Scout Picks – Gameweek 31

Gameweek immediately follows Gameweek, so we’re diving straight into the Scout Picks to reveal those who have earned a place ahead of this evening’s 6.45pm deadline.

With some enticing cut-price options in our 84 million-budgeted XI, we have spare cash to splash on a return for Burnley’s Tom Heaton, who is now priced at 5.1, from an initial 4.5 valuation.

FPL’s top scoring goalkeeper, who has five double-digit hauls this campaign, takes on a lacklustre Stoke side that seem comfortable to see the season out in their mid-table comfort zone. Given that Mark Hughes’ charges have scored just four times in their last six, we are confident that the 19.4% owned England stopper will earn a sixth Turf Moor clean sheet.

Gareth McAuley (5.3) is a player that can be rarely ignored as a goal threat, given that he has scored six times this season – more than any other defender.

West Brom take a trip to Watford, a side that has conceded 10 headed goals, one fewer than the Premier League’s worst two sides in the air, Bournemouth and Sunderland.

The home team have also handed opponents 10 goals from corners, an unfortunate tally that only Hull can beat.

Hornets boss Walter Mazzarri has highlighted the Baggies’ potent set-piece threat – the visitors have scored 19 from corners and free kicks this season – as a key concern ahead of tonight’s encounter.

The 32.8%-owned Northern Irishman’s ability to annoy opposition defences from corner kicks, in particular, offers him a good chance to add to his impressive goal tally in this clash.

Like Stoke, Sunderland have also managed to find the net on four occasions in their last six, which hands a place to Leicester’s Christian Fuchs (5.2) when the Black Cats drop by the King Power Stadium. The Austrian’s goal, assist and clean sheet in his last four showcases the breadth of points potential he offers.

Completing our backline trio is Ben Davies (4.8), who looks set to continue deputising for the injured Danny Rose ahead of Spurs’ trip to Swansea City. The hosts have managed a mere four goals in as many matches, while the former Swan has created five chances over the same period, more than any other Spurs defender.

Just one shot and penalty box touch by Alexis Sanchez (11.6) while shackled to Arsenal’s left wing against Manchester City at the weekend is a worry, particularly as the Chilean is set to once again be denied central striker duties when West Ham drop by tomorrow.

Nevertheless, we think the 27.5%-owned midfielder will fare better against the Hammers, a team he scored a hat-trick against in Arsenal’s 5-1 rout at the London Stadium earlier this season.

To further boost our confidence in the Gunners’ top scorer, we note that he has delivered attacking returns in all but two of his last ten matches.

Among Mauricio Pochettino’s charges Dele Alli (9.0) looks the keenest to ensure Spurs continue scoring in the absence of their talisman, the injured Harry Kane.

The 31%-owned English midfielder, who with 14 goals is the league’s top scoring midfielder, looks to have secured spot-kick duties in his team mate’s absence. His three goals and two assists in his last four also show that the form guide favours him.

While Paul Clement’s troops might have kept a home clean sheet against Middlesbrough at the weekend, this encounter will be different, considering Spurs have scored 22 times in their 14 road trips.

It has taken Philippe Coutinho (8.3) a while to get going following his long injury lay-off, but last weekend’s Merseyside derby showed what a vital Fantasy asset he can be.

His goal, assist and maximum bonus point return against Everton at Anfield gave him his first double-digit FPL points haul since Gameweek 11. Next up for the Brazilian is a visit from Bournemouth, a side that has shipped 31 goals on the road, the third-worst behind Hull and Swansea.

Given his form and that fixture, it is no surprise to see him drafted in by more than 180,000 FPL managers since Saturday.

Our final midfield place goes to Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha (5.7), who visits Southampton in fine away day form, having scored and assisted during the Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

In addition, all but one of the Ivory Coast international’s six strikes, and five of his eight assists, have come on the road. More than 116,000 FPL managers have taken note and drafted him in since his Gameweek 30 heroics.

Given Claude Puel’s troops have conceded 10 goals in their last six, this looks set to be another profitable outing for the winger.

The Scout Picks welcomes back Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.4) following a three-match domestic ban that saw him miss the last two Gameweeks.

With 50% goal involvement and 15 successful strikes in the league, he is integral to the Red Devils’ attack and should be eager to get back to scoring ways against a patched-up Everton defence shorn of Ramiro Funes Mori and Seamus Coleman.

This makeshift backline conceded three times against Liverpool at the weekend and could struggle to contain the 27.3%-owned Swede, who scored against the visitors in a 1-1 league draw at Goodison Park in December.

Four goals in as many matches makes Jamie Vardy (10.0) a shoo-in as Leicester welcome a Sunderland outfit that has lost all but one of their last six away fixtures, conceding 12 times in the process.

The Foxes’ striker, who has been acquired by more than 116,000 new FPL managers this week, scored three goals in his side’s two league encounters with the Black Cats last season.

Sadio Mane’s injury hands Divock Origi (6.1) a chance to impress in the Liverpool frontline when Bournemouth visit. With attacking returns in three of his last four, all from the bench, he should be eager to show Jurgen Klopp what he can achieve if handed more pitch-time. His 4.2% ownership also makes him a strong differential for those keen to climb their mini-leagues.

With just one goal in their last six road trips, Middlesbrough are a gift for home defences, which hands Hull’s Andy Robertson (4.4) a spot on our bench ahead of the Teesiders’ trip to the KCOM Stadium.

His goal at the weekend against West Ham and an impressive 22 crosses in the last four Gameweeks – a tally only bettered by Hammers’ full-back Aaron Cresswell – means he also offers another route to points should Steve Agnew’s troops manage to tear up the form book and breach the Tigers’ backline.

We’ve turned to another Hull option that impressed in Gameweek 30 for our bench, with Kamil Grosicki (5.5) earning a spot after his two assists at the weekend brought his total to four since joining in the January transfer window. With 13 goal attempts in his last five, his underlying statistics suggest it will not be long before he scores his first league goal for his club.

Our final substitute position goes to West Ham’s Andy Carroll (6.3), who collides with an Arsenal defence that he has scored four times against in their last two league encounters. His hat-trick last season against the Gunners will bring back bad memories for Gabriel, who played that day and, due to injuries, is once again set to face the 5%-owned Geordie.

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.

Last Gameweek’s champion GWitbrock was beaten 47-38 by the Scouts.

The Gameweek 31 champion is Jay, who has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: Jakupovic; Fuchs, Maguire, Robertson; Sanchez, Mahrez, Chadli, Firmino; Vardy, Ibrahimovic, Origi.