Scout Picks – Gameweek 9

After revealing the players under consideration in yesterday’s Scout Picks Squad article, we now unveil our final selection.

With plum home fixtures for Manchester City, West Ham and Arsenal’s premium assets, in addition to the strong clean sheet potential on offer across the ten fixtures, we have opted for a 4-4-2 line up with the bulk of our 83 million budget focused in midfield and spent on attack-minded defenders.

As a result Lee Grant’s bargain basement price tag of 4.0 offers us the ideal enabler. With the Stoke City stopper travelling to a Hull City side with a mere three goals in their last four league outings, he could be poised for a second successive shut-out.

Middlesbrough also boast the same lowly number of goals over their last four, which has prompted us to flash the cash and select Arsenal’s 26.5% owned Hector Bellerin (6.5). With two assists already this term, he also offers the chance of returns at both ends of the pitch against a ‘Boro side with four defeats in five and just a single clean sheet all season.

Burnley also rival Hull and ‘Boro for modest goal returns. They host Everton this weekend, which brings Seamus Coleman (5.5) into the Picks. With Leighton Baines sidelined, Coleman is elevated as the choice of the Toffees defenders at Turf Moor, although we suspect that his attacking output could be stifled by a stubborn home defence and perhaps even Ronald Koeman’s cautious tactics.

Nathaniel Clyne (5.5) impressed in Liverpool’s 0-0 home draw with Manchester United last time out, earning maximum FPL bonus. Against West Brom we expect another clean sheet and the possibility of assist points too, with only Daley Blind creating more chances among defenders than 9.3%-owned Clyne from Gameweek 5 onwards.

Our quartet of defenders is completed by Leicester City’s Christian Fuchs (5.4), who earned the Scout Picks 12 points when he was last selected, on the back of an assist and maximum bonus in the Foxes 3-0 home defeat of Burnley. Visitors Crystal Palace are still looking for their first league clean sheet and offer the 7.7%-owned Austrian similar potential for returns.

No side has scored more goals in the last four Premier League matches than Arsenal. With Middlesbrough visiting the Emirates on the back of just a single shut-out this season, we’ve decided to double up on Gunners’ midfield assets.

Theo Walcott (7.9)’s brace against Swansea City last weekend, coupled with a goal midweek in the Champions League, makes him a shoo-in for selection. Given his recent form it is no surprise that the England winger is FPL’s most transferred in asset ahead of Gameweek 9.

Alexis Sanchez role as a central striker makes him another essential pick. The 23.7%-owned Chilean has accrued four goals and as many assist assists from his new position, ensuring that he’s currently worth every penny of that hefty 11.3 price tag.

With Sergio Aguero benched in Manchester City’s last two fixtures against Everton and Barcelona, we have decided to opt for the security of Kevin De Bruyne (10.6) for cover of Pep Guardiola’s side.

If confidence is Aguero continues to take a knock, the 9.5%-owned Belgian can offer a ready-made alternative for us, with two goals and six assists so far this season.

Southampton visit the Etihad having conceded just once in their last four Premier League outings. However, arguably the south coast side have been fortunate to have shipped just four goals away from home after handing their opponents an average of nine shots in the box on their travels.

With Sunderland visiting the London Stadium, Dimitri Payet (9.4) looks another irresistible premium midfield pick.

The Black Cats are still seeking a first clean sheet and have shipped six goals on their travels. Meanwhile, no other player has created more chances than the 13.1%-owned Payet since his first start back in Gameweek 4.

Jermain Defoe (7.3) earns a place as Sunderland’s chief goal threat. Quite simply, if the Black Cats are to have any hope of victory, they will need to ensure the veteran is given plenty of service against his former club.

Even West Ham fans are backing the 13.7%-owned Defoe will get on the scoresheet, according to Bolivian Seaman’s latest What the Fans Are Saying article.

There are few more reliable goal scorers than 26% owned Romelu Lukaku (9.5), with attacking returns in four of his last five. Granted, a trip to Turf Moor presents a stern test as Burnley have conceded just three goals in their five home fixtures. But given that only Hull and Swansea have allowed more shots in the box on home soil than the Clarets, we think the Belgian will find a way to prevail.

Watford’s Jose Holebas (4.6) was pushing for a place in our first XI after picking up 15 FPL points last weekend when he scored the only goal in Sunday’s away victory at Middlesbrough. The Greek has had more goal attempts than any other defender this season, yet is owned by just 3.4% of FPL managers.

Our Scout Squad article showed just how tough it is to pick the best Liverpool option, with myself, Mark and Paul all nominating a different player.

In the end, the 10.7%-owned Adam Lallana’s kind price tag of 7.1 got him the nod. With three goals and as many assists this term, the former Saint has almost gone stride-for-stride with his expensive midfield team-mates.

Leicester’s Islam Slimani (8.5) is unlucky to only make the bench this Gameweek, with Defoe’s price just edging him out.

Against Palace’s porous defence we have high hopes for returns, particularly after he earned a brace at home to Burnley in Gameweek 5 and provided an assist for Riyad Mahrez’ winner in the Champions League on Tuesday night. With a mere 1.7% ownership he could be the Gameweek’s standout differential selection.

The Community Champion

The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season. The current champion to beat is VS10_, who had a 32-point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 6.

This week’s champion is Jingles who has opted for a 3-5-2 formation of: Schmeichel; Clyne, Williams, Cameron; Sanchez, Payet, Walcott, Firmino, Mane; Lukaku, Defoe.