The emergence of a host of strong value forward options has prompted us to opt for a 4-3-3 set-up for our latest Scout Picks selection – a rarity in recent months.
There’s also savings to be made at the back, with Crystal Palace stopper Wayne Hennessey (4.3) beginning the trend. He sets us back just 4.3 ahead of Newcastle United’s visit to Selhurst Park.
Since cementing a starting berth in Gameweek 21, the Welshman has earned two clean sheets and we reckon a third will be forthcoming against a Magpies side that has struggled to find the net in recent weeks, scoring just four in their last six outings.
Marcos Alonso (7.4) continues his long stint in the Scout Picks, despite failing to reward our faith last time out when Chelsea crumbled 3-0 at home to Bournemouth.
That blank was his first since Gameweek 16 and we are hoping for a return to more productive ways for the left wing-back when the Blues visit Watford on Monday night.
The Hornets have conceded more goals (25) at home than any other side this season and haven’t scored in their last three matches in all competitions. The Spaniard, meanwhile, has scored at least six points in each of his last four away trips.
Phil Jones (5.7) is another Scout Picks stalwart that endured a disappointing Gameweek 25 when he scored an own goal during Manchester United’s 2-0 away defeat to Spurs.
Huddersfield’s visit to Old Trafford looks an ideal opportunity to restore confidence in his stock.
Jose Mourinho’s troops have the league’s best home defence, with a record nine clean sheets and the lowest number of goals conceded (five).
The Terriers have scored just three goals from their previous seven matches, creating just five big chances over that period – fewer than any other side on both counts.
Charlie Daniels (4.7) is auditioning to become a regular pick ahead of Bournemouth’s strong run of fixtures. That starts on Saturday with a home tie against Stoke City.
Although the Cherries have kept just two clean sheets at home, we are hopeful they can keep the Potters at bay as the visitors have failed to find the net in three of their last four road trips.
With nine Premier League goals since Eddie Howe’s side were promoted from the Championship, the left wing-back also gives us the chance of precious attacking returns.
Our final defensive berth is taken up by Leicester City’s Harry Maguire (5.5), another who offers broad points potential. This season the centre-back has racked up two goals and four assists. He’d also secured three straight clean sheets prior to the Foxes’ 2-1 away defeat at Everton.
Maguire entertains a Swansea City side that has struggled for goals on the road.
Home wins over Liverpool and Arsenal have caught the eye. But away from the Liberty Stadium they have fired just 32 shots from their previous four away trips, second lowest behind Everton’s tally of 27.
Alexis Sanchez (11.7) earns a first Scout Picks mention as a Manchester United player, with the Huddersfield visit providing the perfect opportunity for the former Gunner to deliver a big score.
The Terriers have conceded 12 goals over their last four matches, while in his final four outings for Arsenal, the Chilean scored three times and also notched an assist.
Relentless consistency makes it impossible for us to leave out Liverpool winger and FPL top points scorer Mohamed Salah (10.3).
He has only failed to register a goal or assist once in his last seven starts and while Spurs are expected to provide a stern test at Anfield, the Egyptian has already scored against the London side in Gameweek 9’s reverse fixture.
Strong recent away form and Watford’s poor home defence earns Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard (10.7) the final place in our heavyweight midfield trio. The Belgian has scored three goals and won two sets of maximum bonus from his last two away days.
Up front, Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson (5.9) and West Brom’s Jay Rodriguez (5.5) provide excellent value.
The Cherries marksman has four goals and two assists in his last six league matches and hosts a Stoke side that has shipped a league-high 30 goals on the road.
Claiming more than 117,000 new FPL managers, Wilson is the most bought striker in the transfer market this week.
Baggies forward Rodriguez is also in a rich vein of form, with two goals and an assist in his last five.
He now faces former club Southampton who have shipped eight goals in their last four away trips.
This penny-pinching means we have enough to bring in Sergio Aguero (11.9) for Manchester City’s visit to a Burnley.
The Argentine boasts nine goals from his last eight matches in all competitions and has hit six in his last four encounters with the Clarets’ defence.
Brighton defender Shane Duffy (4.6) takes a bench spot ahead of a visit from a West Ham outfit that looks set to struggle for goals without the injured Marko Arnautovic.
His 19 shots this season, the joint fourth best among defenders, means that the imposing centre-back also offers us the chance of points in the opposition’s box, with his first Premier League goal long overdue.
Three of the Seagulls’ four home clean sheets have come in their last six Amex Stadium matches, with Crystal Palace, Burnley and Watford unable to breach their rearguard.
Junior Stanislas (5.9) was another Cherries player to impress at Stamford Bridge in midweek, matching Wilson’s goal and assist returns. He earns a place on our bench for the visit of Stoke, having produced a 13-point return in the reverse fixture in Gameweek 9.
Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy (8.6) is unlucky to only make the bench as he has three goals in his last four league run-outs. He takes on a Swansea defence that has shipped goals in each of its last nine away fixtures.
The Community Champion
Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 26 is Tigerite, who is in his twelfth season.
He has opted for a 3-4-3 line-up of: Cech; Alonso, Daniels , Smalling; Martial, Sterling, De Bruyne, Mkhitaryan; Vardy, Wilson, Aguero.
Gameweek 25’s champion, Pras United, beat the scouts 54-46.
The champion to beat remains Gregor, who achieved victory over the Scouts by a 33-point margin in Gameweek 5.
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.
