Scout Picks – Gameweek 14

The temperature has dropped, but the intensity is rising as we approach the second of three Gameweeks within the space of ten days.

With this evening’s 6.45pm deadline looming, we reveal the players from last night’s Scout Squad article who have earned a place in the Scout Picks.

In a Gameweek where so many premium-priced options are granted favourable fixtures, the need to stick to our 84 million budget has been a balancing act.

As a result, we roll out a 4-4-2 formation in order to accommodate as many big-hitters as possible.

In goal, Burnley’s Nick Pope (4.6) is one of just two players to cost less than 5.0 and is a secure starter for a visit to Bournemouth in light of Tom Heaton’s ongoing shoulder injury.

The Clarets stopper has been outstanding since claiming starts from Gameweek 5 onwards, with six clean sheets, nine bonus points and save points on seven of his ten appearances.

Bournemouth failed to break down Swansea last time out, and we expect a similar outcome when Sean Dyche’s troops drop by the Vitality Stadium.

We’re also backing Cherries defender Charlie Daniels (4.9) in the same fixture. His hopes of a fourth clean sheet in a row are boosted by the fact that the visitors have the second worst record for shots in away matches (44).

If our Pope clean sheet hopes are to be dashed, then Daniels has a chance of being involved in any goal scored. The left-back, who has seven successful strikes over his previous two campaigns and has a goal and assist already this season, has supplied more crosses (30) and set up more chances (seven) than any team-mate in home matches.

The remainder of our rearguard also carry goal threat into a favourable home match, epitomised by Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso’s (6.9) selection for a clash with Swansea at Stamford Bridge.

With more goal attempts (21) and goals (three) than any other defender, the left-wing back is in a class of his own for attacking threat among defenders. Given that Paul Clement’s troops have only scored three times on their travels, and are without Tammy Abraham, Alonso also dangles the prospect of another Chelsea clean sheet.

Arsenal’s Sead Kolasinac (6.1) is another wing-back backed for a return. He hosts a Huddersfield Town side that have failed to score away from home since the Gameweek 1 victory at Crystal Palace.

Kolasinac’s three assists at home among defenders and he has also found the net once at the Emirates, in Gameweek 10 against Swansea. Indeed, the Bosnian – with an average of 8.0 points per home match – could even be an outside bet for the captaincy.

Nicholas Otamendi (5.8), who has two goals and six clean sheets this season, completes our defensive quartet as Manchester City welcome Southampton to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow. The visitors have scored just three goals and have the third lowest tally of goal attempts (51) in away matches, behind Swansea and Burnley.

Five goals in his last three appearances make Mohamed Salah (9.7) a shoo-in for Liverpool’s trip to a Stoke City side that have conceded an average of two goals per game so far.

With an ownership of 47.9%, after attracting more than 170,000 new managers since Friday, the Egyptian is now the most popular player in FPL.

Alexis Sanchez was our top choice Arsenal attacking asset for the Terriers visit, but with his 11.8 price tag just too prohibitive, we have opted for his team-mate Aaron Ramsey (7.1) instead. The Welshman looks a more than capable deputy, with attacking returns in five of his last seven outings.

Attempting to second-guess the Manchester City line up will always carry a degree of risk but we feel confident enough to believe back Leroy Sane (9.0) to start at home to Southampton. Rested in last week’s Champions League win over Feyenoord, the winger has four sets of double-figures in his last five home fixtures and hosts a Saints side that lost 3-0 to Liverpool in their last away day.

Ideally, we would have liked to included Chelsea pair Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard (10.7) – the top two players in our Captain Poll – for the meeting with the Swans. But budget restraints meant that we had to choose between them.

Even though the Spanish striker has been involved in an incredible 83% of his side’s goals when on the pitch at Stamford Bridge, we reckon that Hazard’s recent form, stronger bonus potential and spot-kick duties just gives him the edge.

Three goals, a trio of assists and a hat-trick of maximum bonus returns over his last five fixtures highlights the Belgian’s form – he scored 12 of his 16 goals at home last season, more than any FPL midfielder.

The visitors have shipped only five goals on the road but their concession of 114 away shots, the fourth-worst of any side, indicates they have been fortunate not to ship more.

Harry Kane (12.8) takes our first striker spot for Spurs’ trip to Leicester City. Away from home, he’s the top-ranked player for both goals (six) and shots on target (11).

The England frontman also has excellent form against the Foxes, scoring eight goals in his last five Premier League encounters. That included four strikes (and an assist) in last season’s 6-1 victory for Spurs at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester’s dire defensive record is also factored in – they have conceded 197 goal attempts, with only the Burnley defence (227) more generous.

Kane is partnered by Brighton’s Glenn Murray (5.8), who we feel will play a prominent part against his former club Crystal Palace at the Amex Stadium. Four goals in his last six looks ominous for an erratic Eagles defence that has yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Ahmed Hegazi makes a return to the Scout Picks, albeit on the bench, after West Brom showed greater defensive resolve in their 1-1 draw with Spurs last weekend under temporary boss Gary Megson. That bodes well as the Baggies prepare for the visit of a Newcastle United side that have scored a single goal in the last four Gameweeks.

The strong home form of Stoke midfielder Eric Choupo-Moting (5.7) is too good to ignore for the visit of a Liverpool backline that have conceded 16 times on the road.

Fielded as a central striker, he is ranked fourth for shots in the box (19) among all players at home and has supplied two goals and three assists in his last five at the bet365 Stadium.

We also call upon Roberto Firmino for Liverpool’s trip to the bet365. Rested for the weekend clash with Chelsea, the Brazilian has form against Mark Hughes’ side, scoring both home and away in last season’s league encounters.

Two goals and an assist in his last appearances for the Reds – away to Sevilla – suggests he may finally be back in form after a patch start to the campaign.

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.

This week’s champion is A Manager Has No Name who has opted for a 4-4-2 line up of Courtois; Koscielny, Kompany, Azpilicueta, Bellerin; Sanchez, Fabregas, Lanzini, Mane; Jesus, Firmino.