Scout Picks – Gameweek 20

With the second of four quick-fire rounds of festive fixtures getting underway tomorrow, we roll out the next set of Scout Picks ahead of Boxing Day’s 11.30am deadline.

The top five teams in the Premier League are poised for favourable match-ups and therefore dominate our latest selection.

That quintet supply a pair of players apiece, with an in-form Hammer also making the cut for our Gameweek 20 line-up.

David De Gea offers a secure route into the Man United backline for the visit of Burnley.

The top scoring goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the Spaniard has started every league match under Jose Mourinho in 2017/18, returning a clean sheet in seven of his nine outings at Old Trafford.

No side have conceded fewer home goals that United’s three and that run is likely to be extended against a Clarets attack that has scored just four times in the previous seven Gameweeks.

A home clash with Brighton offers Marcos Alonso the chance of points at both ends of the pitch.

The left wing-back delivered a 14-point haul in his last outing at Stamford Bridge and has the attacking numbers to back that up – he’s bettered Eden Hazard for shots (10 to seven) and efforts in the box (seven to six) over the last four Gameweeks.

Chelsea have conceded just three goals in nine since the return of N’Golo Kante in Gameweek 11, claiming six clean sheets across that stretch. Up against a Seagulls attack with two goals in seven – both at the Amex – the omens look good for another shut-out.

Like Alonso, Nicolas Otamendi has also found the net on four occasions over the opening 19 Gameweeks.

Indeed, only the Chelsea wing-back has bettered the Argentine’s 21 shots and eight efforts on target among defenders.

Up next, the centre-half travels to a Newcastle side that’s failed to score in three of the last four at St James’ Park. That’s good news for his 27% owners, then, as Man City go in search of a six away clean sheet in ten attempts.

Teamsheet rotation was instrumental when it came to picking our final two defenders.

Having started just one of the last three Gameweeks, Kieran Trippier should return to contention for Spurs’ home encounter with Southampton.

Whether at in a back-four or as a wing-back, his delivery looks likely to torment a Saints side who may well be without Ryan Bertrand again – Trippier has created more scoring chances for team-mates at home (18) than any defender and places second for crosses.

Spurs have conceded only three goals in their last seven at Wembley, and with Charlie Austin suspended for the visitors, defensive returns may well be on the cards for the home side.

We’re expecting Trent Alexander-Arnold to earn a first-team recall as Jurgen Klopp freshens up the Liverpool right-back area for the visit of struggling Swansea.

Coming in at just 4.2, he’s played just one of the last four Gameweeks and is favourite to start, with the Reds’ boss perhaps inclined to give Joe Gomez a breather.

Going forward, Alexander-Arnold has caught the eye – in just three home starts, he’s created eight chances for team-mates and fired four efforts on goal.

Liverpool are level with Man United for least goals against at home, and you’d fancy them to keep out an attack that’s ranked bottom for shots (59), efforts in the box (27) and attempts on target (13) on the road.

Swansea’s visit to Anfield also seems tailor-made for Mohamed Salah to maintain his lead at the top of the FPL standings.

The Reds’ summer signing has been one of the most reliable players in front of his own fans, delivering points in six of eight home starts.

Only Harry Kane has produced more shots (62 to 41) or efforts on target (23 to 20) at home than Salah, who squares up to a defence without a clean sheet in their previous six away matches.

A trip to Newcastle United hands Raheem Sterling the chance to continue relentless scoring form.

The Man City winger bagged three goals and a trio of assists over Gameweek 17-19 and has fired 12 efforts in the box in his previous four matches.

As that tally is just two fewer than his midfield team-mates David Silva (six), Leroy Sane (six) and Kevin De Bruyne (two) combined, Sterling is our chosen Man City attacker against a rearguard with a single clean sheet in 15 attempts.

Jesse Lingard earns a call-up for Man United’s match with Burnley on the back of his impressive run of form over the last six Gameweeks.

Having teed up Juan Mata for the Red Devils’ first goal at Leicester, Lingard now has four goals and two assists across that period, supplying a total of 47 FPL points.

The underlying numbers back that up, too – since cementing a spot in the XI in Gameweek 14, he’s been number one when it comes to shots (13), efforts on target (eight) and key passes (10) for Man United, narrowly trailing Romelu Lukaku for shots in the box by 10 to 11.

Away from home, the Clarets defence has allowed more shots (164) than any side, while their total of 95 efforts conceded in the box is just one short of the league’s worst record.

The in-form Marko Arnautovic more than merits his place in our XI as West Ham make their way to Bournemouth.

An early effort against Newcastle on Saturday means that the Austrian has scored in three of the last four Gameweeks since being moved into a central position by manager David Moyes.

During that run, only Liverpool’s Salah can better him for both shots (17 to 16) and efforts in the box (13 to 11) among FPL midfielders.

With Manuel Lanzini back pulling the strings, Arnautovic (owned by 1%) could prove a deadly differential against a defence that ranked bottom for shots in the box conceded (47) and goals against (11) over the same period.

Harry Kane is nailed-on for Tottenham’s home match with a Southampton defence that has mustered a single clean sheet in 14 attempts.

Bearing in mind that there’s a week between his next two matches – due to a blank Gameweek 21 – the Spurs frontman looks far less likely to be rotated than most of his big-hitting rivals.

Ranked first for shots (28) and efforts in the box (17) over the last four Gameweeks, Kane’s total of 12 efforts on target is at least double that of all but one player – the Saints’ suspended Charlie Austin.

Kane was the top captain pick by FPL managers for Gameweek 19 and, having justified that with a hat-trick at Burnley, looks very likely to retain that lofty position this time around.

Having served a one-match ban at Goodison, Alvaro Morata gets the nod over Eden Hazard as our preferred Chelsea attacker against Brighton.

The Spaniard struck the Carabao Cup winner over Bournemouth last week to continue his improved home form, having also scored in two of his last three league appearances at Stamford Bridge.

Over their respective last four matches, only Kane and Sergio Aguero (17 and 15) have fired more shots inside the box than Morata’s 13 as he goes head-to-head with a defence without a clean sheet in their last three away fixtures.

We’re backing Huddersfield’s Christopher Schindler to nullify a Stoke attack that had scored one goal in three prior to the weekend win over fellow strugglers West Brom.

At home, in particular, the centre-half has been key to his side’s resilience at the John Smith’s Stadium – he’s placed second for clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI), with 90, while only two defenders have surpassed his 23 successful tackles.

Indeed, eight of Schindler’s nine bonus points have arrived in matches where the Terriers have kept a clean sheet.

Watford’s Richarlison also warms the bench at home to a Leicester outfit with one clean sheet in seven.

Despite his recent goal drought, a total of 10 shots in the box over the last four Gameweeks has been bettered by only three midfielders.

That looks encouraging for Tuesday’s encounter, considering that the Foxes have big concerns down the right, with Danny Simpson doubtful and his back-up, Daniel Amartey, suspended.

Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson is our final pick against a West Ham outfit that has just conceded three at home to Newcastle.

With Jermain Defoe injured, Wilson – who has started just two of the last five – looks set to be handed the lone striker role at the Vitality Stadium.

Although he’s only started two home matches due to injury, Wilson has still impressed – he fired three goals against Huddersfield in Gameweek 12 before Burnley’s defence kept him at bay two weeks later.