The Picks return after the international break, revealing those players who made the cut from our midweek Squad article.
A focus on value midfield options means we can splash out on Fantasy Premier League’s (FPL) top priced goalkeeper, Manchester United’s David De Gea (5.9).
With more points (144) than any other stopper, a record 15 clean sheets and a top-four billing in terms of saves (97), we feel he justifies the outlay within our 84 million budgeted XI.
The Spaniard’s favourable home fixture against a travel-sick Swansea City attack is, of course, a big factor. The Welsh side rank bottom for away shots (97), penalty area attempts (49) and on-target efforts (26).
Manchester City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi’s 6.4 price tag is also in budget as he travels to face Everton at Goodison Park.
The Argentine offers the prospect of points at both ends of the pitch. He’s scored twice and recorded 13 shots in away matches – ranking third among defenders. Meanwhile, City’s backline has kept the most away clean sheets (nine), conceding the fewest goals (ten) and shots (107).
Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal (5.5) also takes a place in our three-man defence. The left-back has two goals in his last four league appearances and four in total this season. A visit from Stoke City also boosts his clean sheet potential; the Potters’ attack have continued to struggle for a cutting-edge, scoring just six goals from their last 11 matches.
Our final defensive pick, Jamaal Lascelles (4.8), has also proved to be a potent threat this season, scoring three goals. He hosts a Huddersfield Town side that has blanked in 11 of their previous 14 away matches.
FPL’s highest points scorer and the current Golden Boot race leader, Mohamed Salah (10.7), takes up his regular Scout Picks berth for Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace.
On the road, the Egyptian has a record 16 big chances and is beaten by only Harry Kane for goals (11 to 13), penalty box efforts (37 to 42) and on-target attempts (20 to 23).
Two clean sheets at Selhurst Park this season highlights the Eagles’ lack of resilience.
Brighton’s defence has also been porous ahead of Leicester City’s visit to the Amex Stadium, with just one clean sheet since Gameweek 21. This urges us to hand a spot to Foxes winger Riyad Mahrez (8.9), who offers a variety of routes to points with five goals, three assists and eight bonus over his last eight starts.
Both sides look likely to get on the scoresheet on the south coast, particularly as Claude Puel’s defence have only managed two clean sheets on their travels.
Brighton’s number ten, Pascal Gross (6.0), looks the man most likely to unlock the visitors’ rearguard, given that he is level with Spurs’ chief creator Christian Eriksen for key passes (18) over his last six appearances. The German is also particularly effective on home turf, where he has scored five and assisted a further six goals.
Marko Arnautovic (6.9) may have just scored once in his last four league run-outs, but the underlying statistics suggest that West Ham’s summer signing has been unfortunate.
Over that period, only Salah (eight) has bettered Arnautovic’s seven shots on target among midfielders. The Austrian has served up seven goals and four assists over his last ten league matches, along with three goals while on international duty.
Arnautovic has a home clash with relegation-embattled Southampton, who have shipped eight goals without reply in their last four away matches.
Completing our midfield selection is Newcastle’s on-loan winger Kenedy (4.8), who proved to be more than a mere budget enabler when he scored a brace against Southampton at home in his last league run-out. Huddersfield’s visit should also be profitable for the Brazilian, given that David Wagner’s side has just two clean sheets away from the John Smith’s stadium.
Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku (11.5) takes one of our two striker berths, having impressed both domestically and on the international stage of late.
In the league, he has four goals and an assist over the last eight Gameweeks and also scored a brace against Saudi Arabia for Belgian this week. With just one shut-out in their last 12 away days, Swansea could prove obliging visitors to Old Trafford.
Lukaku is Gameweek 32’s top transfer target, with more than 270,000 managers securing his services ahead of Saturday’s deadline.
Joining him up front is Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (10.6), who continues to be boosted as a Fantasy option due to ineligibility for the Gunners’ Europa League campaign.
The winter arrival has scored nine points in both of his last two league outings and faces a Potters backline that has shipped 12 goals in their previous six road trips.
With more than 222,000 new owners, the Gabon international is the second most popular acquisition in the market since Gameweek 31.
Watford defender Kiko Femenia (4.3) takes one of our three bench spots. He has recently emerged as an out-of-position prospect, having been used on the right wing in the previous two matches for the Hornets.
The Spaniard also offers strong clean sheet potential ahead of Bournemouth’s visit to Vicarage Road. Since Javi Gracia took charge, Watford have only conceded once in three home encounters.
Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard (6.0) is another star of the international break to earn recognition, having recorded a goal and assist for England. We feel that this will be enough to convince Jose Mourinho to recall the midfielder for Swansea’s visit.
Femenia’s team-mate Troy Deeney (6.3) takes our final substitutes’ place on the back of exemplary home form.
The striker has delivered attacking returns in each of his last four matches at Vicarage Road, scoring three and setting up another. Meanwhile, Eddie Howe’s troops have only managed one clean sheet and conceded 12 goals over their last six away days.
The Community Champion
Representing the community against the Scouts in Gameweek 30 is Bolleinho, who has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: De Gea; Davies, Femenia, Smalling; Salah, Arnautovic, Kenedy, Son; Aubameyang, Firmino, Lukaku.
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.
