We trial a four-man defence in this week’s Scout Picks and sacrifice a premium midfield slot in order to splash the cash up top. Strong home games for West Brom and City play a major part in our selections, whilst tomorrow evening’s match at the Emirates brings a couple of big-hitters into the XI:
A home game with Sunderland affords Steve Harper a rare outing in this week’s Picks. Deputising for the injured Allan McGregor, the 4.0 priced keeper will be looking to continue a run which has seen Hull concede just a single goal in front of their own fans in four matches – with the Black Cats scoring only twice on their travels, another clean sheet could be on the cards for Steve Bruce’s side.
Gareth McAuley comes into contention as West Brom welcome Palace to the Hawthorns. Prior to last week’s defeat at Liverpool, the Baggies had shipped just two goals in four and with the Eagles netting just twice in the last six Gameweeks, Steve Clarke’s side will be confident of a clean sheet. The big centre-half has already notched this season and his aerial menace from set-plays in the box could pose plenty problems for the visitors.
Pablo Zabaleta gets the nod for City’s clash with Norwich at the Etihad. Despite their toils on the road, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have conceded just two times at the Etihad so far – with Robert Snodgrass remaining a real doubt for the visitors, they are likely to struggle to improve upon a record which has seen them score twice in four on the road. Zabaleta has already racked up two sets of double figures in front of his own fans and with Micah Richards having started in the midweek cup win at Newcastle, the Argentine looks set for a return to the XI against Chris Hughton’s side.
A home game with Villa brings Winston Reid into consideration. West Ham go looking for their sixth clean sheet in 10 tomorrow and bearing in mind Paul Lambert’s side have now gone three games without a goal, defensive returns could be on the menu for the hosts. Reid’s threat in the box has already harvested a goal in Gameweek 8 – he gets the nod over team-mate Razvan Rat, though the latter’s kinder price tag may appeal to those shopping on a budget.
Leighton Baines is welcomed into a four-man backline as Everton prepare for the visit of goal-shy Tottenham. The Toffees have so far registered two clean sheets in four at Goodison and could be set for a third, with their visitors notching just four times on the road so far. Baines’ attacking potential also plays a part here and ultimately saw him get the edge over a Chelsea midfielder in our thinking, as we looked for ways to save cash for our big-hitting front three.
Subject of a Members Monitor article earlier in the week, we draft in Stephane Sessegnon for West Brom’s home clash with basement-dwellers Palace. Despite a tough run of games, the Benin international has offered plenty to suggest he could well improve upon a tally of a single strike in five appearances for the Baggies – given that the Eagles have shipped two or more goals in every away game thus far, the 6.6 priced Benin international looks an appealing option this weekend.
We turn to David Silva as City look to recover from Sunday’s setback at Stamford Bridge. With a goal or assist in four of his six appearances thus far, the little Spaniard has picked up in consistency under Manuel Pellegrini and looks more crucial than ever to his side’s attacking endeavours – given that Norwich have conceded three and four goals to Chelsea and Arsenal respectively over the last three, a home win seems more than likely at the Etihad.
Arsenal’s playmaker supreme Mesut Ozil gets the nod for the home showdown with Liverpool. While Aaron Ramsey has offered greater value for money, the German’s superb record at the Emirates cannot be overlooked – 29 points in his first two appearances in front of his own fans highlights Ozil’s impact since arriving from Real Madrid. With the Reds conceding in each of the last six, a goal-fest may way be on the menu tomorrow evening.
Runaway winner of this week’s Captain Poll, Sergio Aguero has been transferred in by more FPL managers than any other player heading into the weekend clash against Norwich. With six goals and two assists in his last four appearances, the Argentine’s explosive potential has already delivered three sets of double figures in seven starts under Manuel Pellegrini. While next week’s Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow looms large, the fact that Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo played 120 and 110 minutes respectively in the midweek cup win at Newcastle bodes well – granted, there’s the chance he may not play the entire 90 minutes but Aguero has only been afforded the full match once by Pellegrini and has still managed to average eight points per game.
Wayne Rooney has the chance to continue his fine recent form with a trip to stuttering Fulham. While Robin Van Persie has started to hint at consistency with goals in back-to-back games, Rooney remains United’s most impressive frontman, with a goal or assist in five or his last six – Martin Jol’s side are without Brede Hangeland and have managed a single clean sheet in eight, offering Rooney owners plenty optimism for tomorrow’s clash at the Cottage.
A trip to the Emirates will hold little fear for Luis Suarez. With double figure returns in three of his four appearances since returning from suspension, the Liverpool forward squares up to an Arsenal defence that have mustered just one clean sheet in six – away to struggling Palace last week. With Philippe Coutinho set to return this weekend, Arsene Wenger’s side have their work cut out to keep Suarez at bay.
Ashley Williams warms the bench as Swansea brace themselves for a feisty trip to rivals Cardiff. Michael Laudrup’s side have registered back-to-back clean sheets in recent matches and with the Bluebirds scoring just once in their previous three at home, we’re backing the Swans skipper to bring home the points.
Ravel Morrison gets the nod as West Ham entertain Villa. While his Gameweek 8 solo effort away to Spurs hogged the headlines, the 4.6 priced midfielder has also impressed in front of his own fans so fans – Morrison has scored or assisted in each of the last two home games and will fancy his chances of producing the points against a defence that has conceded two goals in three of the last four.
Available for just 4.9, Yannick Sagbo looks likely to lead the line for Hull at home to Sunderland, with on-loan Danny Graham ineligible and Sone Aluko struggling with injury. The summer signing has started the last two and highlighted his capabilities by recently notching at Goodison – up against a Black Cats defence that have conceded three or more in each of their last three on the road, he may well be set to prosper.
