Scout Picks – Gameweek 38

For the final time this season we reveal the players from our midweek Squad article to earn a place in the Scout Picks.

The bulk of our squad is populated by players with home matches, starting in goal with Manchester United’s Sergio Romero (4.7). Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho has kindly made Fantasy managers aware that he intends to field the Argentinian for Sunday’s Old Trafford clash with Watford and rest regular stopper David De Gea, after he secured this season’s Golden Glove award midweek.

Given that the Hornets have scored two goals in their last 11 road trips, United look likely to deliver defensive returns.

Romero’s 23-point return from two appearances last season proves he is more than capable of making the most of limited chances. Over that pair of matches, he stopped a penalty, made 10 saves and earned shutouts on both occasions.

All four of our defenders also enjoy home comforts and offer multiple avenues to points.

West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell (4.9) welcomes Everton in strong attacking form, firing more shots on target (four) than any other defender over his last four run-outs. He is particularly effective at home, delivering a goal, two assists and three clean sheets in the last six London Stadium encounters.

Patrick Van Aanholt (5.2) has scored in each of the last two Gameweeks ahead of Crystal Palace’s encounter with relegated West Brom.

The raiding left-back has four goals and three clean sheets in his last nine Gameweek starts, with no other defender bettering him for shots (13) or efforts on target (seven) in that run.

His countryman, Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk (5.7), also grabs a Scout Picks berth with returns at both ends of the pitch a possibility for Brighton’s visit to Anfield.

The Seagulls are the joint lowest scorers on the road this season, along with West Brom, with just 10 goals. Meanwhile, Liverpool have returned seven clean sheets since Van Dijk joined in Gameweek 24 – that’s more than any other side.

Van Dijk’s aerial threat further strengthens his case for inclusion as Chris Hughton’s troops have conceded more goals from set-pieces (20) and corners (14) than any other side.

Our final defensive pick, Spurs’ Jan Vertonghen (6.1), has been unlucky not to find the net recently, having registered seven shots over the last six Gameweeks.

Should the Belgian fail to score we are confident he can reward us with shutout points at home to Leicester; Spurs have kept out their opponents in six of the last seven at Wembley.

Liverpool need to avoid defeat against Brighton to guarantee a Champions League spot, which sees this season’s top FPL scorer Mohamed Salah (10.4) make a welcome return to the Scout Picks.

At Anfield his form has been exemplary, scoring in all but one of the last eight home matches since Boxing Day. With 12 goals and three assists across that run, Salah holds a comfortable lead at the top of our latest Captain Poll.

The Reds’ 5-1 rout of Brighton in the reverse fixture earlier this season also weighs strongly in his favour, as does the recent away form of Chris Hughton’s side – over their last 11 road trips the south coast outfit have only managed two clean sheets.

Returns in five of his last seven starts has ensured that Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha (7.0) wins our backing. Over that run, the winger, who has been fielded as a striker, has racked up four goals and as many assists.

His home form ahead of the Baggies visit has also been exceptional, with 14-point returns in each of the last two at Selhurst Park. As a result, Zaha is the currently most bought player heading into Sunday’s 2pm deadline.

Marko Arnautovic (7.1) has been West Ham’s driving force since cementing a starting berth up front in Gameweek 16.

From that point onwards, the Austrian has returned ten goals and six assists and has posted some impressive underlying statistics of late. Over the last six Gameweeks, he has had more shots inside the box (18) than any other player.

Raheem Sterling (9.1) is one of only two players with an away fixture in our selection. He should start against Southampton on Sunday, having earned a rest for his side’s midweek match against Brighton. With three double-digit hauls in his last four outings, the Man City winger travels to the south coast in fine form.

The Saints have been particularly obliging at home, claiming two clean sheets in the last 17 at St Mary’s.

Harry Kane (13.1)’s strike against Newcastle on Wednesday gives us hope of further returns when Leicester drop by Wembley.

The Spurs striker has netted in three of his last four now and has scored more goals at home (15) than any other player. He also has a strong track record against the Foxes, scoring five times in their last two meetings.

Claude Puel’s defence have been suspect on the road, claiming just two clean sheets in their last 14 away matches.

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (10.7) made us rue the decision to leave him out of the Gameweek 37 Scout Picks by returning a Gameweek-high 23 points.

We won’t be making the same mistake again for his trip to a Huddersfield side that has secured its top-flight status, despite conceding the fifth highest tally of goals (57) this season.

Aubameyang has delivered attacking returns in eight of his last nine league run-outs and is the most popular striker in FPL’s transfer market.

On the bench we have opted for a Burnley double due to Bournemouth’s fragility to aerial balls; the Cherries are ranked joint-bottom for headed goal attempts conceded (92).

Centre back Kevin Long (4.1) looks primed to exploit this given he has already scored from a set piece, in Gameweek 34 against Leicester. Over the last six, he has had five headed goal attempts, a tally only bettered by Brighton’s Shane Duffy among defenders.

Long’s most likely supplier of chances is Burnley set-piece specialist Johann Berg Gudmundsson (5.0), who has been involved in more than half (53%) of his side’s goals at Turf Moor.

Swansea are Championship-bound, given the superior goal difference of 17^th placed Southampton. Their home clash with relegated Stoke gives their top scorer Jordan Ayew (5.4) a final chance to add to his seven goals.

Only West Ham have conceded more than the Potters (37) on the road, which should ensure he prospers, even if Sunday is still set to end in disappointment.

The Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 38 is Choppers 13, who has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of Romero; Moses, Van Aanholt, Van Dijk; Zaha, Sterling, Salah, Martial; Aubameyang, Rashford, Firmino.

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.

Last week’s champion Red Arrows comprehensively beat the Scout Picks 97-68. However, his 29 point margin of victory was not enough to overtake current leader Gregor, who beat us by 33 points in Gameweek 5.