Ahead of this evening’s 7pm deadline we now reveal those players who have earned a place in the Gameweek 9 Scout Picks.
Our search for value between the sticks takes us to the London Stadium and a first Picks appearance of the season for West Ham stopper Joe Hart (4.4). He has four clean sheets in six across all competitions and hosts a Brighton side that has scored just once on the road, against Bournemouth in Gameweek 5.
Elsewhere, shut-outs look in short supply this week, which has prompted us to focus our boosted 84 million budget on a 3-4-3 formation.
The most likely among our trio of defenders to earn clean sheet points is Manchester United’s Phil Jones (5.3), who travels to Huddersfield on the back of seven clean sheets in eight Gameweeks.
Although the centre-back – who earned more than 141,000 transfers in this week – has been nursing a knock, we reckon he will start tomorrow after being fit enough to make the bench midweek in the Champions League.
With just a single goal in their last six outings, the Terriers look unlikely to breach the Red Devils’ backline.
Southampton’s Cedric Soares (5.0) has another opportunity for a clean sheet points when West Brom drop by St Mary’s, given that only Swansea and Bournemouth have had fewer shots away from home than the Baggies.
Having started all eight league games, the Portuguese right-back (5.0) remains the cheapest assured starter in the Saints rearguard.
Chelsea’s defence has struggled in the absence of the injured N’Golo Kante as their shield, losing 2-1 to Crystal Palace last time out and drawing 3-3 with Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday. So we may have to rely on attacking points from wing-back Marcos Alonso (7.0) against Watford. Nonetheless, the Spaniard has scored twice this season, has more shots (11) than any other defender and racked up six goals and five assists last campaign.
Another of our Chelsea picks, Eden Hazard (10.6), sits in just 4.6% of teams and has disappointed in the league so far, failing to gain attacking points in each of his five appearances. But we believe his brace against Roma midweek is a sign of a return to his imperious best, after missing the start of the campaign through injury.
The Belgian also benefits from playing at Stamford Bridge once again, having scored 12 of his 16 goals in home matches last season – more than any other midfielder and second only to Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku overall.
With a total of three players in our XI costing more than 10.0, we had to find value in attacking positions. Fortunately, Stoke City’s Eric Choupo-Moting (5.6) was on hand to provide an excellent cut-price option ahead of Bournemouth’s visit to the bet365 stadium.
The Cameroon international – who has two goals and an assist – leads all FPL midfielders for attempts in the penalty box at home. He should prosper against a Cherries defence that has yet to keep a clean sheet and has shipped seven goals on their travels.
Manchester City’s 7-2 humbling of Stoke at the Etihad last weekend drives us to triple up on their attacking assets.
Raheem Sterling (8.1) – who has six goals and two assists in his last six Gameweeks – earns an instant recall to the Picks following his 15-point return against the Potters. He appears fairly assured of a starting role for City against Burnley, having been replaced midway through the second-half in City’s 2-1 midweek Champions League victory over Napoli.
Already more than 295,000 FPL managers have procured the winger’s services this week.
Of City’s chief creators – Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva (8.6) – we have opted for the Spaniard, who has a far friendlier price tag and has earned six assists, one more than his Belgian team-mate.
Gabriel Jesus was under consideration, but we are concerned about his minutes with a likely first start for Sergio Aguero (11.5) since returning to the squad last week after recovering from a rib injury.
The Argentine is just one goal away from City’s all-time scoring record, and we feel that Pep Guardiola may well give him every opportunity to reach the milestone on home turf against the Clarets.
Burnley’s underlying defensive statistics are further indication of another handsome City victory; while Sean Dyche’s side have only allowed six goals, they have allowed more shots on goal (155) than any other side.
Romelu Lukaku (11.8) ’s trip to Huddersfield Town makes him a shoo-in for selection, and arguably the safest captaincy pick of the week in terms of assured minutes, goal scoring pedigree and opposition strength.
We are confident the Belgian will add to his seven goals against a Terriers backline that has conceded seven times in their last four outings.
Our front three is completed by Swansea City’s Tammy Abraham (5.7), who is starting to grow into his season-long loan from Chelsea, particularly at the Liberty Stadium, where he has scored three of his four goals.
The striker – who has attracted more than 216,000 new owners this week – hosts a managerless Leicester City side that has shipped seven goals in their last four away days.
The Foxes have only scored once in their last three road trips which hands a bench spot to Swans defender Kyle Naughton (4.6). He offers a broad points potential, having earned bonus on two occasions, notched an assist and helped Paul Clement’s side rack up four clean sheets.
Wilfried Zaha’s (6.7) goal on his return from injury in Crystal Palace’s surprise 2-1 victory over Chelsea hands him a bench role ahead of a trip to Newcastle United. With the Magpies last keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 4, we feel that Zaha – who is being fielded as a central attacker – will impress once again.
Fantasy Football’s forgotten man Manolo Gabbiadini (6.6) makes a return to the Picks after scoring a brace against Newcastle last Sunday – his first attacking returns since Gameweek 2’s successful strike against West Ham.
The Italian faces a West Brom defence that has conceded two or more goals in 8 of last 11 away trips and who could be without Ben Foster in goal.
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 Oddjobleff, who has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: Hart; Stones, Jones, Yoshida; Hazard, Sterling, Zaha, Choupo-Moting; Lukaku, Jesus, Morata.
