Scout Picks – Gameweek 12

Now that the international break is behind us, the Scout Picks returns to reveal which players from our midweek Scout Squad article have earned a spot in our final selection.

With Jose Mourinho ruling Phil Jones’ out of Newcastle United’s visit earlier this week, we instead hand a place to stopper David De Gea (5.7).

As the only side yet to concede in front of their fans, Red Devils coverage looks a must this weekend.

De Gea has saved all 13 shots on target faced at Old Trafford, claiming save points on seven occasions this season and returning five bonus points. The top-scoring keeper in Fantasy Premier League is also gathering BPS and saves at a faster rate than last season.

There looks to be plenty of clean sheet potential this week, particularly among the budget defences. With that in mind, each of our back-four costs less than 5.0 as we look to free up cash to invest up front.

Ben Mee (4.6) earns a spot ahead of Swansea’s trip to Turf Moor.

The centre-half has helped Burnley keep three clean sheets in their five home matches, collecting six bonus points in the process, and hosts a side that are ranked bottom for shots (25) and attempts on target (six) on the road.

Only two defenders have managed more than Mee’s nine attempts inside the opposition box, a record equalled by another of our picks, Brighton’s Shane Duffy (4.5), ahead of Stoke’s visit to the Amex Stadium.

The Seagulls defender, who scored a headed goal for his country against Denmark this week, is top for clearances (103) and aerial duels won (53) in the league, earning bonus on three occasions.

In addition, a fifth clean sheet also looks likely given the Potters have the fourth lowest tally of penalty area shots (24) away from home and the Seagulls have only shipped five goals in front of their own fans.

A shut-out also looks on the cards for Bournemouth’s Charlie Daniels (4.8) who hosts a Huddersfield side without a goal in their last four on the road.

The left-back, who has a 9.4% ownership, is ranked top for crosses (28) and key passes (six) among the Cherries at home. Daniels has found the net seven times over his previous two campaigns, with four of his last five strikes arriving at the Vitality Stadium.

Albert Moreno (4.5) is our preferred route into a Liverpool rearguard that has conceded just once at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s men could well extend that record against a Southampton side that have scored just three goals away from home and have failed to score in 10 of their last 17 league fixtures.

No Reds’ player has produced more crosses (36) than Moreno, who has fired eight shots and created ten chances for team-mates.

The Saints defence has also proved unimpressive, conceding 11 times. This sees Liverpool’s leading scorer Mohamed Salah (9.4), who is FPL’s top transfer target this week with more than 217,000 new owners, handed a place in our XI.

Shifted up front in a switch to 4-2-2-2, the Egyptian’s brace against West Ham in Gameweek 11 brought his goal tally to seven and he’s fired more shots on target at home (15) than any player so far.

While Sterling was close to earning a place for the Sky Blues trip to Leicester, we have instead opted for his team-mate Leroy Sane (8.9), who looks set to start on the left wing and takes on a Foxes right flank that is the league’s worst in terms of conceding chances (55) and crosses (155) in the league.

Four double-digit hauls in the last six Gameweeks highlights the German’s form, with more than 173,000 FPL managers transferring him in over the international break.

The City attack have scored the most goals (14) and had the most shots (93) and Big Chances (17) away from home this season.

Despite the likely return of Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace’s starting XI, we still expect Wilfried Zaha (6.8) to prosper when Everton visit Selhurst Park.

The Ivory Coast international has been fielded in a central attacking role in the absence of the Belgian and scored in both his home matches since returning from injury in Gameweek 8. Whether out wide or up front, Zaha will be confident of tormenting a Toffees side that boasts the league’s second-worst defence (22 goals against) and is still in search of a first away clean sheet.

Our cut-price backline means we have the luxury of affording three of the game’s most expensive and prolific strikers.

Harry Kane (12.8) is a shoo-in ahead of Spurs’ trip to the Emirates, given his strong performances on the road and impressive record in North London derbies.

The Spurs striker, who has been recuperating from a knock over the international break, has scored in all five of his league appearances against the Gunners and also boasts a league-high total of six goals on the road.

We are backing Romelu Lukaku (11.5) to end a seven-match goal scoring drought for his club when Newcastle drop by Old Trafford.

After getting back amongst the goals for Belgium over the break, his prospects look set to be boosted further by the return of Paul Pogba against the Magpies.

Lukaku – who leads the way in our Captain Poll – scored four times in the first four Gameweeks with Pogba on board but has found the net just three times in the subsequent seven.

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata (10.3) is level with Lukaku on seven league goals this season and, given his aerial threat, looks set to add more when the Blues drop by the Hawthorns.

The Spaniard, who has been transferred in by 160,000+ FPL managers this week, tops the headed goals table (four) and collides with a Baggies defence that is second only to Bournemouth in terms of conceding aerial goal attempts (32).

Morata has also served up 28 points in his last three on the road and has registered more big chances away (nine) than any player.

Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann (4.7) takes a place on our bench at home to Everton.

The centre-half has produced more efforts in the box (12) than any defender, despite failing to score so far. And since moving to 4-4-2 in Gameweek 8, the Eagles have conceded just 19 shots in the box – only Liverpool (18) and Man City (13) have conceded less.

Watford winger Richarlison (6.5) fails to make our first XI ahead of West Ham’s visit to Vicarage Road due to his disappointing home form; the Brazilian has failed to muster a single shot on target in front of his own fans.

Nevertheless, with four goals and four assists this season – including home points against Liverpool and Arsenal – he can take advantage of a Hammers defence that’s conceded more goals (23) than any side.

Four goals in his last three appearances earn Glenn Murray (5.8) a place on the bench for Brighton’s home clash with Stoke.

Owned by just 2%, the veteran has been granted six big chances over that period – double the number of any frontman. He’s up against an obliging Potters defence that has shipped 22 goals already.

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 Dingo, who has opted for a 3-5-2 line up of: De Gea; Alonso, Valencia, Mee; Sane, Coutinho, Pedro, Lanzini, Richarlison; Kane, Rashford.