Scout Picks – Gameweek 36

Three of the top four supply this week’s Scout Picks with a pair of players apiece. We double up on Liverpool, City and Arsenal and also call upon a couple of United options as the Red Devils look to go on the attack in Ryan Giggs’ first match in charge at home to struggling Norwich:

We opt for David De Gea between the posts for United’s home game against Norwich. With so much uncertainty surrounding the back-four in Ryan Giggs’ first game as boss, the Spaniard looks a secure pick against a Canaries side that has failed to score in three of their last four fixtures and are sliding closer to the bottom three with every passing Gameweek.

Leighton Baines finally edges past Seamus Coleman as our Everton defender of choice this weekend. The Toffees will be looking to keep their bid for a fourth-place finish on track as they roll up to St Mary’s, and with Southampton failing to score in each of the last two since Jay Rodriguez’ season-ending injury, the visitors will be optimistic of delivering a fourth clean sheet in five. With two goals and a pair of assists in his last seven, the left-back has risen to third in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) rankings thanks to his recent form.

Arsenal’s home game against Newcastle brings Laurent Koscielny into this week’s Picks. The Frenchman has dropped to 5.4 in FPL, with just 7% ownership, after a recent stint on the sidelines with a calf complaint. Fully fit once again, he has earned bonus on each of the last seven occasions his side have delivered a clean sheet and will fancy his chances of extending that streak, given that the Magpies have scored a mere two goals over their last seven matches.

Sunderland’s Marcos Alonso earns a rare call-up for a home showdown with Cardiff. The left-back has looked a real threat going forward in recent weeks and his underlying statistics may well come to fruition this time around – defensive returns could also be on the cards against a Bluebirds side that has scored just twice in the last three Gameweeks since tightening up at the back.

Having served up his highest haul of the season away to Hull last week, Aaron Ramsey looks in the mood to deliver the points for Arsenal’s home clash with Newcastle. The Welshman’s goal and pair of assists served a reminder of just how crucial he was in the first half of the season before injury deprived the Gunners of his services for three months – almost 250,000 Fantasy managers have snapped him up this week as Arsene Wenger’s side look for the win that will keep them ahead of Everton in the race for fourth.

A trip to fortress Britannia is no easy task but we cannot ignore the form of Christian Eriksen. The Spurs playmaker has delivered 55 points in his last five appearances and looks integral to his side’s prospects this weekend – Tim Sherwood’s troops have scored three or more goals in four of their last five, with Eriksen playing a part in nine of their 14 strikes over that period.

With three goals and an assist in the last two Gameweeks, Raheem Sterling more than merits a place in this week’s line-up. The Liverpool winger looks in irresistible form right now, and with Jose Mourinho threatening to field a weakened starting XI due to the upcoming Champions League clash against Atletico, the Reds will go for the jugular, knowing that a win would be a giant step towards clinching the title.

Yaya Toure looks poised for a return as City prepare to travel to Palace on Sunday afternoon. With David Silva ruled out through injury, the Ivorian’s goal threat from midfield will be more vital than ever as Manuel Pellegrini’s side look to end the Eagles’ five-match winning streak and stay within reach of Liverpool at the summit. Granted, Sergio Aguero’s return is likely to deprive him of spot-kick duties, but six converted penalties aside, Toure has still scored 12 times and provided five assists thus far.

In any given Gameweek, it’s almost an irrelevance who Luis Suarez squares up to, such has been his outstanding season. This weekend, however, is Liverpool’s most crucial match of the campaign so far, given that a victory over Chelsea would end the Blues’ title bid and bring the Reds a step closer to the crown – with both John Terry and Petr Cech sidelined, the Uruguayan will be confident of taking full advantage of Jose Mourinho’s patched-up backline in Sunday’s Anfield showdown.

City’s trip to Palace is far from straightforward this weekend. Tony Pulis’ side have registered four clean sheets in the last five, but if the visitors are to keep their title tilt alive, Sergio Aguero’s contribution looks key. The Argentine was handed just over an hour against West Brom on Monday evening but still found time to deliver a 12-point haul – Manuel Pellegrini’s side cannot afford any more slip-ups and can be expected to go on the offensive on Sunday, with Aguero leading the charge.

Six goals in his last seven appearances indicates Wayne Rooney’s consistency. United may have toiled under David Moyes but the England international has still managed to pick up the points – Ryan Giggs will send out his side to play with the handbrake off as the champions attempt to finish the season with a positive run of performances and Rooney could take full advantage of a Norwich backline that has been breached 12 times in their last four road trips.

Swansea’s Ben Davies warms the bench for Swansea’s home game against Villa. Paul Lambert’s side have scored just once in the three matches since Christian Benteke was ruled out for the season and look particularly toothless up top right now, whilst Davies’ raids from left-back earned him an assist only last week in a crucial win at Newcastle.

Two goals and an assist in his last four appearances highlight Morgan Amalfitano’s flourishing form. Available for just 4.2 and with a double Gameweek on the horizon, the West Brom midfielder has the perfect chance to grab our attention as West Ham roll up to the Hawthorns, with a win set to take Pepe Mel’s men to within a point of their opponents.

Wilfried Bony is perhaps a little unlucky only to make the bench. The Ivorian bagged a brace and 13-point haul in the previous Gameweek to take his tally to 14 for the season – he looks in fine form as Swansea welcome Villa to the Liberty this weekend, with a win perhaps enough to clinch their top-flight survival for another season.