Double Gameweek players unsurprisingly take up all 14 of our Scout Picks berths as we now reveal the players to make the cut from Wednesday’s Scout Squad article.
The first of three Manchester United assets to earn selection is David De Gea (5.9), Fantasy Premier League’s (FPL) top scoring keeper (163 points) is also leading the race for the Golden Glove with 17 clean sheets.
He wins a place ahead of two favourable away trips, to face a Brighton attack that has just four goals in their last six. Meanwhile, midweek hosts West Ham have recorded just four big chances in their last four home matches, only Huddersfield Town have produced fewer.
On paper, Spurs also have two kind match-ups, away to bottom side West Brom and at home to Newcastle. This has driven us to triple up on their assets, beginning with centre-back Jan Vertonghen (6.0), who looks poised to start both Gameweek outings.
Top-ranked in the Bonus Points System among the Spurs backline, the Belgian could offer bonus returns should clean sheets drop in. Vertonghen also struck a post in Monday’s 2-0 victory over Watford as he stepped up his bid to claim a first league goal since 2014/15.
Cesar Azpilicueata (6.9) has replaced Marcos Alonso as our Chelsea defender of choice for home matches with Liverpool and Huddersfield.
Over their last four run-outs, Azpiliceuta has proved the more productive, with a goal and two sets of maximum bonus returns. The Spaniard is the overall BPS leader and, like Vertonghen for Spurs, he looks the most assured of two starts over the Gameweek.
Swansea City offer cut-price options with strong fixtures; a trip to Bournemouth and visit from Southampton make them ideal choices to help free up vital funds.
Alfie Mawson (5.1) is one of two Swans to earn a spot – two goals and an assist hints that he may even be able to offer attacking returns to compliment potential shutouts.
Our four-man backline is completed by Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi (5.5), who has largely escaped rotation during the Gunners’ ultimately doomed Europa League campaign. The German has only failed to start once since Gameweek 20 and his three goals, assist and ten bonus points also serve up multiple routes to points.
Christian Eriksen’s consistency helps to justify his 9.6 price tag as the most expensive Spurs midfield option.
An assist against Watford on Monday was his fifth attacking return in six Gameweeks and, while both Son Heung-min and Dele Alli have been rested in recent matches, Eriksen remains a mainstay after chaining together 13 successive starts.
Marko Arnautovic (7.0) is another reliable performer. With ten goals and five assists from his last 16 Gameweek starts, the Austrian is West Ham’s driving force as they bid to finally seal mid-table safety. Since being handed a striker’s role back in Gameweek 16, only Mohamed Salah has fired more shots on target among FPL midfielders (33 vs 25).
Cover of the Manchester City attack looks essential ahead of home matches with Huddersfield and Brighton. Both of those defences are lacking confidence, with the Seagulls claiming just a single clean sheet from their last 13 outings. Meanwhile, Huddersfield Town last earned a shutout away from home back in Gameweek 6, having conceded at least once in their last 12 road trips.
Among City midfielders, Raheem Sterling (9.1) looks irresistible – he’s been directly involved in 35 goals over the season. He has three successive double-figure scores and is second only to Salah for shots (12 to 17) and penalty box efforts (10 to 11) in that spell.
Gabriel Jesus’ (10.4) four goals and three assists over the last five starts makes him another vital option. With Sergio Aguero still injured, the Brazilian’s seemingly assured starting role also helps justify his selection. Ahead of tonight’s deadline, Jesus is the most popular transfer target, with over 200,000 managers swooping to acquire his services.
Harry Kane (13.1) may not be at his best, but a goal against Watford (from four shots) gives us hope that the Spurs striker can continue to deliver returns against West Brom and Newcastle.
Kane is currently top of our Captain Poll and has attracted more than 127,000 new owners this week.
The final place in or 84 million budgeted XI goes to Swansea striker Jordan Ayew (5.3), who looks primed to be more than just a makeweight, having scored seven goals from 14 Gameweek starts.
He faces a pair of suspect defences; Southampton have matched West Ham’s record tally of 13 goals conceded over their last six run-outs, with Saturday’s opponent Bournemouth placed just behind, shipping 12 in the same period.
Saints’ Cedric Soares (4.7) may struggle to earn us clean sheets against the Swans and Everton, but he claims one of our three bench spots thanks to a potential for attacking points. Handed the attacking freedom of a wing-back role, he created both goals at Arsenal in Gameweek 33, a feat that also earned him two bonus points.
Paul Pogba (7.9) just misses out on a berth in our XI, but still looks an enticing prospect for Manchester United’s visits to Brighton and West Ham. The Frenchman has claimed three goals and an assist, along with six bonus points, over his last four starts.
With Pogba’s team-mate Romelu Lukaku expected to miss out on both these ties through injury, we have handed our final bench spot to Marcus Rashford (7.3), who is likely to deputise for the Belgian up front. With six goals and five assists across just 15 starts, he has a strong record of making the most of limited pitch time.
The Community Champion
Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 33 is Red Arrows who has opted for a 3-5-2 line up of: Lloris; Mawson, Vertonghen, Laporte; Alli, Arnautovic, Hazard, Sane, Tadic; Jesus, Aubameyang.
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.
The champion to beat remains Gregor, who achieved victory over the Scouts by a 33-point margin in Gameweek 5.
