Scout Picks – Gameweek 24

Our preparations for Gameweek 24 continue as we reveal the players from our midweek Squad article who have earned a Scout Picks place.

Expensive options from the ranks of Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester City are all facing enticing clashes with relegation-embattled sides, so we’ve had to up our search for budget gems.

This starts in goal with Everton stopper Jordan Pickford (4.9).

He has produced more points (61) than any keeper over the last 10 Gameweeks, amassing three double-digit Fantasy Premier League (FPL) hauls and securing save points on all but two occasions. A visit from a West Brom side that has only scored three goals in their last six road trips bodes well for his prospects.

Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell’s 4.3 price tag also appeals ahead of a visit from Watford. After sitting out the Foxes’ midweek Cup victory over Fleetwood Town due to suspension, a start looks secure for the left-back as Claude Puel’s men look to earn their third league clean sheet in a row. With just two successful strikes in their last four away days, the indications are that the Hornets may once again struggle to find the net.

Nicolas Otamendi was our preferred Manchester City defender for Newcastle’s visit to the Etihad, but his 6.5 price tag proved prohibitive. Instead we have turned to Danilo (5.0), who looks set to start at left-back in the absence of the injured Fabian Delph. When called upon the Brazilian has impressed, with six clean sheets, a goal and an assist across his seven starts.

Ben Davies (5.5) also offers strong value for Spurs’ trip to Southampton, with six shut-outs, two goals and four assists this season. He is also seemingly rotation-free with fellow left-back Danny Rose still absent through injury. Davies’ 33 key passes, which is top among defenders, also impresses.

Such savings are needed to include Chelsea left wing-back  Marcos Alonso (7.3) in our 84 million budgeted XI. The Spaniard remains undroppable from the Scout Picks as the complete Fantasy asset, amassing 11 shut-outs, six goals, an assist and 13 bonus points this season. In addition, no defender has had more shots across the campaign, while no Chelsea team-mate has had more efforts on target than Alonso’s nine over the past six Gameweeks.

Alonso’s threat from free kicks has also caught our eye. Among Blues assets, he has had the most attempts from set plays (16), while Brighton have conceded more goals (16) from free kicks, corners and penalties than any other side.

Mohamed Salah was our original choice here but, while we still expect the Egyptian to be available to face Swansea City after missing training through illness, we’re opting for Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne against Newcastle instead.

The Belgian offers an explosive option for tomorrow evening’s encounter, having served up 52 FPL points and four sets of double-figures in his last six Etihad appearances.

Raheem Sterling (8.9) joins his team-mate in our line-up for Saturday’s Etihad clash with Newcastle, with Sergio Aguero’s 11.7 price tag beyond our reach.

Surprisingly, more than 79,000 managers have jettisoned the England winger from their sides this week. But with nine of his 14 strikes scored at home and the Magpies having shipped 12 goals in their last six road trips, those who have turned their back on him could be left disappointed.

The Leicester attack demands our attention for Watford’s visit as the Hornets are one of only four teams without a clean sheet from the last six Gameweeks. Coincidentally the other three – Swansea, Bournemouth and Stoke – are also the next three teams to visit the King Power.

Foxes midfielder Riyad Mahrez (8.6) gets the nod having delivered attacking returns in all but two of his previous ten league run-outs. He’s either scored or assisted 53% of the Foxes’ goals when selected and also has a strong track record against the Hornets, with four goals in six encounters.

West Ham boss David Moyes looks set to hand a central striker role to Marko Arnautovic (7.0) again for Bournemouth’s visit to the London Stadium, which makes him another shoo-in. The Austrian has excelled when leading the line for Hammers, accruing six goals and three assists over his last seven run-outs.

The visiting Cherries backline looks unlikely to keep him at bay. They’re without a clean sheet in ten matches and have just two from 11 league road trips this season.

Roberto Firmino (9.2) travels to Swansea on the back of an impressive run that has seen him score seven times and rack up three assists and 11 FPL bonus points across his last nine league fixtures. He also has strong form against the Swans, scoring five in his last three encounters, including braces in his last two. It is no surprise to see more than 195,000 managers making him the most popular forward purchase of the Gameweek.

Last, but certainly not least, is Captain Poll leader Harry Kane (13.0), who looks a shrewd armband option for Spurs’ trip to Southampton.

His impressive eight goals across just four starts includes a hat-trick against Mauricio Pellegrino’s troops in Gameweek 20’s reverse fixture. The Saints’ single clean sheet in their last 11 home matches and concession of 15 goals over the last seven Gameweeks should ensure he rewards the 118,000+ FPL managers who have added him to their squads this week.

Manchester United defender Phil Jones (5.7) has to settle for a bench spot despite the strong odds of a fourth consecutive clean sheet when Manchester United travel to Burnley. His bonus tally of 13, which is top among his team-mates, further adds to his appeal.

Relegation-threatened Stoke City’s dire run of form has us limit their playmaker Xherden Shaqiri (6.0) to a substitute’s role, even though he has a kind home fixture against a Huddersfield Town defence that have just two shut-outs from their 11 away days. 

Should new boss Paul Lambert manage to revitalise the Potters’ fortunes, the Swiss international looks the man most likely to prosper in Fantasy terms. He has five assists and four goals this season and has delivered the most key passes (47) among Stoke assets. His meagre 5.4% ownership also makes him an intriguing weekend differential.

Callum Wilson (5.8) is handed our final bench spot due to a stellar run of form, with three goals and an assist in the last four Gameweeks. Over that period, only Kane has had more attempts on target than the Bournemouth striker, who faces a West Ham backline that has kept just one clean sheet in their last six matches.

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 Tommo1888 has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: Ederson; Alonso, B.Davies, Holgate; Willian, Arnautovic, Son, Albrighton; Kane, Firmino, Aguero.