There may be a double Gameweek looming, but we’ve not gone on overboard with Liverpool and Everton options in this week’s picks. A total of three players from the Merseyside pair find their way into the XI, with both sides’ form and fixtures proving tricky to justify further levels of investment.
Between the sticks, we place our faith in John Ruddy for the first time this season. Prior to their last home game against United, Norwich had chalked up back-to-back clean sheets at Carrow Road and, up against a Wigan side that have failed to score in their last two matches, Ruddy looks a safe pair of hands ahead of Sunday afternoon’s showdown
Leighton Baines has had an average season by his own standards but, nevertheless, the left-back is still sixth top scoring defender so far. There’s no doubt the home clash with Spurs and trip to Anfield are far from easy but, with the Toffees on a six-match unbeaten league run, with wins –and clean sheets- against the likes of City and Chelsea, Baines is impossible to ignore for this one.
The attacking potential of Martin Skrtel earns him the nod ahead of the double Gameweek. The Slovakian has grabbed a couple of goals in the league and also notched in the recent Carling Cup win over Cardiff and presents a greater goal threat than his fellow Liverpool defenders ahead of the clashes against Sunderland and Everton.
A home game with West Brom affords Jonny Evans the final slot in the back three. The Baggies may have been in strong form of late, but with just a single goal conceded in their last three league games at Old Trafford, the champions have picked up defensively. Since recovering from a calf problem, Evans has started the last seven for United and priced at just 4.7, offers a cut-price route into Sir Alex Ferguson’s backline ahead of a superb run of upcoming fixtures.
Juan Mata’s home form this season clinches a place for the Spaniard. Mata has returned 19 points in his last two at the Bridge, with a goal and couple of assists indicative of his recent displays. Afforded a role “in the hole” in a 4-2-3-1 against Birmingham in midweek, he also grabbed Chelsea’s opener in Roberto Di Matteo’s first match in charge and, with Stoke arriving on the back of three defeats and a draw in their last five away, the omens look good for a home win, with Mata likely to be instrumental in clinching the three points.
Theo Walcott’s recent displays at the Emirates earn him a place in this week’s picks. The Gunners have been irresistible at home of late, netting 12 times in their last couple of games and, with a hand in five of those goals, Walcott has returned double figures on both occasions. Out of the Champions League, Arsene Wenger’s side can now fully concentrate on the battle for fourth spot and the flying winger looks likely to prove instrumental in their pursuit of London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham.
It’s getting to that time of year where the proverbial six-pointers come into play. Wolves face a crucial home clash against Blackburn and, with Terry Connor’s side desperate to bounce back from the 5-0 drubbing at Fulham, Jamie O’Hara could prove the difference for the midlands outfit. In a season plagued with injury, O’Hara has returned two goals and three assists in his last four at Molineux and, tucked in behind a lone forward under Connor, will fancy his chances against the only side yet to record a clean sheet in the league this term.
Our final midfield selection may raise a few eyebrows. With Wigan so woeful on the road, Norwich look near-guaranteed a goal or two at Carrow Road and, with that in mind, we’ve opted for Andrew Surman. We cast an eye over Anthony Pilkington but his half-time withdrawal at Stoke last weekend was enough to give us second thoughts. Surman, on the other hand, has missed just a single minute of the Canaries’ last seven and, in terms of goal threat, has managed double the number of attempts than Pilkington over the last six gameweeks. With three goals in his last ten games, a price of 4.4 amd 2.3% ownership, Surman is turning into a decent cut-price differential as the season unfolds.
In a rare omission from the Scout Picks, Robin Van Persie burned us big time last week. With the Gunners back in blistering form, recovering against the likes of Spurs and Liverpool before tearing Milan apart on Tuesday evening, Arsene Wenger’s side have shown a resilience that has surprised many. With Newcastle conceding three or more goals in four of their last six on the road, Van Persie –as always- looks a captaincy option ahead of Monday night’s showdown at the Emirates.
With a strong run of fixtures on the horizon, Wayne Rooney is likely to feature more often than not in the Scout Picks from here on in. Coming into the Baggies clash with seven goals in his last three league outings, in addition to a brace against Athletic Bilbao, Rooney seems to be on one of his goalscoring streaks once again and while the net keeps bulging, we’re more than happy to give him a place in our first XI.
The last place goes to Luis Suarez. With just six goals to his name thus far, there’s no doubt he’s been a hugely underwhelming Fantasy proposition this term but the fact remains the Liverpool man has offered plenty threat in the opposition box. Whether he can turn his chances into goals is another matter entirely but, with the trip to Sunderland followed by the Merseyside derby, we feel safer with Suarez in the picks rather than leaving him on the sidelines.
