Spurs and Liverpool assets dominate our Scout Picks thinking for a second successive week due to kind fixtures and continuing strong form.
They take up six first XI places and are again supplemented by a cast of budget gems to emerge from our midweek Scout Squad long list.
Among the kindly-priced players to earn a nod is Burnley stopper Nick Pope (4.9), who hosts a travel-sick Everton side that has registered a league-low number of shots (44) and over the last six away days.
With regular Clarets number one Tom Heaton still not ready for first team action, Pope looks assured of a start to and will hope to build on his side’s strong home record – in front of their own fans, only Manchester United, Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool have earned more clean sheets than Burnley’s six. The return of James Tarkowski could also boost Pope’s potential: nine of the Clarets’ ten clean sheets have been earned with the centre-back in the starting XI.
Spurs defender Ben Davies (5.8) wins an instant recall after rewarding our faith last time out with a clean sheet and bonus point away to Crystal Palace. He now hosts Huddersfield Town having starred against them in Spurs’ 4-0 victory in the reverse fixture. A goal and assist helped him deliver a 16-point haul that day – his best return of the season.
With 104,000+ new owners since the weekend, the left-back is currently the most popular transfer target of Gameweek 29.
Another defender to offer us the prospect of points at both ends of the pitch is Southampton’s Jack Stephens (4.5). He has two goals from his last four matches and hosts a Stoke City side that has only scored three times in their last six away days.
Just one of our Liverpool and Spurs contingent blanked last week, Reds centre-back Virgil van Dijk. So we have ignored him this time around and instead turned to team-mate Andrew Robertson (4.8) for the visit of Newcastle.
The Scot’s assist and bonus return against West Ham last week impressed us, as have four chances created over his last two league run-outs, which is the second highest among defenders over that spell.
The Magpies have allowed 42 penalty area shots over their last four matches – a league-low they share with bottom side West Brom – which should ensure that Mohamed Salah (10.5) once again rewards our faith. The captain poll leader and FPL’s top points scorer takes his regular slot in our selection as he bids for a fourth successive double-digit points haul.
Christian Eriksen’s (9.3) assist and five attempts against Crystal Palace last weekend sees him remain our favoured Spurs option in midfield. We are backing him to prosper against a Terriers backline that last kept a clean sheet on the road back in Gameweek 6.
Marko Arnautovic (6.9) earns a spot for West Ham’s trip to Swansea City after impressing in a central striker role against Liverpool last weekend, firing in three shots, with one effort denied by the Anfield woodwork. The Austrian has been directly involved in 11 goals over his last 10 Gameweek appearances
Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez (8.7) takes our final midfield place as he welcomes a Bournemouth side that has allowed opponents 64 efforts on goal over the last four Gameweeks, with only basement-dwellers West Brom conceding more.
The Algerian winger has three goals and as many assists over his last seven starts and fired in six shots in last weekend’s 1-1 home draw with Stoke.
Harry Kane’s (12.9) brace against Huddersfield earlier this season, coupled with his recent performances at Wembley, makes the Spurs striker a shoo-in.
He’s scored 11 home league goals and had more shots (95), penalty area shots (59) and attempts on target (40) than any other player. Kane has also scored six goals in as many Gameweeks.
Our trio of Liverpool assets also includes Roberto Firmino (9.3), who has excelled over his last six outings, registering four goals and a pair of assists. That extends to a run of eight goals from his last ten Gameweek starts.
West Brom’s dire run of form ahead of their trip to Watford ensures that Hornets striker Troy Deeney (6.3) earns the final spot in our XI.
Over their last four league run-outs, Alan Pardew’s troops have conceded a league-low 11 goals.
Deeney, meanwhile, has found the net twice over his last three starts and picked up maximum bonus points after firing in the winner in his side’s 1-0 victory over Everton last weekend. Since Javi Gracia took charge of the Hornets in Gameweek 24, the striker has almost doubled his shot tally per 90 minutes from 1.1 to 2.0.
The Baggies attack has been just as poor as their defence over their last four matches. This books Hornets left-back Jose Holebas (4.8) one of our three substitute berths, having helped his side earn two clean sheets in four Gameweeks. The Greek also ranks second among defenders for chances created over the last four Gameweeks, with six.
James Ward-Prowse (5.1) looks to be a strong differential option this week after scoring three and assisting a further two goals over his last six matches. The 3.4%-owned Southampton midfielder earns his bench spot ahead of the visit of the league’s worst travelling defence, Stoke City.
On the road, the Potters have kept just one clean sheet and have shipped 33 goals, a record they share with West Ham.
That Hammers statistic sees our final bench role go to Swansea’s Jordan Ayew (5.4), who scored in Tuesday’s 2-0 FA Cup replay victory over Sheffield Wednesday. The Ghanian is his side’s most owned player (13.3%) and has found the net five times in the league.
The Community Champion
Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 26 is Heroes and Villains, who has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: De Gea; Davies, Aurier, Stephens; Mane, Mahrez, Eriksen, Salah; Firmino, Vardy, J.Ayew.
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.
