With plenty of eye-catching options at the back this week, we opt for a 4-3-3 ahead of tomorrow’s deadline. Five teams – Chelsea, Arsenal, City, Liverpool and Everton – all supply the Scout Picks XI with a couple of players apiece as we brace ourselves for the start of a hectic December:
We opt for Arsenal’s Wojciech Szczesny ahead of a trip to Cardiff. The Gunners have been the league’s most resilient side over the last four Gameweeks, conceding just a single goal over that period – whilst we also considered Per Mertesacker as a route into Arsene Wenger’s backline, cheaper options elsewhere in defence meant we opted for the Pole instead.
A home game with Southampton ensures John Terry keeps his Scout Picks place. The Chelsea skipper delivered his first clean sheet in seven attempts last weekend and will fancy his chances of further returns against a Saints side that have scored just four times on the road all season – Terry’s threat in the opposition box, allied with an ability to pick up bonus, increases his appeal as Jose Mourinho’s side look to recover from the shock midweek loss at FC Basel.
Phil Jagielka earns a call-up as Everton play host to Stoke. With a toe injury keeping Leighton Baines in the Merseysiders’ treatment room, the centre-half is a more than adequate replacement. Prior to last week’s derby with Liverpool, the Toffees had registered three successive clean sheets and with 14 bonus points accrued – more than any defender so far this season – Jagielka looks a strong option against the injury-hit Potters.
A calf injury to Matija Nastasic brings Joleon Lescott into the reckoning for City’s home game with Swansea. Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that, although Vincent Kompany is now fit, he won’t play his skipper against the Swans. Lescott looks set to get the nod, then, and with City conceding just twice at the Etihad this term, a clean sheet looks on the cards for the defender, who sets you back just 4.9 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
Liverpool’s Jon Flanagan makes his Scout Picks debut ahead of Sunday’s trip to Hull. Replacing Jose Enrique in last week’s Merseyside derby, the youngster’s display earned rave post-match reviews from Brendan Rodgers, suggesting he’s in line to retain the left-back berth at the KC Stadium. Coming in at just 4.5 in FPL, Flanagan squares up to a Tigers side with just four goals in front of their own fans and could well be set to cement a regular role ahead of a kind run of games.
Serving up double-figure hauls in two of his last three home games, Kevin Mirallas has finally started to impress on the Everton right after a slow start to the season. The Toffees welcome Stoke to Goodison tomorrow and, with the visitors reeling from Robert Huth’s knee injury absence, will be looking to the Belgian to continue the form that has harvested two goals and three assists in his last four appearances in front of his own fans.
A 1-0 loss in Basel left Jose Mourinho talking up rotation but, having climbed off the bench in the second-half over in Switzerland, we reckon Eden Hazard should be good for a start at home to Southampton. Similar to Mirallas, he’s starting to motor as we approach the festive period – Hazard has racked up 31 points in his last two at the Bridge and has handed his owners three lots of double figures in the last five Gameweeks – an indication of his importance to the Special One’s plans.
The visit of West Brom affords Yohan Cabaye the chance to extend his impressive home record. Newcastle’s central midfielder has proven a steady source of points in recent matches at St James’ Park, with a goal or assist in each of his last four – at 6.4, the Frenchman looks a strong option in the mid-price bracket this weekend.
Runaway leader of this week’s Captain Poll, with over 50% of the votes cast, Sergio Aguero welcomes Swansea to the Etihad whilst in outstanding form. Averaging over 11 points per game in front of his own fans, the Argentine was given just 45 minutes of Wednesday’s Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen as Manuel Pellegrini looks to keep him fresh for the upcoming hectic run of matches –Swansea may have conceded just five times on the road all season but, as Spurs discovered last week, such resilience means little when rolling up to City.
A trip to Hull offers Luis Suarez the chance to continue the form that has seen him rack up nine goals and four assists in just seven appearances. The Uruguayan has drawn a blank just once over those matches (away to Arsenal) and, while the Tigers have impressed defensively at the KC, they have yet to entertain a top 10 side. Since returning from suspension, Suarez has played a part in six of Liverpool’s eight away goals and looks poised to wreak havoc on Steve Bruce’s backline on Sunday afternoon.
With Arsene Wenger hinting at possible rotation in midweek, we opt for the security of Olivier Giroud for Arsenal’s trip Cardiff. Certainly, the Gunners boss has numerous options available in midfield should he choose to make alterations, but up top, Giroud’s starting berth seems very secure – with only Nicklas Bendtner for backup. Having notched twice in last week’s win over Southampton, Giroud’s confidence will be on the up as he looks to breach a backline that has already conceded ten times in front of their own fans this term.
Martin Olsson is our bench-warming defender as Norwich prepare for the visit of Palace. Injuries to the likes of Anthony Pilkington and Robert Snodgrass suggest the versatile Swede could be pushed onto the left of midfield – potentially offering us a 4.2-priced out-of-position option against a side that have scored three times on their travels so far.
Olsson’s team-mate Nathan Redmond also makes our bench for the Palace clash. Available for 4.6 in FPL, the former Birmingham wide-man looks set for a spell in the XI due to the aforementioned injuries and has already made his mark, picking up an assist in last week’s clash at Newcastle.
With eight goals in the last eight Gameweeks, Loic Remy has been key to Newcastle’s ascent up the table. The Frenchman welcomes West Brom to St James’ Park tomorrow evening and, with Steve Clarke’s side shipping eight goals in their last four, Remy’s growing band of owners will be confident of further returns this weekend.
