With the deadline for the first of three festive rounds of fixtures fast approaching, we reveal the players from Thursday’s Scout Squad article who have earned a place in our Gameweek 18 Scout Picks.
Two of our favourite bargain basement keepers, Stoke’s Lee Grant and Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford, are out of the running this week, with tough ties away to Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.
However, we feel that Burnley stopper Tom Heaton (4.8) looks to be worth the small extra outlay as he entertains a Middlesbrough side that has scored a mere seven goals in eight away trips.
The 14.1% owned Clarets keeper also offers us the security of extra points – he tops both the saves and bonus returns among stoppers this term.
There’s no shifting Marcos Alonso (6.4) from our picks on the back of clean sheet or attacking returns in all but one of his 11 league matches since becoming a Chelsea first team regular in Gameweek 7.
Visitors Bournemouth have the same meagre tally of away goals as ‘Boro, making this another ideal opportunity for the 9% Spanish left wing-back to reward our faith.
Sunderland’s clash with Manchester United brings Red Devils defender Phil Jones into our thinking. The 2.8% owned centre-back’s 4.9 price tag, and clean sheet credentials look enticing this Gameweek, given that the Black Cats have mustered just four goals in eight away fixtures.
Hector Bellerin was our preferred Arsenal choice in our four-man backline for West Brom’s visit to the Emirates, but his 6.4 price tag proved too much for the 84 million budget.
Instead, we have opted for his cheaper Arsenal team-mate Gabriel (4.8), who looks set to continue at centre-back in the absence of Shkodran Mustafi. West Brom’s seven-goal tally away from the Hawthorns looks an ideal opportunity for the Gunners to pick up a fifth clean sheet of the campaign, despite recent failings.
Stoke City’s trip to Anfield also offers the prospect of a shut-out, with Nathaniel Clyne (5.7)’s added attacking threat earning him a place. No defender has created more chances than the 12% owned Liverpool full-back this season.
Our three-man midfield is focused on premium picks who all enjoy strong home fixtures.
Bournemouth’s travel sickness in attack also extends to their defence, which propels Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (10.4) into our thinking.
With Diego Costa sidelined through suspension, we feel that the 35.3% owned Belgian will step up against a Cherries backline that has conceded 16 goals away from the Vitality Stadium. Hazard could even be deployed in a false nine role in the absence of Diego Costa.
While Alexis Sanchez (11.8) is better known for his exploits on the road this season, after scoring nine of his 12 goals on his travels, we feel he still has plenty to offer for West Brom visit. The Chilean has scored twice and produced an assist in his last two home matches and takes on a Baggies defence that has just one clean sheet in eight away trips.
Sadio Mane (9.4) completes our heavyweight midfield ahead of Stoke’s Anfield visit.
The Liverpool winger has excelled in the absence of Philippe Coutinho through injury. Since the Brazilian was stretchered off in Gameweek 13, the 21.3% owned Mane has accrued four assists and scored twice. Meanwhile, the Potters have conceded 11 times on their travels.
Sunderland are likely to attempt to park the proverbial bus when they visit Old Trafford on Boxing Day. But we think this tactic is unlikely to trouble Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.5).
The big Swede comes into this tie in fine fettle, having scored seven goals in his last six league starts. Taking into account such strong form and Costa’s suspension, it is no surprise to see the Red Devils forward attract almost 400,000 new FPL owners so far prior to Monday’s deadline.
Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke (7.7) has excelled on the road this season, netting six of his eight goals away from Selhurst Park
With Sam Allardyce now in situ, we’re backing the 10.6% owned Belgian to continue that impressive form when he visits a Watford side that has conceded 12 goals and kept a solitary league clean sheet at Vicarage Road.
Our differential offering in this week’s forward selection is Fernando Llorente (6.3), who has a home clash against West Ham’s obliging defence.
Away from home, the Hammers have conceded 17 goals, while the 5.3% owned Swansea forward has struck a pair of goals in his last two Liberty Stadium outings.
Watford’s home defence may be porous, but in Jose Holebas (4.8) they have a dead-ball expert who will be granted the opportunity to deliver attacking points when Crystal Palace pay visit. The Eagles have conceded 71 attempts from set plays this season, a tally that only Burnley, Hull City and Sunderland have the misfortune to beat.
Another set-piece specialist, Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.5), also earns a bench spot, given the Hammers’ history of conceding on the road. The 10.1% owned Swansea schemer has scored three goals and assisted a further four at the Liberty this season.
Our final bench place goes to Islam Slimani (8.3) who looks set to lead Leicester’s attack as a result of Jamie Vardy’s suspension. The Foxes differential has two goals in his last three home fixtures and welcomes an Everton side that has shipped 14 goals and kept only one clean sheet in eight away trips.
The Community Champion
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 current champion to beat is Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33-point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.
This week’s lottery has selected Kryten who has fielded a 3-5-2 line up of: Hennessey; Valencia, Lovren, Sagna; Lallana, Payet, De Bruyne, Pogba, Walcott; Lukaku, Kane.
