With FA Cup Quarter Finals taking place this weekend, the talent pool to consider for the Gameweek 28 Scout Picks has been drastically reduced.

But in spite of just eight teams involved in league action, we have still mustered convincing 18-man squads ahead of Friday’s shake-down, as Mark, Paul and I compile the players that we feel will deliver over the reduced programme, listing them in rank order.

The discussions and disagreements that will take place behind the scenes are also showcased as we each seek to back our players for a place in the Scout Picks, as well as Saturday’s Spot the Differential article.

Finally, we will also reveal the Champion who has been selected by our lottery to represent the community and be in with a chance of winning a £100 Amazon voucher.

Goalkeepers

Our keeper selections suggest that the Merseyside teams offer the best opportunity for clean sheet returns, with both Liverpool and Everton enjoying favourable home ties against opponents who have struggled on the road.

Simon Mignolet (4.7) earns three votes as the Reds host a Burnley side with just eight goals on their travels, with only Hull City scoring fewer away from home.

Toffees custodian Joel Robles (4.7) is another with universal support. With two top spots, from Mark and I, he looks the frontrunner for the Scout Picks selection, especially as West Brom have only managed to score 12 goals from their 13 away days.

With Ronald Koeman’s defence conceding just 10 goals from 13 Goodison Park outings, the Spaniard presents a strong case for inclusion.

Paul is looking to Hull City’s Eldin Jakupovic (4.1) as his alternative, handing him top selection, with Mark and I considering the 22.9% stopper for third place.

The Tigers have shown marked improvement at home following Marco Silva’s appointment in January, with Jakupovic conceding just two goals over his last three outings that KCOM Stadium, including a shutout in a 2-0 over Liverpool.

Defenders

Liverpool and Everton’s domination of our selections continues as we move to the defence, with their assets again taking centre stage.

Toffees right-back Seamus Coleman (6.0) earns top billing across the board, not only for his strong clean sheet prospects against West Brom but due to his attacking intent, having accrued four goals and as many assists this season. I’m also backing an Everton pairing in the Scout Picks, pushing for the inclusion of penalty taker Leighton Baines (5.7).

For Liverpool, Nathaniel Clyne (5.8) looks to present the optimum candidate in Jurgen Klopp’s rearguard ahead of an Anfield meeting with the Burnley attack. Owned by 9.2%, Clyne has created more chances that any other defender this season and that promise helps claim second spot across all three selections.

While this pair look to have secured two of our defender slots come Friday’s decision, the consensus evaporates across the rest of our backline selections.

Mark and Paul believe that Harry Maguire (4.4) will shine this week based on the Tigers’ renewed confidence at home, with the imposing centre-back registering 11 goal attempts over his last six matches, a record among defenders during that period.

I’m less convinced given Swansea City’s equally impressive recent renaissance under Paul Clement.

In the Swans’ three road trips since the new head coach took charge, his side have scored in every match, including three against Liverpool. Given that the other two outings were against Manchester City and Chelsea, I’m not certain that Marco Silva’s side can keep the Welshmen at bay.

I’m also pitted against my two colleagues in their selection of Chris Brunt (5.1) for the Baggies trip to Goodison Park.

With no attacking or defensive returns away from home at all this season, his prospects look slender. Instead, I’m backing his team-mate Gareth McAuley (5.2) to maintain his menace from set pieces, with three of his six goals arriving on the road.

Paul takes his turn to be odd man out in favouring Bournemouth’s Charlie Daniels (5.1). But with no clean sheets for the Cherries since Gameweek 19 and only one shot on target for the left back in his last six, Mark and I seem unlikely to be persuaded.

“Bearing in mind Bournemouth’s form, Charlie Daniels is clearly a risky pick but a punt could pay off in a week like this one. While I expect goals at both ends at the Vitality, Daniels is clearly an explosive option and has served up four lots of double-figures already this season. The stats do enough to sway me – no Cherries player has created more goal scoring chances in front of their own fans than the raiding left-back”. Paul

Instead, we both opt for Swansea City’s Alfie Mawson (4.6) who just edges out team-mate Martin Olsson in our reckoning, having scored three goals over his last eight run outs.

“I’m sticking with Alfie Mawson as my Swansea selection, despite the recent emergence of Martin Olsson as a factor. His link up with Sigurdsson on the left is impressive and potent but Mawson was unfortunate to miss out on another goal in the win over Burnley, and I also like his ability to hoover up clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI).” – Mark

Midfielders

There’s a retrospective feel to our midfield selection, as we all favour doubling up on Liverpool candidates, recalling their early season allure.

Burnley’s struggling away form also extends to their backline, which has shipped 28 goals and kept just a single clean sheet on the road.

Sadio Mane (9.5), who has three top placings over the squads, looks the key man to exploit this fragility, given that he has scored eight times at Anfield, a record among midfielders that only Chelsea’s Eden Hazard can match.

Our second Reds midfielder spot is set to go to Philippe Coutinho (8.2), another who gets a clean sweep of support.

The Brazilian may have only scored once since returning in Gameweek 21 from a long injury lay-off, but his underlying statistics have caught our attention. Over the last four Gameweeks, the schemer has registered an impressive 20 goal attempts, 11 of which were at close range.

“I’ve opted for a Liverpool double-up, though was tempted to select all three of their front three at home to Burnley. Although Roberto Firmino fails to make it, the Brazilian – similar to Sadio Mane – has already bagged five double-figure hauls in front of his own fans. Philippe Coutinho’s underlying numbers do enough to get the edge over his compatriot, with the former Inter man firing more goal attempts than any midfielder over the last four Gameweeks”. – Paul

The uniformity continues with Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.7) monopolising our third choice spot ahead of Swansea’s trip to Humberside. The Icelander has delivered attacking returns in all but one of his last eight league starts to make him a shoo-in for selection.

Josh King (5.5) looks to be another certainty having gained three nominations.

The Cherries attacker, who is listed as a midfielder in FPL, is on spot-kick duties for Eddie Howe’s men and has scored five times in the last six Gameweeks. Already subject to a price rise this week, he is still found in just 3.4% of teams and faces a West Ham defence that has conceded nine goals in their last six outings.

Grapple fans can at least seek solace in our potential disagreement over the optimum Hammers midfielder for the Bournemouth visit.

Mark and Paul are backing Michail Antonio, who has scored eight goals and has assisted a further seven this season – he returns from a one-match ban to face the Cherries and could be deployed up front.

“Antonio has it for me. With Bournemouth missing Tyrone Mings through suspension and, in all likelihood skipper Simon Francis through injury, Antonio could get plenty of joy. Baily Cargill could possibly be handed a full Premier League debut for the Cherries – a daunting prospect for the 21-year-old with Andy Carroll now fit.” – Mark

But with just one assist in his last four starts, I think he lacks the form to warrant selection, with my vote going to Manuel Lanzini.

Over his last sixt starts, the Argentine has registered three goals and three assists, with a 50% involvement in the Hammers goals when on the pitch since Dimitri Payet’s departure.

Forwards

It is inconceivable that Captain Poll leader Romelu Lukaku (10.1) will not make the cut this Friday, gaining top spot in all three of our forward selections.

The Everton marksman has provided attacking returns in each of his last four Goodison Park outings, including his four-goal massacre of Bournemouth in Gameweek 24. Meanwhile, visitors West Brom have claimed just a single shut-out on the road all season. With a 35.6% ownership, Lukaku will be a pivotal player this Gameweek.

A fit-again Andy Carroll looks another strong contender for a Scout Picks berth, with the second spot sewn up across all three listings.

Although he didn’t get on the scoresheet in his return to the Hammers’ line-up against Chelsea, he had scored four in as many starts prior to succumbing to a groin injury in Gameweek 24.

Fernando Llorente (6.4) is this week’s top FPL target with 116,000 transfers so far. He grabs third billing across the board due to a fine run of form that has seen him score five across his last six Gameweek starts.

Hull’s ability to cope with Llorente’s aerial threat will be key to Saturday’s contest, given that five of his 11 goals have been from headers and only Crystal Palace’s Christain Benteke has registered more headed attempts than the Spaniard.

Recent evidence suggests he may not find it easy against the Tigers rearguard. Before Marco Silva took charge, Hull had the second worst record for conceding headed goal attempts; under his guidance, they have become the eighth best.

If we opt for a 3-4-3, the bench role spot is likely to be a straight shoot-out between Andre Gray (6.1), who has three votes, and Oumar Niasse.

Despite Burnley’s poor away record this season, recent form suggests they may just be able to breach Liverpool’s defence. Sean Dyche’s troops have scored in each of their last six road trips, with 4.5% owned Gray notching three during that stretch.

With Swansea shipping 10 goals over their last six, Hull’s Oumar Niasse (5.6) has an outside chance of delivering returns. Sitting in just 0.3% of teams, he is among the lowest owned players under consideration.

Undaunted by Everton’s home record, Paul has opted to include West Brom’s Salomon Rondon (6.6) in his selection. With no goals since Gameweek 16, he faces a battle to persuade us that the 6.4% owned Venezuelan deserves a place, even on the bench.

Community Champion

Representing the Community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek will be Baked Baines. This is his tenth season, with 2012/13’s finish of 16,917 his best to date.

The community champion who has the best lead over the Scouts during 2016/17 will win a £100 Amazon voucher (currently we can only offer Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com vouchers).

Last Gameweek’s champion Holmes beat the Scout Picks 94 to 72.

The current champion to beat is Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33 point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.