An Everton triple-up forms the back-bone of our Scout Picks selection for Gameweek 13.
The Toffees host a Norwich side that has struggled to sustain some early momentum back in the Premier League.
We’ve still got our fair share of premium midfielders in our 4-4-2 formation.
The starting XI has come in at £82.6m, £0.4m inside our budget of £83.0m.
Goalkeeper
Now that Quique Sanchez Flores has firmed up Watford’s defence, Ben Foster (£4.8m) is welcomed back into the Scout Picks. Over the last five matches, the Hornets have kept three clean sheets and could have arguably secured a fourth against Spurs if they weren’t so unlucky. In Gameweek 13, Watford host a Burnley side with just 16 shots on target away from home this season, the third-worst in the division.
Defenders
The inclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) was as easy as it will ever get. The Liverpool right-back stands a real chance of a double-figure haul at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles are the joint-lowest scorers at home this season which increases Liverpool’s clean sheet chances. Furthermore, no team has conceded more headed efforts than Palace in the last four matches, which is great news for crossing expert Alexander-Arnold, who is joint-top of the league for chances created during the same period.
Everton’s defence has shown some promise in recent weeks which is why Lucas Digne (£5.9m) has made it back into the Scout Picks after a long absence. Over the last four Gameweeks, no team has conceded fewer big chances. That bodes well for a home meeting with Norwich who have not scored on the road since Gameweek 1.
John Lundstram (£4.9m) was incredibly unlucky not to find the net against Spurs last time out and among defenders, nobody has had more shots inside the box than him since Gameweek 9. Manchester United come to Bramall Lane without a clean sheet on the road this season so there’s every chance the Lundstram bandwagon could continue once again in Gameweek 13.
Mason Holgate (£4.4m) is our cheap route into an Everton defensive double-up. There was plenty of requests for goalkeeper Jordan Pickford but we think for one week only, Holgate can do the trick. He has started each of the last three Premier League matches for Everton, keeping Michael Keane on the bench, and has two assists to his name in that time too.
Midfielders
No Liverpool player has more attacking returns away from home than Sadio Mané (£12.1m) this season and we think he’s the most likely to make a breakthrough for them at Crystal Palace. Over the last four Gameweeks, the Eagles have the second-worst expected goals conceded (xGC) score and have allowed more headed attempts than any other club. During that time, Mané is top for headed attempts on goal among all midfielders.
We are backing Raheem Sterling (£12.0m) to get back to scoring ways in Gameweek 13. He may have just one attacking return in his last four league starts at the Etihad Stadium but Chelsea come there still without a clean sheet on the road this season. Meanwhile, Sterling himself has had more shots inside the box than any of his colleague since Gameweek 9, only three players in the whole division outperforming him in this department.
Just three teams have conceded more goals away from home than Norwich (12) this season and their defence has still not shown much sign of improving. That’s why Richarlison (£7.9m) makes it into the Scout Picks having recorded attacking returns in three of the last four matches.
Choosing which Manchester United attacker we would select for the Gameweek 13 Scout Picks proved rather difficult with Marcus Rashford showing great form recently. However, for budgetary reasons, we’ve gone with Anthony Martial (£7.8m). He has three goal involvements in as many starts since returning from injury and has kept his hands on that centre-forward position. That could see him become the chief beneficiary of Sheffield United’s defensive absences in goalkeeper Dean Henderson and defensive lynchpin John Egan, who remains doubtful.
Forwards
Gameweek 13 sees another routine inclusion for Jamie Vardy (£9.6m) in the Scout Picks. The Leicester City forward has six goals in his last four Premier League outings and travels to a Brighton side short of their first-choice centre-back in Lewis Dunk, who misses this weekend due to suspension. Adam Webster is also touch and go to play the game so with Graham Potter potentially having to patch up his back-four, it could open the door for more Vardy attacking returns.
The Scout Picks are backing Wesley (£6.0m) to exploit some of Newcastle’s defensive problems in Gameweek 13. The Magpies have conceded more goal on the road than any other side this season (14) and across the whole campaign they have allowed the most headed attempts too (42). That could play into the hands of Wesley as he spearheads an Aston Villa attack with such creativity in wide areas.
Substitutes
Paulo Gazzaniga (£4.4m) is our budget goalkeeper on the bench, somewhat inspired by Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Spurs. We expect his new side to improve defensively with him at the helm and with West Ham blanking in two of their last four, we think there could be a clean sheet on the cards on Saturday lunch-time.
Daryl Janmaat (£4.4m) represents a cheaper alternative into the Watford defence for Gameweek 13. With the same clean sheet potential as Foster, the right-back is joint-top among Hornets for key passes since Gameweek 8.
Harvey Barnes (£5.9m) can offer a cut-price route into the Leicester attack for those short of funds. In the last four Gameweeks he has registered more shots in the box and more efforts on target than Youri Tielemans and James Maddison.
Diogo Jota (£6.1m) continues to offer some potential as an alternative to Raúl Jiménez. In the last four Gameweeks, despite playing fewer minutes than his Mexican colleague, Jota has recorded more touches in the box and more big chances.
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 13 is Dr. Mantis Toboggan.
They have gone for a 3-4-3 of Gazzaniga; Alexander-Arnold, Digne, Chilwell; Serling, Richarlison, Maddison, Grealish; Kane (c), Lacazette, Ings.
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.
Kadhai Paneer FC was defeated by a 96-80 score-line in Gameweek 12.
The current winning margin of 17 points recorded by irfansheikh in Gameweek 7 and AK in Gameweek 10 remains the score to beat.
Nominated for ‘Best in Fantasy Football – Editorial’ at the Football Content Awards 2020
4 years, 5 months ago1 FT. 5.6m ITB(!)
Pope
TAA / Pereira / Lundstram / Janmaat
Mané / KDB / Tielemans / Mount
Vardy (C) / Abraham
Button // Rico / Connolly* / Cantwell.
Ludicrous amount ITB, courtesy of a recent Sterling downgrade. Previously the plan was either of:
Janmaat or Rico > Robertson
Cantwell > Pulisic
Given the uncertainties, may as well bank the FT right? Can still get Robbo/Pulisic if I want, but opens up the possibility of Martial too (not confident bringing him in vs. Sheffield.)