Time to put my feeble neck on the line again and bring you my selection of goal-getters and clean sheet gatherers for the weekend fixtures.

As always, you can catch the weeks’ podcast and midweek-ish meander to help you paint the picture as to how these conclusions were reached. Read on for the player-by-player analysis…

Let’s start between the posts – and I’ve gone for Reina mainly because I just don’t see too many goals at Anfield with Villa in town. Rafa says he is expecting an attacking game. I don’t think O’Neill will turn up with that in mind. I’m expecting a 4-5-1 from the visitors and an afternoon of frustration for Liverpool. Gerrard and Torres owners may have to make do with scraps if Liverpool can’t open up Villa early. Defensively though, Liverpool should be secure enough, with Villa struggling for goals. Reina looks a sound, if unspectacular bet for the keeper spot this week then.

The back four is full of unfamiliar names in Scout Picks terms but look full of attacking potential. I’ve gone for three players playing midfield roles – all of which have home fixtures against fairly kind opposition. N’Zogbia faces Hull at the JJB having got off the mark for Wigan at Sunderland last weekend. He will be a threat again this weekend, despite Wigan’s lack of goals. He also offers decent potential defensively, with Wigan still reasonably miserly at the back.

Blackburn’s Warnock was touch-and-go for this one in midweek having subbed at Arsenal last time out. He’s pulled through though and should start in midfield at home to a West Ham side that have been hit by injuries. Rovers could be in line for a few goals in this one and Warnock will surely be influential. There could also be a clean sheet on offer, with the Hammers looking lost against West Brom without Cole up front. He is suspended again this weekend.

Man City’s defence has looked brittle all season but at Eastlands of late they’ve been very strong both in attacking terms and defensively. Just two goals conceded in the last five home games tells the story and with Sunderland the visitors this week, they look a good option for a clean sheet. Sbragia’s side have struggled badly for goals and seem set to turn up with a 4-5-1 in an effort to keep things tight. That might reduce City’s attacking returns but I’m still willing to back Zabaleta who looks certain to play and should be deployed in a midfield role.

The final spot in defence goes to Stoke’s Shawcross who provides a goal threat and the potential for a clean sheet with Boro the visitors at the Britannia this weekend. The Stoke defender also offers a strong option in the week’s to come so he’s by no means a short-term option.

The midfield is far more familiar with Ronaldo and Lampard both holding their starting roles, while Everton’s Cahill also keeps his place. I expect United and Chelsea to need at least two goals to prevail this weekend, so both Ronaldo and Lampard will have plenty of responsibility on their shoulders. I see at least an assist for both.

Cahill meanwhile is fit and will surely be the key threat to the Portsmouth defence at Fratton Park. I don’t see too many goals here but I do see Cahill being central to things once again. He adopted a deeper role against Stoke but I see him switching with Fellaini for this one and spend a lot of time up with the striker.

The final spot is a gamble because the form of City’s Wright-Phillips has been tepid all season after a superb start in sky blue. He has picked up form of late though, with a fourteen point FPL haul against Villa in the last home game. With Ireland doubtful for tomorrow’s home game with Sunderland, I can see Wright-Phillips given even greater licence to bomb forward to support the striker, maybe even from a central position. Sunderland will look to keep things tight but City are strong enough at home to score a couple. Wright-Phillips could well be a key factor.

Up front I’ve gone with the form player in Stoke’s James Beattie. He has excellent fixtures to come in the next few weeks and in this gameweek he faces the obliging Boro defence who don’t travel well. With Stoke always strong a the Britannia and with five goals in his last seven league games, you have to bet on Beattie to be amongst the points. His strike partner Fuller, expected to start this weekend, could also be a decent budget bet.

I’ve gambled somewhat with the last spot up front and gone back to Van Persie. Arsenal have been finding the net with some regularlity at last and should need at least a couple at Newcastle if they are to come away with the points. Van Persie looks a fairly safe bet to start, although Eduardo’s return to fitness does put him in some doubt. I just feel I needed to cover Arsenal’s attacking potential this gameweek and, although Arshavin was tempting, I see him shifting out wide and providing the bullets for the Dutchman.

On the bench I’ve gone for the budget potential offered by United’s Evans who replaces the suspended Vidic at the Cottage. I just see Fulham nicking one in here but there’s no doubting the potential offered by Evans if you see differently. Bolton’s Cahill and Gardner are my other tips here. The latter should start in midfield and will offer attacking potential against the West Brom defence. Portsmouth’s Glenn Johnson is another decent differential option – as I’ve mentioned, I don’t see too many goals in their game with Everton, although Johnson will be a key attacking player for the home side as well as offering clean sheet potential.

That is reflected in my bench choice in midfield which goes to Bolton’s Taylor. West Brom are weak at set-plays and Taylor provides some of the best service in the league from these. I’m expecting Bolton to score and Taylor to be influential as always. West Brom’s Jay Simpson ran him close and would be a very good prospect if we could be sure of his starting role. I’ve an inkling that he’ll get recalled for this one but it’s not definite enough for me to back him in the picks.

Up front I’ve gone for Blackburn’s Jason Roberts who looks certain to start and has a good opportunity to cement his role in the side against an injury-hit West Ham defence. If Upson fails a fitness test for the visitors, I see Roberts being too much for them and profits for the big striker. City’s Ched Evans is another worth a look as short-term budget purchase, although he could be ousted to the bench if Bellamy is fit.

Elsewhere the big-hitters – Torres, Berbatov, Rooney, Robinho and Drogba will all have huge responsibility to produce the goods wth their sides facing tricky fixtures this week. Drogba looks the best option for me from those but again with Chelsea, I’m not confident enough in their goal-getting abilities to gamble on two of their attacking players in my lineup. I’ll stick with Frank.