A trio of home sides dominate out thoughts as we roll out the sixth Scout Picks of the 2015/16 season. Liverpool and Bournemouth supply us with a pair of players apiece, whilst we go all in on Man City for the Etihad clash with West Ham.
For the start of the season, the budget for the Scout Picks and Community XI is capped at 82.5m, though this will be increased as the campaign progresses.
Tim Krul is selected between the posts as Newcastle entertain Watford at St James’ Park. The Magpies stopper sits second for saves after five rounds of fixtures and could be in for a second clean sheet of the season, given that the visitors have scored a single goal in the last four Gameweeks.
City’s home encounter with West Ham brings Aleksandar Kolarov into contention. With Gael Clichy still injured, the Serbian will be looking to carry on the form that sees him sit first amongst defenders for shots (nine) and second for key passes (eight). With five clean sheets accrued, Kolarov’s points potential at both ends of the pitch has seen him average 9.2 points per appearance so far.
We’re backing Liverpool to return to the resilient form that served up a clean sheet in each of the first three Gameweeks. With uncertainty surrounding some of their personnel at the back after Brendan Rodgers moved to a 3-4-2-1 against Bordeaux last night, Martin Skrtel’s security of starts earns him the nod against Norwich. The Slovakian – who earned more bonus points than any defender last year – has picked up bonus in two of the three occasions his side have chalked up a shut-out so far.
Bournemouth’s Simon Francis earned a second assist of the season against Norwich last weekend. A home clash with struggling Sunderland looks promising for the raiding right-back, who has served up more key passes (nine) than any defender in the top-flight this term.
Having shrugged off the ankle knock that forced him out of last week’s trip to Palace, we welcome David Silva back into our four-man midfield for City’s clash with the Hammers. Four assists in as many appearances highlights his consistent start to the season and Silva’s scheming could be the key to unlocking a defence that’s yet to concede on their travels so far.
Chelsea’s problems in defence convince us to keep faith with Alexis Sanchez. Likely to be up against the out-of-sorts Branislav Ivanovic, the Arsenal wide man will be confident of finally breaking his scoring duck and turning his superb underlying statistics into Fantasy returns.
Palace’s 2015 away form is enough to earn a place for Yannick Bolasie as Alan Pardew’s side travel to Tottenham. No side has picked up more points on their travels over the calendar year than the Eagles, and, having been fielded up front last time out, the DR Congo international could retain his advanced berth if Connor Wickham fails to recover in time for Sunday’s encounter.
The in-form Riyad Mahrez is an obvious candidate in the centre of the park as Leicester make their way to the Britannia. The Potters have conceded a staggering 19 big chances in the last four – more than double the number of any other side – boosting the Algerian’s chances of a fifth double-figure haul in six appearances tomorrow afternoon.
Confirmed as 100% fit earlier today by Manuel Pellegrini, we cannot overlook Sergio Aguero. Having recovered from the knock that forced him off at Palace, the City striker will be looking to improve his domestic displays and recapture the form that served up three goals and four assists for Argentina over the recent international break.
We’re handing Christian Benteke a chance to impress as Liverpool welcome Norwich to Anfield. The return of Philippe Coutinho, allied with a switch to 3-4-2-1, bodes well for the big Belgian, who has netted two of his new side’s three goals in the first five Gameweeks.
Callum Wilson comes in for Bournemouth’s home clash with Sunderland. Given that the Black Cats are rated second-worst for shots conceded in the box (57) and goals against (11), the Cherries top scorer could be set to continue the fine form that’s seen him strike four times in the last three outings.
Jordan Amavi warms the bench as Villa entertain West Brom. Having provided an assist in his previous home appearance, the Frenchman’s raids down the left have been vital and he may even be shifted to wing-back, should Tim Sherwood roll out a three-man backline. The Baggies have scored just once in their travels so far, suggesting a home clean sheet could be on the cards.
We’re doubling up on Sherwood’s side, with Scott Sinclair named amongst the subs. Available for just 4.9, he netted twice in his previous home appearance and was handed a central role in last week’s trip to Leicester.
Finally, Bafetimbi Gomis is drafted in for Swansea’s home encounter with Everton. Having scored in four of the first five Gameweeks, including strikes against Chelsea and United, the 7.5-priced frontman will be desperate to get back amongst the goals as the Welsh club look to bounce back from last week’s disappointing loss at Watford.
THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Having scrapped the weekly vote idea from last season, we now operate a lottery system to pick our weekly candidates. The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season.
We clawed back some respectability in Gameweek 5 with a first victory over the community this term. Riyad Mahrez helped the Scout Picks finish the week on 48 points, which was 17 more than community champion Dre’s XI. Fuzzy Warbles still leads the way with a 12-point advantage gained in Gameweek 1.
This week’s champion is Massive. He’s in his his sixth season as a Fantasy Premier League manager and despite currently languishing below the 2m mark in the overall rankings, will take comfort in turning things around after finishing in the top 3,000 last season.
He’s picked just five of the Scout Picks in his starting XI: Begovic; Kolarov, Clyne, Janmaat; De Bruyne, Mahrez, Coutinho, Shaqiri; Aguero, Benteke, Wilson
