Scout Picks – Gameweek 13

After profiling the players under consideration in our Scout Squad article, the time has come to reveal the names who have made the final selection for Gameweek 13.

As ever, the search for extra funds to afford premium options in attack has prompted us to look for value in the defensive roles.

Leicester’s Ron-Robert Zieler’s 4.4 price tag makes him an ideal enabler this week, particularly with Middlesbrough’s goal-shy attack visiting the King Power Stadium. Aitor Karanka’s troops have the Premier League’s second lowest tally of away goal attempts this season.

There’s further value to be found in Watford’s backline, with full back Jose Holebas (4.8) returning from a one-match suspension to offer potential at both ends of the pitch when Stoke City drop by on Sunday. At home, the 8.1% owned Greek is joint top in terms of shots on target among defenders.

Hector Bellerin’s injury means that the Arsenal defence also offers a budget option, with Carl Jenkinson (5.0) set to once again deputise at right back. Bournemouth visit the Emirates having scored just four goals in their six away games.

With this cheaper trio installed, we can again turn to Chelsea’s rampaging left back Marcos Alonso (6.1). The 5.2% owned Spaniard will be looking for his seventh league clean sheet in a row when Spurs pay visit on Saturday. He also offers the prospect of attacking points, with a goal and an assist since breaking into the Blues first XI in September.

We’ve stuck with Chelsea for our first midfield selection with Eden Hazard (10.2)’s home form simply impossible to ignore. He has amassed 37 FPL points in his last four games at Stamford Bridge on the back of four goals and an assist.

The 31.8% owned Belgian also has history on his side. In Spurs’ last five visits to Stamford Bride they have conceded a total of 13 goals and scored just four. Hazard has also scored in four of his last five outings against Saturday’s opponents.

We just couldn’t decide between 46.8% owned Philippe Coutinho (8.7) and Roberto Firmino (8.8) as the best Liverpool midfield option for Sunderland’s visit to Anfield. As a result, we’ve opted for them both.

Only Burnley have conceded more shots in the box than the Black Cats on the road, meanwhile, at Anfield in the league, the 18.1% owned Firmino has scored or assisted six times, while Coutinho has been involved in five goals.

Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.2) is another consistent performer with a kind fixture, as the Iceland international collides with a Crystal Palace side looking for their first league clean sheet of the campaign. The Swans’ 3.7% owned playmaker has delivered attacking points in four of the last five Gameweeks and has been involved in 60% of the Swans’ goals when on the pitch.

We’ve opted for a five-man midfield this Gameweek due to the wealth of choice across the centre of the park.  

With doubts over the fitness of  Sergio Aguero, due to a foot injury, this has given us the opportunity to select his team-mate Kevin De Bruyne (10.8) for Manchester City’s visit to Burnley.  

The 10.8% owned Belgian has registered attacking returns in all of his away trips but will need to be on top form to breach a Clarets backline that has only conceded six times at Turf Moor this season.

Our chosen strike pairing are poles apart in price but are both up against obliging defences, granting them obvious appeal.

With Aguero dropped from our selection, we take the opportunity to welcome Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.1) back into the fold.

The Manchester United striker’s brace against Swansea in Gameweek 11, plus a promising display against Feyenoord in Europe on Thursday hints that he can reward the 25.1% of owners who have stuck by him.

The absence of influential centre-back Winston Reid through suspension for West Ham is another factor in his favour, suggesting that Ibrahimovic can earn redemption having seen his 2.4 million ownership cut in half since Gameweek 5.

Alongside him, West Brom’s Solomon Rondon offers outstanding value at 6.5 and visits a Hull City side with one of the Premier League’s worst home records.

No other team has conceded more attempts than the Tigers in home matches, with Mike Phelan’s defence shipping 11 goals at the KCOM stadium; they are also one of only two sides without a home clean sheet this season.

Meanwhile, 5.2% owned Rondon is in strong recent form, having scored and assisted during the Baggies’ impressive 4-0 victory at home to Burnley on Monday.

The Tigers’ obliging home form has prompted us to turn to West Brom centre-back Gareth McAuley (4.7) for a bench role. The 25.4% owned Northern Irishman is among an elite group of seven defenders, that also include Holebas, to have scored twice this season.

Theo Walcott (7.8) is unlucky to find himself in reserve for Sunday’s home clash with Bournemouth. Rested in midweek, we feel that the 12.3% owned England winger may just earn a start against the Cherries, who have conceded ten goals on the road in the league this season.

Swansea’s concession of 12 goals at home this term has seen us turn to Christian Benteke (7.5) for our final place on the bench.

The 6.3% owned Crystal Palace striker has notched an impressive 15 attempts in his last four league outings, giving us confidence he will be able to add to has four goals this term when he visits the Liberty Stadium. Significantly, all four of those goals have arrived in away trips.

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 champions to beat are VS10_ and Ziro, who have both achieved a 32-point margin of victory over us.

This week’s champion is Krul Runnings, who has opted for 3-5-2 line up of: Cech;

Jenkinson, Fuchs, Brunt; Coutinho, Firmino, Mane, Sigurdsson, Mahrez; Ibrahimovic, Giroud.