We roll out a 4-3-3 formation in this week’s Scout Picks and turn our back on Man City due to their toils on the road and the enforced absence of a certain Argentine. Instead, we double up on Liverpool, Southampton and Arsenal as they prepare for favourable head-to-heads against three of the bottom four in Gameweek 15.
David de Gea is drafted in for United’s clash with West Ham at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have conceded just one goal over six matches in front of their fans and the Spaniard, at 5.6, is far kinder on the budget than Chris Smalling (6.8), the only other nailed-on defensive regular under Louis van Gaal.
Chelsea’s defensive improvement brings Kurt Zouma into contention. Jose Mourinho’s men have racked up a trio of clean sheets in all competitions ahead of a home encounter with Bournemouth and as they belatedly start to rediscover their resilience, the 5.4-priced Zouma – who has started 11 of the last 12 league matches, offers the cheapest route into their back-four.
Virgil van Dijk comes in for Southampton’s home encounter with Aston Villa. The Dutchman has scored in two of his last four league outings at St Mary’s, whilst his chances of defensive returns are boosted by the fact that Villa have failed to score in two of their three matches under new manager Remi Garde so far.
Hector Bellerin earns a place at the back as Arsenal welcome Sunderland to the Emirates. We reckon that Big Sam will be looking to park the bus and frustrate the Gunners, boosting the right-back’s chances of a clean sheet, whilst Bellerin’s raids down the right have already earned his owners two assists this term.
Alberto Moreno completes our four-man defence for Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle. The left-back earned maximum bonus in last week’s 1-0 win over Swansea and, although he’s yet to register any attacking returns in the league since Jurgen Klopp was appointed, his raids down the flank provided a pair of assists in the midweek cup mauling of Southampton.
Sadio Mane is a nailed-on option for our three-man midfield ahead of a home encounter with Villa. The Senegal international bagged three goals and an assist in the corresponding fixture last season and, having followed up a weekend assist at City with a goal in the cup against Liverpool, looks to be back in form for the St Mary’s meeting.
Leader of this week’s Captain Poll, the consistent Mesut Ozil keeps his place in this week’s Scout Picks. The German has played a part in ten of Arsenal’s last 14 league goals and has produced points in eight successive league outings ahead of Sunderland’s visit to the Emirates. With Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla sidelined, his influence looks crucial to the Gunners’ prospects this weekend.
We were keen to have Philippe Coutinho on board for Liverpool’s visit to Newcastle but with Jurgen Klopp still very uncertain over the playmaker’s fitness, we turn instead to his compatriot, Roberto Firmino. The summer signing warmed the bench for the entire 90 minutes against Southampton in midweek and will be fully refreshed for the St James’ Park encounter as Liverpool look to maintain the form that has seen them score 13 times in their last three away matches in all competitions. Priced at 8.1, Firmino has started each of the last two road trips and earned a total of 20 points in visits to Chelsea and City.
Romelu Lukaku is drafted in for Everton’s home clash with Palace on Monday evening. The big Belgian has found his best form of the season and bagged five goals and a pair of assists in the last four Gameweeks – indeed, Lukaku has served up double-figure hauls in each of his last two at Goodison, whilst the Eagles have kept out their opponents just once in the previous six rounds of fixtures.
Jamie Vardy earns the nod as Leicester make their way to out-of-sorts Swansea. The Foxes top scorer will fancy his chances of extending his scoring streak to 12 successive matches, bearing in mind that Garry Monk’s men have registered a single clean sheet in their last 11 league outings.
Harry Kane completes our three-man frontline as Spurs make their way to the Hawthorns. Despite blanking against Chelsea last weekend, the in-form England international will be confident of breaching a backline that’s conceded three times in four of their seven home matches this season.
Nathan Ake warms the bench as Watford welcome Norwich to Vicarage Road. The Hornets have earned four clean sheets in seven in front of their own fans and with Alex Neil looking to rein in the Canaries’ attacking instincts, the on-loan Chelsea man looks excellent value at just 4.4.
Swansea’s Andre Ayew earns the nod for a home encounter with Leicester. The Ghana international has scored four of his six strikes at the Liberty and has earned two sets of 13-point hauls in front of his own fans already. Bearing in mind that the Foxes have one clean sheet on their travels – at Newcastle – Garry Monk’s men will optimistic of finding the net.
Watford’s Odion Ighalo is perhaps a little unlucky only to make the bench. The 5.8-priced frontman has racked up 18 points over his previous two home appearances and hosts a Norwich defence that’s failed to keep out their opponents in all seven road trips this season.
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.
Gameweek 14’s community champion Trust John narrowly beat the Scout Picks by 66 points to 65. Massive stays in the lead to claim the £100 Amazon voucher, then, after beating us by 16 points in Gameweek 6.
Gameweek 15’s Community Champion as selected by our lottery, is Jose’s Magic Omelette. His team is as follows: Stekelenburg, Alderweireld, Van Dijk, Moreno; Ozil, Hazard, Mane, Barkley; Kane, Vardy, Lukaku.
