Scout Picks – Gameweek 33

For the first time since January our line-up is without the Fantasy Premier League’s top points scorer, Mohamed Salah.

Despite featuring prominently in our Scout Squad selection, we’re not prepared to risk the Liverpool winger after he sustained a suspected groin injury in Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Manchester City.

Nonetheless, our 84 million budgeted XI still features a number of other notable heavy-hitters, supplemented as usual by some promising cut-price offerings.

Brighton’s Mat Ryan (4.6) takes our goalkeeper spot due, in the main, to the poor away form of visitors Huddersfield. David Wagner’s side have failed to find the net in 12 of 16 road trips, creating just three big chances in their last six away matches.

Jan Vertonghen’s (6.0) prospects of a clean sheet also looks strong when Spurs make their way to Stoke City.

Paul Lambert’s side have scored just once in their last four, registering nine on target attempts over that period – a league-low record they share with Huddersfield. Furthermore, Spurs and Vertonghen have conceded just twice in their last five.

We are also confident that Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi (5.4) will earn shut-out returns when he hosts a Southampton side that, like the Potters, has only scored once the previous four. In addition, the Saints have managed just four big chances from their last six away matches.

Mustafi is in fine home form, earning 20 points in his last two at the Emirates Stadium, thanks to a pair of clean sheets, three bonus points and a goal.

Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso (7.2) may have to rely on attacking returns to justify his selection, given that visitors West Ham have scored 11 times across their last six away fixtures, the third best tally behind Spurs (13) and Manchester City (12).

With more shots (34), penalty box attempts (20) and efforts on target (12) at home than any other defender the left wing-back looks primed to trouble a Hammers backline that has shipped 11 goals in their last three on the road. Indeed, only Alvaro Morata has fired more shots (36) than Alonso at Stamford Bridge this season (34).

Wes Morgan (4.4) earns our final defender spot, ahead of Newcastle’s visit. The Foxes have shown excellent recent home form, conceding just 24 shots over their last six King Power Stadium matches; only Manchester City have allowed fewer (20).

Our 4-4-2 formation features a Leicester pairing with Riyad Mahrez (8.9) among our midfield picks for a successive Gameweek. Despite failing to register attacking returns last time out against Brighton, the winger’s recent form is strong enough to justify his selection. Mahrez has five goals and three assists in his previous eight league starts.

The Algerian was on the scoresheet St James’ Park back in Gameweek 16 and is also something of a flat track bully. He has been involved in 21 goals this season, with 17 of those against teams outside of the top six. Meanwhile, Newcastle have claimed just one clean sheet in their last 13 on the road.

We have also kept faith with another of our Gameweek 32 picks, Brighton’s Pascal Gross (6.0). The German’s impressive home performances, which have seen him average 5.9 points at the Amex Stadium, look too good to ignore. Huddersfield’s failure to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 12 away matches also weighs strongly in his favour.

With West Ham’s shaky travelling defence in mind, we have handed a midfield spot to Chelsea’s Willian (7.1). Over his last four league matches, the winger has fired more shots on target (eight) and goals (two) than any team-mate.

A 16-point return in Spurs’ 5-1 victory over Stoke early in the season ensures Son Heung-min (8.3)’s inclusion for the trip to the bet365.

Having served up four goals and an assist in his last three outings, the South Korean is in fine form as he squares up to a defence that’s conceded more goals (61) than any side, recording only two clean sheets in their last 15 home fixtures.

The fragile Potters defence also sees us find room for Son’s team-mate Harry Kane (12.7), who returned from a short injury lay-off with a 16-minute cameo against Chelsea last weekend.

The Spurs striker fired in a brace in that Stoke rout earlier in the campaign and has netted eight times in his last four Potters encounters. In addition, Kane is the league’s most potent threat in away matches, with a record 13 goals from 61 shots.

The most bought player ahead of Gameweek 33, Kane has been snapped up by over 145,000 new owners as he attempts to overhaul Salah in the race for the Golden Boot.

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (10.8) completes our first XI due to the seemingly perfect alignment of form and fixture this weekend.

Having scored a brace at home to Stoke last time out, he entertains a Southampton defence with one clean sheet in 13 away fixtures. Over six league appearances for the Gunners he has an impressive five goals and an assist, averaging 6.5 points per match.

This form makes him second only to Kane for transfers in ahead of tomorrow’s 11.30am deadline.

On the bench, Kiko Femenia (4.3) seems an ideal enabler for those looking to recruit heavy-hitters.

Utilised as a right winger in the previous three Gameweeks, the Watford defender scored at Vicarage Road against Bournemouth last weekend and faces another promising home clash when Burnley drop by on Saturday afternoon.

The Hornets have two clean sheets in the last three matches in front of their own supporters.

With Christian Benteke doubtful, Wilfried Zaha (6.8) could be set for a role up front as Crystal Palace make their way to Bournemouth.

The Ivory Coast international has recorded two assists in his last three appearances and will collide with a Cherries defence that has returned the joint fewest home clean sheets (two). Only Watford have conceded more goals (26 vs 28) in front of their own fans that Eddie Howe’s rearguard.

We reckon there will be goals from both sides at the Vitality stadium, with Roy Hodgson’s side rolling up on the back of one clean sheet in their last six away days. This sees Cherries forward Josh King (7.0) earn a mention – the Norwegian international has three goals and an assist over his last five starts.

The Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 33 is Big Red Dog, who has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: Karnezis, Azpilicueta, Monreal, Dunk; Mahrez Alli, Hughes, Hazard; Kane, Aubameyang, Rondon.

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.