Scout Picks

Gameweek 8 Scout Picks retains faith in Salah

We have kept faith in two of Liverpool’s most attacking players for the Gameweek 8 Scout Picks.

The visit of Leicester to Anfield has concerned some invested in Jurgen Klopp’s men but are still expecting a positive result.

The Scout Picks has been carefully put together using David, Neale, Paul and Geoff’s Scout Squad submissions from earlier in the week.

For this weekend we line up in a 4-3-3 formation and come in £0.5m under our budget of £83.0m.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope has a favourable fixture this week as well as good form at home in 2019/20

Nick Pope (£4.6m) was a simple inclusion in the Scout Picks this week ahead of Burnley’s meeting with Everton at Turf Moor. The Clarets have already kept two clean sheets at home this season, against Southampton and Norwich, while Marco Silva’s men have found the net just once in three road trips. Meanwhile, Pope is currently fifth in the league for saves (24).

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a regular inclusion in the Scout Picks this season

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) remains a favourite of the Scout Squad panel, chosen as the best option in defence by three of them this week. Liverpool may not have kept a Premier League clean sheet at Anfield this season but they have conceded the fewest big chances of any side in the last four matches. Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold remains the top defender for chances created in that period, fashioning eight more than any other player in his position.

Nicolas Otamendi (£5.5m) continues to be the most nailed-on Manchester City defender, which should see him do well against Wolves this weekend. The visitors had another exerting Europa League encounter on Thursday night and had to play nine of the players who beat Watford in Gameweek 7. That is far from the ideal preparation for a trip to the Etihad Stadium when Wolves have had troubles in front of goal this season. Only four teams have scored fewer goals than them on the road in 2019/20, while Manchester City have conceded the fewest number of shots in the last four matches.

Matt Lowton (£4.5m) joins the Scout Picks as part of a Burnley defensive double-up. We’ve already covered the Clarets’ clean sheet potential in Gameweek 8, why it’s the right-back getting the nod is his creativity. Erik Pieters may have more assists of any other Burnley defender this season but Lowton has created more chances than any other colleague bar Ashley Westwood. 

Despite graduating from the £4.0m bracket, John Lundstram (£4.5m) can still offer plenty of value in Gameweek 8. Watford remain in the bottom three for big chances this season while Sheffield United kept a clean sheet on their last away trip. Meanwhile, Lundstram continues to be a creative force for the Blades, only four players in the whole league fashioning more big chances than him in the first seven matches.

Midfielders

Salah has been reliable in home matches in all competitions this season

The Scout Squad have retained faith in Mohamed Salah (£12.5m), even ahead of a tricky meeting with Leicester City. The Foxes defence has been in good shape in recent weeks but Salah has done very well at Anfield this season. Every Premier League match there in 2019/20 has seen him produce attacking returns and if we factor in the latest Champions League outing, he has six goals in all competitions in front of his own fans this season.

A midweek rest for Raheem Sterling (£12.1m) should put him in a good place for the visit of Wolves to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Not only did the midfielder get most of the Dinamo Zagreb off, he also provided a goal and assist when he took to the pitch as a substitute. As already mentioned, Wolves have not had the best preparation for this trip and have conceded in each of their last two away matches. Gameweek 8 was another one in which we also like the prospects of Aguero but we could not quite squeeze him and Sterling into the line-up, the latter definitely a much more likely starter this weekend.

Two goals in two for John McGinn (£5.8m) has firmly placed the Aston Villa midfielder on the Fantasy radar once again. So far this season, only two players have registered more shots on target than McGinn, which bodes well for a trip to Norwich this weekend. The Canaries have conceded 15 goals in the first seven matches, only Watford have shipped more, and are yet to keep a clean sheet at Carrow Road in 2019/20.

Forwards

Fresh from a midweek rest, Aubameyang is back in the Scout Picks once again

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) is still yet to blank this season so it is hard to see his scoring run ending in a home match against Bournemouth. The Cherries have conceded five times in their three away matches this season and have historically struggled at the Emirates Stadium.

Tammy Abraham (£7.6m) looks in a good place to reward his owners’ patience in Gameweek 8. In the last four matches, he is behind only Aguero for shots in the box and tops the league for efforts on target. A continuation of that trend at a Southampton side without a clean sheet at home this season should see Abraham do well.

Gameweek 8 should be the week that Teemu Pukki (£7.2m) returns to the Fantasy conversation. While Norwich have struggled on the road this season, they have been full of goals at Carrow Road. Pukki himself has averaged 13.3 points per game there in 2019/20 while Aston Villa have conceded seven goals across their three away matches so far.

Substitutes

Given that we fancy Sheffield United’s clean sheet chances this weekend, it makes sense to include Dean Henderson (£4.5m) on the bench. He was selected by three of our Scout Squad panel.

Harry Maguire (£5.5m) came close to making it into the final XI based on Newcastle’s problems in front of goal this season. Ahead of hosting Manchester United, the Magpies are yet to score more than once in a match this season and have blanked twice at home already.

John Fleck (£4.8m) could be a tidy differential for anyone looking to capitalise on Sheffield United’s favourable trip to Watford. He is joint-top among his colleagues for chances created over the last four matches and is second for shots inside the box.

As we discovered earlier this week, Chris Wood (£6.2m) stands a good chance of continuing his scoring run when Everton come to Turf Moor. In the last four Gameweeks, only three players have been afforded more big chances than the Burnley striker.

The Captain

The Scout Picks now has a captain for the 2019/20 campaign.

This skipper is chosen using the conclusions of the latest Captain Sensible article and a four-way vote between David, Neale, Paul and Geoff.

Because the use of Fantasy Football Scout data is used so heavily in this process, the captain we choose each Gameweek will be known only to those who have signed up to Membership for the 2019/20 season.

It will be revealed to the public only when the deadline for the Gameweek has passed.

Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 8 is Vobinho in Wengerland.

They have gone for a 3-4-3 of Dúbravka; Holebas, Schär, Alonso; Zaha, D Silva, Willian, Saka; Firmino, Aguero (c), Kane.

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.

It was a win for the Community Champion in Gameweek 7 as The Greenback Boogie won by a close 54-52 scoreline.

irfansheikh‘s winning margin of 16 points from Gameweek 7 is the latest score to beat for the 2019/20 season.

Lessons Learned from Gameweek 7

5,269 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Lucas8406
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Do I
    A) Get rid of KDB and get Son or Mahrez and get KDB back after this week
    B) Save the free transfer and get Aubameyang next week

    1. ClothedinSun
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Save for Auba.

      1. Lucas8406
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks gonna have to hope Cantwell plays or gonna have to play Rico or Kelly

        1. ClothedinSun
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Tricky. I'd say Cantwell is more likely to play and get more points than Rico & Kelly though. 🙂

  2. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hi fellas. I would apreciate any help here. 1 FT and 0.4 ItB.

    Heaton
    Tomori-Otamendi-Diop
    KdB-Salah-Mount-Son
    Kane-Abraham-Pukki

    Button-Lund-Soyuncu-Nakamba

    Thinking to do Kane to Auba (C) for free and play Lundstram (keep KdB)

    Or would you sell KdB for Mahrez for -4 ?

    Or any other advice. Please?

    Thx in advance.

    1. juho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Kane to Auba (C) is a very good move

  3. steven8991
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which combo is better?
    A. Mahrez & Son
    B. Sterling and Mount (have Abraham) for -4
    C. Mount and Aubameyang (no Abraham) for -4

    1. leroybrown84
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mahrez and Son

  4. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Just did Montoya to Lundstram and realised I could've brought in Tomori. Ah well, support the boys :). Nice 18 points from Hendo and Lund tomz

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cheer Loud when he scores !!
      😉

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      tomori isnt an fpl icon

  5. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    So so annoyed! This was the GW I was banking on a big score but then:

    - Aurier gets suspended
    - KDB gets injured
    - Cantrell gets injured
    - Aguero looks like he’ll be dropped
    - Ceballos looks like he has no chance of playing

    What do I do with this?

    Leno
    Fredericks Lowton Aurier*
    Mane KDB* Cantwell* Mount
    Aguero Auba Abraham

    Button; Soyuncu Ceballos Rico

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ceballos to McGinn/Yarmalenko/CHO & relax 🙂

  6. Wensink
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captaining Kane in the early game; it'll be a long day of drinking. Will I be drinking to:
    A. Celebrate the haul
    B. Forget the 4-point return

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      10 sounds about right

  7. syke63
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    No idea who writes the Team News on the site but it is one of the best things here imo. Not always spot on but you can see a lot of work goes into it and my go to article on a Friday. Just giving you a shout out.

  8. james 101
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Just noticed I only have 3 players on Saturday. The other 8 on Sunday.

    Not sure how I feel about this!

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Even my cap is Sunday

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      7 on Saturday for me
      4 including Raz © on Sunday

  9. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Well, leading on from last page, just done my moves, did KDB + Son > Sterling + Jorginho

    Was gonna go for Yarmolenko over Jorginho but doing what i've done now allows me to keep Sterling while doing Pukki > Vardy next GW. Could always do Salah > KDB down the line if that's what''s decided.

    So setup is now:

    Pope
    TAA - Lundstram - Otamendi
    Mount - Salah - Sterling - Jorginho
    Pukki - Aubameyang - Abraham
    ____________________________
    Button: Cantwell*, Hanley*, Gibson

    It made a bit more sense as Chelsea's fixture's are arguably easier and for a longer stretch of time over West Ham's Yarmolenko, and reckon Jorginho could be grabbing a few pens hopefully.

    Not sure where i'm going with this lol, but....sound enough moves and G2G?

    Apologies for how needlessly long this post turned out to be 🙂

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      dont think these are bad moves in a vacuum but prevents you from getting tomori which could be annoying at some point

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers mate, oh i'm not interested in the chelsea defence, least not for now anyways, but see your point for sure.

      2. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        You think Tomori is a good pick mate ??
        Can do Rico to him in near future if i bank some ££ from somewhere

        1. EMBOLOFAN
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          very strong underlying numbers, kante/rudiger to return, passing eye test much better with tomori, manager willing to go 5 atb, 4.5m

  10. EMBOLOFAN
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    sorry for posting on every page, missed out on most stuff this week, only just realised saka was rested midweek.

    dendo > saka a better move than removing kdb for 2 weeks? (probably to son, bilva etc)

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yes defo

      1. EMBOLOFAN
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        thanks mate

  11. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    All i want this gw is a score of 70+
    Don't care if average is 100 😀
    Want my © to score few points to have a feel good factor during the IB. Too many average gw's have ruined the fun. It's a nice challenge though.

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      here here!

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Well, can you explain me what is the exact meaning of this phrase ??
        Not kidding bdw 😀

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          i'm not entirely sure of it's origin, but it's just another expression of agreement, but in a more cheery and 'raisng an old tudor times beer sloshing out of a tin cup' type of way lmao

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Ha ha
            Got it.
            Cheers buddy. Always wanted to know exact meaning.

            1. Salah’s Sonnet
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              no probs bud. Reckon my above moves were ok btw?

              1. Amey
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                For this gw definitely !
                Would love to bring KDB back ASAP though.
                He's on a different level to others imo

                1. Salah’s Sonnet
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Sorted cheers mate.
                  Oh i’ll defo be bringing KDB back in, either after CPL or before it 🙂

            2. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              It's hear hear tho! (not here here)...

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear,_hear

              1. Amey
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Cool
                🙂

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Same boat.
      7 gwks of mediocrity, with the team always looking good but never getting lucky.
      Let's have a strong score this gw, for a change.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Aye
        GL 🙂

  12. dezille
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What's the deal with price changes and injuries? When do players get 'Locked' in price. Trying to work out what KDB's price is likely to be towards the end of the International Break.

    1. ClothedinSun
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Most likely to drop to 9.9 and hold I reckon.

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I think he will be 9.8

      1. Gentle_Turks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        This.

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      When a player is Red flagged amount of transfers needed to drop increase.

      When that flag is changed or removed he's price protected for 7 days after removal/change of Red flag.

      1. dezille
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks for the info on this. I assume he will be red flagged until Pep's press conference on Saturday 18th. That sounds to me like at least one more drop after tonight. Buy back at 9.8 it is then!

  13. IamthenextTeemuPukki
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    2.0itb
    2FT

    A.) Cantwell to Yarmolenko for free
    B.) Aguero/Greenwood to Auba/Abraham for free
    C.) Do nothing, waste a transfer but have 2 for after IB

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B looks tasty, giving you 2 very good picks.

    3. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  14. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    KDB to Mahrez done. No turning back now...

  15. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Would you change anything?

    Pope
    TAA Otamendi Lundstram
    Son Mahrez(V) Dilva Mount
    Auba(C) Abraham Pukki

    Button Cantwell Lowton Digne

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      only differences between mine and your main 11 there is my salah Sterling and Jorginho to your Mahrez Son and Dilva, so i like it (biased 🙂

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Amazingly differential Midfield
      G2G

  16. Cahill17
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Salah, Zinc & Wickham to Maddison, Tomari & Auba for -4
    B) Zinc to Otm and save
    C) Salah, Zinc & Wickham to Mahrez, Tomari & Vardy/tammy
    D) Zinc to Tomari and save?

    1. Cahill17
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      C is also a -4

  17. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Going to be weird tomorrow. Got a primark induction from 10-6... So will check scored and be bricking it. Lundstram, Hendo, Barnes, Pukki, Salah, TAA, Digne will have all played. Hopefully atleast 40 points :/

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Scores*

  18. popcoin
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Dilva

    B) Bilva

    KdB replacement one week punt

  19. juho
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pick one:

    1) Dunk -> Tomori
    2) KdB -> Mahrez

    1. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      1

      1. juho
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

        1 it is then
        Don't fancy starting Dunk

  20. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I’ve got the following who are all susceptible to not playing this weekend:

    A - Aguero
    B - KDB
    C - Aurier
    D - Cantwell
    E - Ceballos

    Which 2 do I need to get rid of ASAP? And to who?

    1. Cahill17
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      E & C

      1. Cahill17
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Mcginn/mount & Tomari?

    2. fgdu
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      C and E lol

    3. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      C & E.
      TOT concede, they rotate full backs, he usually plays dangerously which is also the reason he got sent off.
      Ceballos is not a good FPL pick.
      I'd do Aurier to Soyuncu & Ceballos to Yarmo or Wilson or McGinn.

  21. FFFoxy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    This week. Aguero or Pukki?

  22. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I went for Dilva.
    Preferred him over Bilva anyway, but Bilva's potential ban issue made it even clearer.

    1. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      fair

  23. fgdu
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    start mcginn or cantwell first

    1. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      McGinn

      1. fgdu
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        are you sure!!!

  24. Schwarzer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who would you start?

    A) Soy (liv)
    B) Montoya (TOT)
    C) Greenwood (new)

    No idea if Greenwood starts. Cheers.

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

  25. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) KDB & Matip to McGinn & Otamendi for -4 (leaving enough for Wickham to Vardy next week)
    B) KDB to Pepe for free
    C) Aguero & Wickham to Auba & Wood for -4

    Which choice would you go for lads?

  26. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is AWB ok to play?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      LOle said he'd assess the group of clowns on Saturday but said "probably not" in reply to him thinking if any of the sidelined players will return for Newcastle - Martial, Pogba, Shaw & AWB.

  27. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is it worth taking a -4 for...

    KDB -> Son
    Aurier -> Tomori

  28. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is having only Mane and Aguero as Liverpool and Man City cover too much of a risk?

  29. true_Jerry
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    how likely do we think is Cantwell to start?

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      80/20. Farke seems to have started a few players this year who were doubts

  30. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is it really that wrong to go Kdb--->Son?