | @amirtheawesome1 |
| hamzamusic | @Hamza-art | v | The People's XV | @publioscelta |
I think it's fair to say that GW33 is going to see a lot of chips in play!
There are probably 2 competing schools of thought on this one.
It was either drop the wildcard in GW32 and then look to bench boost in GW33 or use your free hit in GW33.
Which option you took probably comes down to which chips you still have left and/or whether you think your squad is in good enough shape to survive the blanks in GW34. On that front, if you've used your wildcard in GW32 or GW33 and don't have a free hit to help you in GW34 then any gains you make this week might well be lost next week.
The ultimate free hit team GW33?
Here then is what AI suggests is the ultimate GW33 double game week squad.
Predicted points for the starting XI are 125, if you add in the bench it rises to a whopping 157 points. For most sides then, this is an opportunity to boost their season score from anywhere between 5-10% in a single game week. If you miss the opportunity I'm afraid you're dead in the water!
A couple of notes on the squad above
Nico O'Rilley - An increasingly popular pick even without the double GW. The Man City defender suffered an injury against Chelsea but has returned to light training this week ahead of the crunch game against Arsenal. There is an inherent risk that any of the players above get rested and rotated but with him, that risk seems much higher considering the injury.
Chelsea players in general - They've not scored in their last 3 Premier League matches and face tough opposition in United and Brighton. Despite that, net transfers for the likes of Palmer and Cucurella have been rising for the last few weeks in preparation for this double gameweek. Are there better options than the Blues players for GW33?
Bournemouth forwards - One of those 'better options' might just be to go for a Bournemouth forward over Joao Pedro. Kroupi Jnr has 10 goals in 15 starts this season while Evanilson has 11 goal contributions himself including 3 in his last 5 appearances. They face a Newcastle side with just 1 clean sheet in their last 18 matches in all competitions as well as home fixture against Leeds.
Other differential picks for GW33
Danny Wellbeck - With Haaland being a sure thing, it leaves managers with a decision to make on the other 2 forward positions. At present, Joao Pedro and Calvert-Lewin look like the 2 most popular options with Wellbeck just ahead of the 2 Bournemouth players noted above. Wellbeck goes up against a Spurs side in freefall and then a leaky Chelsea back line. 12 goals this season is his best ever return beating his PB set just last year. He's currently in just 8.8% of squads compared to Joao Pedro (in over half of teams) and Calvert-Lewin (12%).
Matheus Nunes - Lost his popularity earlier in the season as Nico O'Rilley burst onto the scene. Could the injury to the other City full-back see Nunes' influence rise again? He's got 8 goal involvements this season already and his ownership is down at just 3.2% and at the moment isn't moving up with the same speed of others. By contrast O'Rilley is in 13.1% of squads at time of writing and Guehi in a massive 34.5% of squads.
Noah Okafor - 2 goals against Manchester United on Monday night has certainly started to get Okafor some more attention but he's still in less than 1% of FPL teams. With Leeds having a home fixture against bottom placed Wolves, his chances of adding to his 8 goal involvements this season are pretty high. The only concern might be his ability to play the back to back games - he hasn't started consecutive matches for Leeds since GW18.
The first round of the higher or lower football prediction contest starts today (Saturday, 18 April) at 3pm BST.
