Scout Picks

Gameweek 1 Scout Picks XI features double-up on Arsenal, Liverpool and Saints

Arsenal, Liverpool and Southampton are the key source of investment for the Scout Picks in Gameweek 1.

Ahead of the new Fantasy Premier League campaign, we have selected two players from each of these clubs in our first XI of the season.

Chosen by our Scout Squad panel of David, Neale, Tom and Andy, our lines up in the traditional 3-4-3 formation and comes in bang-on our £83.0m budget.

GOALKEEPER

Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) gets the nod as our first Scout Picks goalkeeper of 2020/21. His upcoming opponents Crystal Palace were the lowest scorers in home matches last season, while only Norwich found the net fewer times than the Eagles during Project Restart. Meanwhile, McCarthy managed to make 2.73 saves per 90 last season.

DEFENDERS

Premium midfielders with appealing matches headline Gameweek 26 Scout Picks

Does the selection of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) require any explanation these days? Not really. A minor injury kept him out of Liverpool’s pre-season games but the right-back was in action for England twice during the international break. Alexander-Arnold was chief among his colleagues for assists, key passes and big chances created last season, and we see no reason why that can’t continue in 2020/21, especially with newly-promoted opposition in Gameweek 1.

James Justin (£4.5m) comes into Gameweek 1 as one of the most nailed-on starters in Leicester’s defence. They may be short of some key personnel but a trip to newly-promoted opposition is enough for us to comfortably include a man with potential at both ends of the pitch.

Rob Holding (£4.5m) is our chosen representative from the Arsenal defence, who face Fulham in the 2020/21 season opener. The Gunners defence has been slowly improving under Mikel Arteta, showcased perfectly in their Community Shield meeting with Liverpool. Holding was a key figure in that performance, offering a budget route into a top-six defence against newly-promoted opposition.

MIDFIELDERS

A switch to midfield and a meeting with Fulham when both Manchester clubs are fixture-less mean Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m) is an easy inclusion in the Scout Picks for Gameweek 1. Chosen as the best midfield option by all four pundits, 19 of his 22 goals came against teams outside the so-called big six. And in five meetings with newly-promoted opposition, Aubameyang found the net five times and added an assist for good measure.

Despite a growing number of doubters, Mohamed Salah (£12.0m) earns a place in the Gameweek 1 Scout Picks team. No player classified as a midfielder in 2019/20 scored more goals at home than the Egyptian last season (15) and his goal involvement tally of 19 was beaten only by Kevin De Bruyne, the game’s top-scoring player. Salah started last season by registering a goal, assist and double-figure haul at home to the reigning Championship winners. With the joint-highest number shots on target during Project Restart, Salah is sure to start 2020/21 in a similar fashion.

Jarrod Bowen (£6.5m) is our chosen representative from the West Ham attack to face Newcastle. The Magpies conceded more headed attempts than any other team during Project Restart, which plays into Bowen’s hand as a set-play taker for the Hammers. Meanwhile, his positional classification gives him a slight edge over Michail Antonio, who he outperformed during pre-season by two goals/one assist to two assists.

Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.5m) was the pick of the midfield options below £6.0m, with three of our Scout Squad pundits selecting him their line-ups. West Ham clearly still have defensive issues of their own as they lost 5-3 to Bournemouth in a recent pre-season friendly. During Project Restart, Saint-Maximin had the second-highest number of touches in the penalty area among Newcastle players.

FORWARDS

Why FPL Managers Should Focus on Premium Forwards in 2020/21

Harry Kane (£10.5m) appears to be the key man for anyone looking to invest in the Spurs attack for their favourable run of games at the start of 2020/21. During Project Restart, he was chief among his colleagues for touches in the box, shots there, big chances and shots on target. In fact, his total of 13 accurate efforts across that period was bettered only by four other Premier League players.

Already at 48% ownership, it seems to be a rather popular opinion to think Timo Werner (£9.5m) will have a great season for Chelsea. The former RB Leipzig forward was involved in nearly 40 Bundesliga goals last season and has already scored against Brighton during pre-season.

Che Adams (£6.0m) could offer excellent value this season based on Southampton’s form and fixtures. In Gameweek 1, they face a Crystal Palace side that conceded 18 times during Project Restart, more than any side that survived relegation. Meanwhile, across that same period, Adams actually outperformed Danny Ings for shots in the box per 90, big chances per 90 and shots on target per 90, registering more FPL points than his esteemed colleague in the last three Gameweeks of the campaign, once his starting place was assured.

SUBSTITUTES

Aaron Ramsdale (£5.0m) gets a spot on the Scout Picks bench after David and Neale selected him for their Scout Squad submissions. Martin Dúbravka (139) was the only goalkeeper to make more saves than Ramsdale (128) last season, who now turns out for a Sheffield United side that conceded the joint-highest number of big chances during Project Restart.

Romain Saïss (£5.0m) is one of the more assured starters in Wolves’ defence this season. In the last nine Gameweeks of 2019/20, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men boasted the best expected Goals Conceded (xGC) score in the whole division.

Despite Palace’s defensive issues at the beginning of 2020/21, Tyrick Mitchell (£4.0m) remains the most viable bargain-bucket defender. It is unclear how long his run in the team will last considering the Eagles’ injury absentees will have to return at some point but, as things stand, nobody spent more time at left-back for Roy Hodgson than him during pre-season.

James Ward-Prowse (£6.0m) represents and even cheaper alternative route into the Southampton attack, with a possible share of penalties. Between Gameweeks 30+ and 38+, the Saints’ captain whipped in 72 crosses, more than any other player, while his 20 shots ranked joint-ninth amongst midfielders.

THE CAPTAIN

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 36+?

The Scout Picks captain is chosen using a four-way vote between our Scout Squad pundits.

Because the use of Fantasy Football Scout data is used so heavily in this process, the captain we choose each Gameweek is usually known only to those who have signed up to Premier Membership and revealed to the public only when the deadline has passed.

Here’s how we voted for Gameweek 1:

THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Each week, one of the Fantasy Football Scout community takes on the Scout Picks by pitting their chosen XI against ours.

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 Moderators and Contributors League for the following season.

Boleyn Boy is the first to take us on this year. They went with a 3-5-2 line-up of Fabianski; Robertson, van Dijk, Egan; Mané (c), Alli, Zaha, H Barnes, Bowen; Kane (vc), Ings.

Best players by position:

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

1,898 Comments Post a Comment
  1. bautasten
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ryan (Walton)
    TAA, Justin, Walker-Peters (Mitchell, Taylor)
    Salah, Auba, Havertz, Soucek (Bissouma)
    Ings, Adams, Werner

    Is this team too unbalanced? 0.5 ITB for Ings -> Martial GW2

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      6/10 too much SOT imo

      1. bautasten
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Well it's for one week only, then I'm down to one attacker, one defender 🙂

        1. Tricky FC
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          who is walton?

          1. bautasten
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Ryan's new backup which adds to the appeal of Ryan imo since the backup is only 4.0.

            1. FFFoxy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              Brighton just upped villas bid for Martinez. Be careful of Ryan

              1. bautasten
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 6 months ago

                Cheers, will probably change to Mccarthy and do Walker-peters to Justin just to be sure then.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Have had similar but don't feel the compromise to squeeze in Ings/Martial is quite worth it, but you may be right.

      1. bautasten
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah, that's the decision. Way more balanced if I go for say DCL instead of Ings, but no route to United other than selling Salah and I don't want to be forced to do that I think. Thanks for input!

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          No worries! Just tweaking my team again to squeeze in Ings + 0.5m lol.

          1. bautasten
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Good luck 😀

    3. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Finally, a fellow Ings Che double up. Like it a lot.

      1. bautasten
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah I like it for one week at least. Thanks.

  2. Spoonhead
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Give it to me straight fellas.... appreciate anything you've got for me

    McCarthy | (Steer)
    Alexander-Arnold | Saiss | Davies | Walker-Peters | (Mitchell)
    Saint-Maximin | Salah (VC) | Aubameyang (C) | (Souchek, Stephens)
    Werner | Adams | Kane

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Rip it up and start again

      1. Spoonhead
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yikes, you sound like my wife

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Yikes I retract the comment

    2. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nice team! Do you have a United strategy?

      1. Spoonhead
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        What do you mean?

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nice team. Personally wouldn't have Kane.

  3. fpl_austria
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Final decision:

    A) Ings + Mitrovic + Bissouma (3-4-3) 0.5 itb for Martial
    B) Ings + Pereira/ASM + Davis (3-5-2) 0.5 itb for Martial
    C) Mitrovic + Pereira + Davis (3-5-2) 3.0 itb for either Martial or Fernandes

    1. bautasten
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I've opted for three playing forwards since all the 4.5 attackers won't play. Hence A for me!

      1. fpl_austria
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thx, I'm also leaning towards A!

  4. davewg59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who is the best 4m gk to have in reserve?

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If you're not gonna play the 4m, pick the low ownership ones so that they won't drop in price. Don't think any of the 4.0s are playing since villa might sign one.

  5. Gazzpfc
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Off FPL

    The sun dream team can you make transfers after the first game as no city or utd players this wknd. Or is 1st tanager window 1st October

  6. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Fancy a quickie?

    a. TAA + DCL
    b. Justin + Vardy

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A defo

    2. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    4. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Vardy will likely outscore

      Justin + taa + dcl

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Will Leicester have the creativity with Chilwell, Pereira and Maddison missing?

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I expect Leicester and pool to concede and dcl to blank

          Vardy will likely get a goal and bps

        2. ivantys
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Golden boot winner vs a promoted club. He fired 4 past villa last season. He scored 5 against promoted teams and 4 against relegated teams. Missed a game vs norwich or he could have gotten more. He loves playing against such teams.

    5. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers lads.

  7. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hi all, interested in feedback on this draft. Not sure where else I can tinker. £3.0ITB offers flexibility for City/Utd players.

    Team GTG?

    Ryan
    TAA Justin Mitchell Davies
    Salah Son Aubameyang ASM
    Werner Mitrovic

    Subs: Walton, DStephens, CTaylor, Brewster

    1. Andre_The_Giant
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I've exact same team but Ings instead of Mitro. Will do Son to Rashford GW2

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I’m not entirely sold on mitro and considering either Adams or using extra 0.5 for Wilson

  8. SOTHPAW
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Egan & Barnes
    Or
    B) Robertson & Soucek

  9. ididnt
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    RMT my final draft please:

    McCarthy

    TAA, Justin, Saiss

    Auba (c), Salah (vc), ASM, JWP

    Werner, Kane, Mitro

    (Steer, Mitchell, Bissouma, Taylor)

  10. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Has there been any insightful press conferences?

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      We'll need a bigger spoon for this one 🙂

      I'd say flick through the tweets section on here

  11. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Should I make any final changes to this back 7

    McCarthy Nyland

    TAA Davies Egan Justin Ayling

    1.5 ITB

    Any ideas would be welcomed

  12. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Still overthinking it... but, final questions (I think):

    1) Start: Justin or KWP?
    2) Bring in: Son or Alli?

    1. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Kwp

  13. n-doggg
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Probably for a one week punt, pick one:

    A. Son
    B. Alli

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  14. simong1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A or B?

    A) McCarthy, Davies and ASM
    B) Lloris, KWP and Soucek

    1. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  15. Mother of Lucas
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hiya everybody!
    I'm new here, I'm Lucas' Moma.
    Tough game week for me personally as the boy wonder Lucas Moura comes up against my other darling Lucas Digne.
    Sadly Lucas Digne is having to sit the one out on the naughty step aka my bench as my boy wonder Lucas Moura is destined to be this week's *star-player*.

    Now to get me one of those cute little profile pictures.
    Good luck for tomorrow my children, and don't stay up too late tonight! x x x

    1. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Probably the most bizarre post of all time and that’s saying something

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      😆 😆 😆

    3. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      say no to drugs

    4. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      What about your other child Torreira? Is he also out on the naughty step?

      1. Mother of Lucas
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        We don't talk about him, he is the black sheep of our family.

  16. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Choose:

    A) Saiss
    B) Davies

    1) Justin
    2) KWP (Have McCarthy)

    Cheers! 🙂

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Choose yourself, you’ll make a better decision

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A2 in my team

  17. Tomas_brolin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Why no Vinagre in teams any more? Looks set to start as Marcal needs time to adjust says NES

    And surely Pereira is worth .5 more than ASM? The latter is in loads of teams

  18. Salah_Fingers
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I just clicked play wildcard by mistake on the non official app, can someone please confirm whether wildcard option is active, or had my miss click done nothing? Cheers

    1. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Did nothing

      1. Salah_Fingers
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thank you, panic over

    2. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      oh no

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cant WC or FH 1st gw

  19. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How many games are we expecting Justin to get?Can he not go to LB when Perriera is back?

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Forgot about castagne..but still how many will he get at RB?

  20. The Big Fella
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Barnes (Leicester) a good pick for the first couple of games? I can't decide.

    1. The Big Fella
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Or should I just go for Bowen as everybody else is

      1. n-doggg
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Better pick than Bowen. Can’t see past the fact he plays for Moyes at West Ham with awful fixtures

        1. The Big Fella
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah but WHU didn't do badly for goal scoring after restart or in pre-season. I hate this game at times

          1. ivantys
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Avoid west ham until week 8, then i'm sure they will start scoring points for you.

  21. FFFoxy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Saka or Nketiah for first two Gameweeks?

  22. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Guys time to end this dilemma, Need suggestions.

    A)
    Ramsdale 4.0
    Taa egan ayling kwp mitchell
    Auba salah son asm bissouma
    Werner adams mitro

    B)
    Ryan 4.0
    Taa Justin kwp vinagre ferguson
    Auba salah son asm souchek
    Werner ings

    For A) I can get Bruno and for B I can get Martial.

    1. mbsoz45
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  23. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    GTG?

    McCarthy
    TAA Justin Vinagre Holding
    Mo(c) ASM Son Auba
    Mitro Werner

    Bench: Lamptey Davis Greenwood

  24. alastair
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Why does the article say JWP is 5.5 when he is 6 ?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      cos they made a mistake

  25. spotfixers
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy - Nyland
    TAA - Doherty - Michael - KWP - Douglas
    Auba - Son - ASM - Traore - Havertz
    Werner - Mitro - Ings

    Please RMT and provide advice, I am new to FPL. Much thanks.

    1. Drogo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No Liverpool upfront?

  26. MoSalalalalalalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Gtg and is this my best starting line-up? Thanks fellas

    Ramsdale
    TAA | Davies | Saiss | KWP
    ASM | Auba (C) | Mane (V)
    DCL | Ings | Werner

    GK: Steer |  Diangana | Bissouma | Ferguson

    0.5 ITR

    GW2 - lngs > Martial
    GW3 - Auba > KDB

  27. Drogo
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I need the most likely starter for 4.0 (except Mitchell) and I'm good to go. Any suggestions?

  28. Yossi
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Salah or Mane?

  29. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Tammy Abraham(c)

  30. Slim25
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ings, Puli/Havertz & Son or Salah, Alli & Adams

    Current team
    McCarthy (Button)
    TAA, Egan, Davies (Shaw, 4.0m)
    Auba, Salah, Alli, Barnes (4.5m)
    Werner, Ings, Mitro

    Any suggestions would be great, cheers!