After a lengthy absence, our Scout Picks are back in time for Gameweek 24.
Assessing the Scout Squad entries from Paul, Joe, Az and Peter, we have picked an XI which we believe is the best for this latest midweek round of fixtures.
Lining up in the classic 3-4-3 formation, we just about managed to squeeze this selection into our budget of £83.5m.
Goalkeeper
Alex McCarthy (£4.4m) earned a place in the Scout Picks after picking up support from three of our pundits this week. Paul, Joe and Peter all included the Southampton shot-stopper in their Scout Squad entries ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to Selhurst Park. McCarthy has earned additional points for saves in seven of his last nine Premier League outings, which could help Southampton to a rare home clean sheet against an Eagles side that ranks 11th for big chances in the last four away matches.
Defenders
Andrew Robertson (£6.7m) is the headline defensive option once again, picking up endorsements from all four pundits this week. Paul, Joe and Peter chose him as their top defender, ahead of Leicester coming to Anfield. Concerns over Virgil van Dijk’s recent illness were tempered by Jurgen Klopp’s revelation that the centre-back had returned to training on Monday, so we expect the Reds’ defence to be at its usual excellent best this weekend, with Leicester 18th for big chances created in the last four away matches.
Inclusions in three Scout Squad entries means we are keeping faith in Everton defender Lucas Digne (£5.3m), even after his own goal against Southampton. While the Toffees are in a bit of a losing rut, an away match at a Huddersfield side under new management could be an opportunity for Marco Silva’s men to get back to winning ways. The Terriers remain the lowest scorers in front of their own fans this season and have allowed more big chances than any other side in the last four home matches. Returns at either end of the pitch for this attacking option look likely in Gameweek 24 then.
Sead Kolasinac (£4.9m) continues to offer excellent value going into Gameweek 24. No defender has had more touches in opposition penalty boxes than the Arsenal man in the last four Gameweeks, which is putting him in the right places to register attacking returns. Meanwhile, no side has scored fewer goals away from home than Cardiff this season, meaning Kolasinac has the potential for a spread of points on Tuesday night.
Midfielders
It should be no surprise to you that Mohamed Salah (£13.6m) was selected as the best midfield option by all four of our pundits this week. After seeing Leicester collapse and concede four times at Wolves last time around, the Egyptian will be licking his lips as he looks to continue his fine scoring record at Anfield in Gameweek 24. Salah has averaged 8.7 points per game in his last six league outings at home and has double-figure hauls in six of his last eight Premier League matches.
Leroy Sané (£9.7m) is our chosen representative from Manchester City once again, as he looks to offer a fairly sure route into the team. The German continues to offer great points potential too, with the highest expected assist score in the league over the last four Gameweeks and four attacking returns in his last three matches.
Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.3m) is our chosen Everton asset as they travel to face a Huddersfield defence that has struggled in home matches recently. Even before the visit of Manchester City last time out the Terriers were bottom of the league for big chances conceded in the last four matches in front of their own fans. After a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Premier League champions, they remain rooted to the foot of the table for that particular statistic. Sigurdsson looks the most likely player to be involved in goals or assists for the Toffees as they chase a sorely-needed positive result.
Diogo Jota (£6.0m) looks like the most explosive midfield in his price bracket this week. While predicting another hat-trick would be a bit farfetched, the fact that Wolves host a West Ham side with just two clean sheets away from home this season presents the Portuguese attacker with a chance to deliver again. He was handed five big chances against Leicester, and was on target with all of his efforts in that game. With his new role in Wolves’ front two, we are backing that form to continue.
Forwards
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) completed a clean sweep of the board this week. All four of our Scout Squad pundits picked him as the best forward option for Gameweek 24 as Cardiff come to the Emirates Stadium. The Arsenal man has goal involvements in four of his last five league matches at home, while the Bluebirds are bottom of the league for shots allowed in the box over the last four away trips.
Marcus Rashford (£7.7m) is our chosen Manchester United option for Gameweek 24 as Burnley come to Old Trafford. While Paul Pogba also received backing from our Scout Squad, and looks a more complete Fantasy option according to his underlying data, the England international gets into the side for budgetary reasons. With Burnley making some defensive improvements in recent weeks, we felt that doubling-up on Manchester United for the Scout Picks might be a bit too much, Rashford getting the nod as the cheaper of the two.
Fernando Llorente (£5.6m) probably only has one more Premier League start to prove his credentials before Son Heung-min comes back into the side. The South Korean looks likely to be involved against Watford but Mauricio Pochettino has said a decision must be made over whether or not he joins the action from the bench. It would seem likely that this is the South Korean’s route into Gameweek 24, with Llorente featuring from the beginning. In the last two Gameweeks, only Paul Pogba has more shots in the box than the Spaniard.
Substitutes
We think there is a decent chance that Matt Doherty (£5.2m) will return to the Wolves’ starting line-up against West Ham on Tuesday night. With the Hammers’ aforementioned defensive problems, attacking returns remain a possibility for the right wing-back, if he plays.
James Ward-Prowse (£5.0m) has now scored in back-to-back Premier League fixtures for the first time in his career. He backs that up with 10 chances created in the last four Gameweeks, just two shy of being the best in the league over that period.
Ashley Barnes (£5.6m) remains in an exciting section of the goal threat tables we use for the Captain Sensible article. His 13 goal attempts, 12 in the box are bettered only by Pogba and Rashford (among fit players) in the last four Gameweeks, while those two and Firmino are the only players with more and seven on target.
Community Champion
Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 24 is AK. They have opted for a 3-4-3 formation of: Ederson; Jonny, Kolasinac, Valery; Salah, Sané, Richarlison, Jota; Rashford, Aubameyang, Higuain.
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 Scouts were victorious in Gameweek 23, seeing off Athletico Timbo by a 70-54 scoreline.
fclackless‘s winning margin of 33 points (77-44) in Gameweek 10 is the current target to beat.
