With less than seven hours until this evening’s deadline, we’ve finally nailed a selection. Favourable home games for Arsenal, Liverpool and Southampton have a major say in our thinking, while Chelsea are also heavily backed after much behind-the-scenes deliberation. This time around, we roll out a 4-4-2 and place our faith in a quartet of centre-halves:
A home game against travel-sick Norwich brings Simon Mignolet into the Scout Picks. Granted, Liverpool have hardly been the most resilient in recent months, but Brendan Rodgers’ side have nonetheless conceded just three times in six matches at Anfield this season – the same number of goals their visitors have managed on their travels. With the Canaries still deprived of their first-choice wide-men and forward, defensive returns look promising for the Merseysiders.
With two sets of double-figure returns in his last four matches at the Emirates, Per Mertesacker will be seeking home comforts again as Arsenal entertain Hull on Wednesday evening. The big German has registered a clean sheet in each of his previous four appearances and welcomes a Tigers side with two strikes in their last three road trips – defensive returns could well be on the menu, whilst his aerial threat in the area has also helped him to a goal and assist this term.
John Terry keeps his place for Chelsea’s trip to Sunderland. A goal and maximum bonus points at home to Southampton helped the Blues skipper to his third double-figure haul of the season last weekend – whilst Jose Mourinho’s rotation has already hit midfield, Terry looks immune to his manager’s tinkering and could be set for another points haul against a side that have found the net in just two out of six games since Gus Poyet was installed.
The visit of Aston Villa bodes well for Dejan Lovren. Southampton have struggled for clean sheets in recent matches but, with Paul Lambert’s side scoring in just two of their previous six league encounters, defensive returns could be on the cards once again at St Mary’s – Lovren’s attacking potential and ability to pick up bonus earns him the nod over his fellow Saints defenders.
Ryan Shawcross is called up for Stoke’s home game against Cardiff. Whilst Malky Mackay’s men have served up some spirited displays in front of their own fans, their form on the road has been another matter – with the Bluebirds scoring a single goal over their previous three away trips, the Potters skipper will be confident of earning a third clean sheet in four at the Britannia tomorrow evening. Like our other centre-backs, his threat from set-pieces and corners also plays a part in our thinking.
We have to find a place for Aaron Ramsey. Yes, there is the concern of rotation amongst the Gunners midfield for the home clash against Hull but, with Mesut Ozil scoring in just one of his 10 league appearances, can Arsene Wenger really afford to do without the Welshman’s eye for goal? With two sets of double figures in his last three at the Emirates, Ramsey even looks an armband prospect for tomorrow’s match.
Adam Lallana gets the nod for Southampton’s home clash with Villa. The Saints skipper has racked up double figure hauls in two of his last three appearances at St Mary’s and, in a Gameweek where rest and rotation may bite hard elsewhere, he looks nailed on to face Paul Lambert’s outfit.
The consistency of Steven Gerrard earns him a place in our four-man midfield. After a slow start to the season, the Reds skipper has now scored or assisted in seven of his last eight league appearances and, similar to both Lallana and Ramsey, has also scored 10+ points in two of the last three home matches prior to his midweek Anfield clash with Norwich.
A trip to Sunderland offers Eden Hazard the chance to maintain his fine recent form. With Oscar ruled out by Jose Mourinho earlier today, the Belgian looks highly unlikely to be rotated against the Black Cats – Hazard’s explosive potential has already served up three sets of double figures in the last six ahead of the Wearside showdown.
After a rare weekend blank, Luis Suarez will be hoping to make amends at home to Norwich. Having produced 17 and 16 points in each of his last two home games, the Uruguayan’s owners will be anticipating plenty points tomorrow evening – Suarez scored four times against the Canaries last term and, bearing in mind Chris Hughton’s side recently conceded four at Arsenal and seven at City, there’s every reason for such optimism.
With four sets of double figures in the last five Gameweeks, Wayne Rooney welcomes former club Everton to Old Trafford in outstanding form. As Robin van Persie continues to struggle with an ongoing groin complaint, Rooney goes from strength to strength. With a goal or assist in nine of his last 10 now, he seems set to have a major say in tomorrow’s match as David Moyes looks to pick up the points in his first showdown with the Toffees since moving to Old Trafford over the summer.
Joel Ward offers a budget route into defence for Tony Pulis’ first home game in charge of Palace. The Eagles welcome West Ham to Selhurst Park this evening and, with just a single goal conceded in the last three, will be hopeful of keeping out a Hammers side that have drawn blanks in four of their six road trips so far.
A home game with Newcastle earns Jonathan De Guzman a place on the bench. The Dutchman has scored or assisted in two of the last three at the Liberty and, at 5.7, looks a solid mid-price option as Swansea look to bounce back from Sunday’s defeat at the Etihad.
Shane Long will be looking to maintain his impressive recent form as West Brom welcome City to The Hawthorns. The Baggies forward has produced three goals and an assist in his last three appearances and will fancy his chances against a backline that has managed a single clean sheet on their travels this season.
