After announcing those under consideration for the Scout Picks in yesterday’s Squad article, it’s now time to reveal our final 14-man line-up, as we brace ourselves for the first double Gameweek of the season.
As the only two teams set to play twice, Manchester City and Stoke City assets understandably dominate the selection.
Although City arguably offer stronger prospects for clean sheets, with a trip to Sunderland and a home tie with the Potters, the threat of rotation continues to loom large across Pep Guardiola’s rearguard.
As a result, we have turned to the security of Potters’ keeper Lee Grant (4.4), who takes on Middlesbrough at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday, before next Wednesday’s Etihad clash.
The first of these ties is crucial to our hope of returns, given that the Teessiders have just one goal in their last six away matches. While with City scoring ten in their last two fixtures in all competitions, we will be relying on save points in Grant’s second tie; he has collected a point from saves in all but one of his last five Gameweeks.
Erik Pieters (4.6) is another Stoke player to offer a range of points potential, especially in the ‘Boro encounter. The Dutch defender has earned bonus points in three of his last four home ties, has two assists this season and collected clean sheet points on seven occasions. His budget price tag has also come in handy, allowing us to splash out on an expensive set of forwards and keep within our 84 million budget.
Our remaining two defender picks focus on single Gameweek assets that offer us home ties against fragile defences.
Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia (5.6), who has picked up either clean sheet or attacking returns in five of his last six league run outs, looks primed for points when Bournemouth drop by Old Trafford. The Cherries have conceded 30 goals away from the Vitality Stadium and last won a match in all competitions in December.
Despite being overshadowed by team-mate Gareth McAuley in recent weeks, we are sticking by West Brom’s Chris Brunt (5.1). McAuley has scored two goals in his last pair of fixtures, but Brunt is expected to retain a role on the Baggies’ right-flank, which promotes his potential to provide attacking points.
Given Manchester City’s strong recent goal scoring form, we have opted to treble up on their attacking assets. In midfield this means securing both in-form wide men – Raheem Sterling (7.9) and Leroy Sane (7.6).
Sterling tops City’s shots on target table over the last four Gameweeks and has scored six times in the league, however, it is arguably his assist potential that makes him an assured pick. He has assisted 11 times in the league and provided two more in City’s 5-1 FA Cup victory over Huddersfield Town.
Leroy Sane has been drafted in by more than 53,000 FPL managers this week but is still only found in 2% of squads. His goal and two assists in his last four Gameweek starts, plus a strike against the Terriers on Wednesday, suggests that the German could just be the best double Gameweek differential on offer.
This pair face a Black Cats defence that has conceded more shots in the box than any other side over the last four run outs, while Stoke’s concession of four goals at Spurs last weekend offers further hope of strong returns in their second match-up.
Form and fixture align perfectly for Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.6) this weekend, ensuring that he earns a midfield berth ahead of Burnley’s visit. The 14.2% owned Icelander has delivered attacking returns in six of his last seven league starts, while the Clarets have just a solitary shut-out in 12 road trips.
With four clean sheets over the last six Gameweeks, Everton will provide Spurs with a far sterner test that Sunday’s victims Stoke City when they visit White Hart Lane. Nevertheless, with five double-digit hauls in his last seven home matches, we have faith that playmaker Christian Eriksen (8.7) will again prosper.
Our final double Gameweek asset in our starting XI will come as no surprise.
Sergio Aguero (12.8) has blasted four goals in his last two matches in all competitions and collides with the ‘Boro and Stoke defences in confident mood.
Despite only earning one start in City’s last four league matches, due to competition from the now sidelined Gabriel Jesus, Aguero has still registered an impressive 10 goal attempts in that spell, underlining his potential over these two forthcoming fixtures.
An overwhelmingly strong armband option, Aguero also offers a potential Triple Captain solution. It therefore seemed inevitable that he would win out in our latest Captain Poll and rank as the top transfer target ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.
Bournemouth’s defensive woes on their travels books Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s (11.5) place in the Picks, having delivered attacking returns in eight of his last 10 Gameweeks. The United talisman heads into Saturday’s contest having scored six goals in cup competitions since his last league outing.
Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini (6.7) claims our final slot in attack. He’s notched five goals in his three matches since joining Southampton in all competitions and will now test a Watford back-line that’s earned only one clean sheet in their last six league outings.
Joe Allen takes a bench role as arguably the best budget midfield double Gameweek option. The 11% owned Welshman’s 5.1 price tag could come in handy for those struggling to find the spare change for Aguero. With six goals and three assists in the league, this “enabler” also has the potential to offer added returns across Stoke’s two matches.
Swansea assets claim our final two bench places ahead of Burnley’s visit.
Just six goals on the road for Sean Dyche’s troops offers enticing shut-out potential for centre-back Alfie Mawson (4.6), whose two goals in his last four matches further add to his appeal.
Fernando Llorente (6.3) also gets a substitute’s role, having already found the net eight times this season. The Spaniard has been drafted in by more than 56,000 FPL managers since the weekend.
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 Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33 point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.
The Gameweek 25 champion is Holmes who has opted for a 4-5-1 line up of: Caballero; Martins Indi, M.Olsson, Bertrand, Walker; Hazard, De Bruyne, Mane, Silva, Arnautovic; Costa.
