The midweek Scout Squad article mapped out our plans, now it’s time to reveal who makes our final teamsheet ahead of the weekend deadline.
With Everton hosting Bournemouth at Goodison Park, we make a second call to Ronald Koeman’s squad this season to acquire Jordan Pickford (5.0) in goal. The Toffees’ fixture list eases considerably now, after a punishing last four Gameweeks which saw them collide with both Manchester clubs, Spurs and Chelsea.
A clean sheet against a Cherries side that has yet to score on the road looks a strong possibility for the 9%-owned starlet. With save points on two occasions this season and a bonus away to Manchester City, he also offers further potential for returns.
Burnley defensive cover looks vital for Gameweek 6, as visitors Huddersfield Town have mustered just two big chances since their 3-0 opening day victory over Crystal Palace. Only the aforementioned Bournemouth, along with Swansea City, have fired fewer shots on the road this season.
Clarets centre-back Ben Mee (4.5) – who sits in 7.4% of FPL sides- looks ideally placed to also offer us the chance of attacking returns, given that he has had more shots in the box than any other defender.
Manchester United’s Phil Jones (5.1) continues to make a mockery of his lowly 5.1 price tag after notching four clean sheets in five, as well as earning a bonus point in the Gameweek 3 home clash with Leicester City.
The 8%-owned centre-back claims a deserved place in our backline ahead of a visit to a Southampton attack that has scored in just two of their last ten at St Mary’s.
Manchester City’s impressive 6-0 demolition of Watford at Vicarage Road last time out, coupled with a home tie against winless and goalless Crystal Palace, urges us to triple up on their assets, with left wing-back Benjamin Mendy (6.5) the first to get the nod.
The Frenchman impressed with nine crosses against the Hornets – more than any other City player – and also created three chances.
Our final rearguard pick – Arsenal’s 11.7%-selected Sead Kolasinac (6.0) – is another rampaging left wing-back with the potential for points at both ends.
The Bosnian has notched twice in all competitions and picked up two FPL assists since joining the Gunners. He faces a West Brom side that has scored just once and shipped 13 in their last six visits to the Emirates.
We have turned to David Silva (8.3) as our second Manchester City representative due, in part, to his creativity. The Spaniard has four assists and racked up 17 key passes – a table-topping tally he shares with Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
He could also deliver goals: Silva has scored four in his last three home matches against the Eagles.
Mohamed Salah (9.2) is another who offers us a potent goal threat for Liverpool’s trip to face a Leicester City defence which has shipped nine goals and kept just a single clean sheet.
The Egyptian is Liverpool’s leading scorer with five goals from eight appearances in all competitions, while no player can match his 13 shots on target this season.
Both Dele Alli (9.5) and Christian Eriksen (9.7) look strong bets for returns for Spurs’ Saturday lunchtime visit to West Ham. The Hammers have kept back-to-back clean sheets but have shipped ten goals this season and will be without both James Collins in defence, and the combative Pedro Obiang in midfield.
The need to stick within our 83 million budget has driven us to Alli, along with the fact that he remains suspended for European duty and therefore almost assured of 90 minutes against Slaven Bilic’s defence.
Burnley set-piece specialist Robbie Brady (5.5) provides us with a budget-friendly option with strong points potential for Huddersfield’s visit. Owned by just 2%, Brady has fired in more successful corners than any other player and his impressive 13 key passes puts him level with Spurs’ Eriksen.
His hat-trick against Watford last time out, plus a full rest in the Carabao Cup midweek, made Sergio Aguero (11.6) a shoo-in for selection for the Eagles visit.
In addition to his obvious goal threat, the Argentine has also demonstrated strong assist potential this season, having already laid on two goals for team-mates and recorded more key passes than any other forward.
Unsurprisingly, he is FPL’s most popular transfer target this week, having been recruited by 620,000+ managers.
Our final striker selection was always going to be a straight shoot-out between Harry Kane (12.5) and Romelu Lukaku (11.7). In the end, the latter’s kinder price tag, coupled with his more consistent form, earn him the nod.
Still owned by a massive 55.8%, Lukaku’s five goals puts him level with Aguero, while he has recorded nine big chances to Kane’s tally of four.
Only the two Manchester sides have conceded fewer penalty area shots at home than Brighton, which hands a place among our substitutes to the 1.2%-owned Lewis Dunk (4.5).
The Seagulls centre-back’s five shots, all from inside the box, indicate that a first top-flight goal may not be far away.
The Baggies’ dire record at the Emirates Stadium propels Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey (7.0) into our thinking, given that the Welshman has a goal and an assist already this term and is second only to Danny Welbeck for shots in the Gunners’ ranks.
Chris Wood (6.5) is handed our final bench spot after a sensational start to his Burnley career, scoring three times in all competitions since joining from Leeds in the summer. With a mere 2.5% ownership, he looks an enticing differential for Gameweek 6.
The Community Champion
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.
This week’s champion is The UnderGods, who has opted for a 4-4-2 line up of: Elliot; Alonso, Walker, Monreal, Jones; Alli, Coutinho, Fabregas, Brady; Kane, Aguero.
