Scout Picks

Gameweek 26 Scout Picks – Liverpool and Man United backed for big wins

We are backing Liverpool to return to winning ways in Gameweek 26 as Bournemouth come to Anfield.

That’s why defensive and attacking assets from Jurgen Klopp’s men make it into the Scout Picks this weekend.

We are set up in the traditional 3-4-3 formation for Gameweek 26, and at £81.3m we are £2.2m inside our budget.

Goalkeeper

With votes from three of our pundits, Crystal Palace man Vicente Guaita (£4.2m) gets the nod in goal this weekend. The Eagles’ home defensive record this season is still only bettered by Liverpool and Chelsea, while West Ham are yet to score an away league goal in 2019, their last one coming at Southampton back in Gameweek 19.

Defenders

Andrew Robertson (£6.8m) remains our go-to Liverpool defensive option ahead of Bournemouth’s visit to Anfield. The Cherries have been woeful away from home in recent months, losing their last seven road trips by a combined score of 20 goals to three. Just one of those goals scored has come in the last five of those, which bodes well for Liverpool in their hunt for a first clean sheet since Gameweek 22. With Bournemouth’s recent defensive struggles away from home, there could be attacking returns on offer for Robertson too. No defender has more touches in opposition penalty boxes than the Scottish international in the last four matches.

The Scout Squad are hoping that Matt Doherty‘s (£5.3m) FA Cup heroics against Shrewsbury Town were the warm-up for a star performance against Newcastle on Monday night. His prolonged presence in the final third continues to promise attacking returns, while the Magpies have been particularly shot-shy away from home. In the last four matches on the road, Rafa Benitez’s men are bottom of the league for goal attempts inside the box, efforts on target and total big chances. A second consecutive clean sheet at Molineux looks likely for Doherty and his defensive colleagues.

Sead Kolasinac (£5.0m) completes our trio of full-backs likely to earn points at both ends of the pitch in Gameweek 26. Arsenal travel to a Huddersfield side currently bottom of the league for big chances over the last four Gameweeks, with only West Ham registering fewer shots in the penalty box than them in that time. Meanwhile, left wing-back Kolasinac has the joint-second highest number of touches in the opposition penalty area among defenders since Gameweek 22.

Midfielders

Mohamed Salah (£13.6m) gets back into the Scout Picks once again, chosen as the best midfield option by three of our pundits. Peter was the only one to put him in second place. The Liverpool man should benefit from Bournemouth’s recent poor away form, as they have conceded an average of 2.85 goals per game in their last seven on the road. No team has allowed more big chances in the last four away matches as Eddie Howe’s men.

Son Heung-min (£8.8m) has been boasting remarkable consistency in FPL over a long period of time now. Since Gameweek 13, the South Korean has averaged 9.2 points per appearance. It has become impossible to ignore the Tottenham man now, especially as he continues to have his place in the side guaranteed by ongoing injuries to Harry Kane and Dele Alli. Leicester come to Wembley Stadium having shipped plenty of chances away from home recently, just three sides have allowed more in the box over their last four road matches.

Paul Pogba (£8.7m) looks set for a strong showing in Gameweek 26 as Manchester United travel to face Fulham. The Cottagers have not made many defensive improvements under Claudio Ranieri and are second worst for shots conceded in the box during their last four home matches. Meanwhile, Pogba is still joint-top of the league for shots on target over the last four Gameweeks, having registered more efforts on goal than any other player in that time. With some creativity to his name over that period too, goals and assists are both likely at Craven Cottage.

James Ward-Prowse (£5.1m) is our chosen representative from Southampton this week as they host a Cardiff side typically poor away from home. The Bluebirds are susceptible to set pieces too, in which Ward-Prowse remains involved for the Saints. He has three goals in his last four matches and has created more chances than any Saints player in that time.

Forwards

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) comes into the Scout Picks for Gameweek 26, deputising at the eleventh hour for his colleague Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The latter was originally going to be included in spite of his recent illness but his absence from the training pictures on Friday have left enough doubt in our minds to select Frenchman Lacazette instead. As already mentioned, the Terriers have allowed a large number of big chances in their last four home matches, which should provide the right amount of opportunities for Lacazette to secure a points haul.

Marcus Rashford (£7.8m) completes a Manchester United double-up to fully capitalise on Fulham’s defensive frailties. We’ve already covered how vulnerable they look ahead of Gameweek 26, still the most scored-on team this season having shipped 55 goals. Rashford is joint-top of the league with Pogba for shots on target over the last four Gameweeks and has blanked just once since Gameweek 20.

Raúl Jiménez (£6.7m) looks set to continue his rich vein of form when Newcastle come to Molineux on Monday night. The Wolves man has four attacking returns in his last three outings, offering a healthy balance of creativity and goal threat. Meanwhile, the Magpies have not travelled well in their last four away matches. They are joint-bottom of the league for big chances conceded in that period, level with Bournemouth.

Substitutes

Jan Bednarek (£4.0m) still offers decent value for his owners and is worth considering for a place in the starting XI in Gameweek 26. Cardiff come to Southampton with the fewest away goals of any side in the league this season.

Pascal Groß (£6.7m) has jumped back onto the Fantasy radar in a big way after creating a whopping 10 chances against Watford last time out. With Burnley the next visitors to the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon, two of our Scout Squad pundits included him in their submissions.

Fernando Llorente (£5.7m) has had more penalty box shots than any other player in the Premier League in the last four Gameweeks, despite playing just 219 minutes in that time. We think he’ll be back in the starting line-up against Leicester on Sunday after improving Spurs from the bench in their win over Newcastle.

Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 26 is Pep pig. They have opted for a 3-4-3 formation of: Ryan; Duffy, Kolasinac, Koscielny; Martial, De Bruyne, Son, Salah; Aubameyang, Firmino, Murray.

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 Scouts were defeated in Double Gameweek 25, Joax2 winning by a 86-56 scoreline.

fclackless‘s winning margin of 33 points (77-44) in Gameweek 10 is the current target to beat.

4,069 Comments Post a Comment
  1. child of God
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I've got 6 players in the scout picks,
    Is that good or bad?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Less than many.

      Usually good.

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ask me again on Monday.

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I've 9 . Hoping it's a good omen.

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Doomed

    4. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      9 counting bench 8 otherwise.

  2. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    How many clean sheets do Arsenal have away from home?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      none

    2. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      They are due.

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Optimism 🙂

    3. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Last one was GW38 last season. Huddersfield

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Back to back CS vs Hudd incoming

          1. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            The ultimate test of any defence.

      • THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        How many films did the Keystone Cops feature in?

    4. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Evening all - GTG?

      McCarthy
      Robbo TAA* Doherty
      Salah (c) Sterling Son Pogba JWP
      Lacazette Rashford

      Etheridge AWB Digne Niasse

      1. Aubamewho
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        G2G

    5. Aubamewho
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Moutinho or Jota ?

      1. Stinglikeabee
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Neves

        1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          What kind of a reply is that?

      2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Jota

        1. Aubamewho
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers

    6. DMP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Play:

      A)Bennett
      B)Bednarek
      C)Digne

      1. Aubamewho
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        B

      2. Stinglikeabee
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        B

      3. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I have to choose between A and C

    7. milanista10
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Help lads!

      A) Richarlison and Alonso to Mane and Lascelles for -4
      B) Sterling, Ings, and Alonso to Mane, Lacazette, and Doherty for -8

      A or B?

    8. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      With CAR ars FUL in the next three and needing a sub 5.9 midfielder, I think Redmond or JWP is the one. Which one out of the two? Redmond more attacking but JWP on set pieces.

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Just realised ‘CAR ars FUL’ reads like I’m going to the tip

      2. Mo Mané Mo Problems
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I like JWP cos 3 letter acronyms are cool. Just sounds better.

      3. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        JWP - better stats

      4. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        JWP is always late season gold

      5. XabiAlonso
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I've got jwp he's great but been on my bench for his points

    9. QUEN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Who would you captain

      AWB trip VD
      Pogba son sane hazard
      Aguero Rashford Llorente

      Wanted to aub in but will wait a week. Thoughts? Currently weighing up Pogba or son

      1. QUEN
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Bench camarasa Luiz pelt

    10. The SK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      GTG?

      Fabianski
      Robertson Kolasinac Doherty
      Salah(C) Hazard Sane Son Pogba(VC)
      Rashford Jimenez

      Thanks!

    11. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ugh I really liked the look of my team this gw and logged on to see all the flags.

      I have Lindleof, Jota and Aubameyang in my starting XI. Chances of them playing slim?

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Expect Jota to play, wouldn't be too hopeful of the other two.

      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I ignore fpl flags and use Google to find out where player at

    12. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Start one out of these and first bench?

      A) TAA (BOU)
      B) Digne (wat)
      C) AWB (WHU)

      Worried about a TAA cameo.

      Cheers all! 🙂

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Am on ACB order starting TAA

      2. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Famous last words but TAA cameo is unlikely. I’d start TAA

        AWB is much more likely to get a cheat sheet than Digne but I’m a sucker for having the chance of attacking returns so I’d play Digne over AWB

        1. TheDragon
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          *lol auto correct - clean sheet!

        2. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          why unlikely? should get 20-30 for his first run out in a month...

          1. TheDragon
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            I just think that if he is fit he starts as their defence is in a bit of a mess currently. If he isn’t fit then he won’t be risked at all

            1. The Suspended One
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              i think hes fine playing milner there against BOU

              1. TheDragon
                • 5 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                We’ll find out tomorrow

    13. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Etheridge
      Robbo Taa Doherty
      Salah Haz Son Pogba Rich
      Rash Jim

      Digne Awb Ings.

      1ft. Would you do Rich to Anderson and use money rest of the itb next week?

    14. RVP20
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      My team is:
      Fabianski - Hamer
      Alonso - Robertson - Doherty - Wan-Bissaka - Bednarek
      Salah - Hazard - Sane - Pogba - Richarlison
      Rashford - Jimenez - Kamara
      1.1ITB - 2FT

      Is Hazard, Sane & Kamara > Jota, Son & Auba (For -4) the correct transfers?

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Auba might not play

      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        There's enough doubt about Auba to take hit not that I would've got him anyway. Laca better lately

    15. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ederson
      TAA Robbo AWB
      Richy Salah(c) Pogba Son
      Jimi Aguero Rashford

      Fab Digne Puncheon Cook

      Gtg? Or TAA to risky? Could also go Digne over AWB but Everton can’t keep a clean sheet.

    16. Lav
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Start:

      A. Richarlison (wat A)
      B. TAA (bou H)

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        B

      2. Vlad Tepes
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Roll a dice, Rich in bad form and TAA might get a cameo.

        Think it is safer to say that you should start A) but who knows

      3. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Trent.

        Even a cameo probably only loses to Rich by a point.

    17. zon
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Evening lads, setting up team for tomorrow. Got the bench right?

      Fab
      Robbo / Doherty / Shaw / AWB
      Salah(c) / Haz / Pogba / Son
      Jimenez / Rashford

      TAA on the bench

      Cheers and good luck everyone!

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Play TAA

        1. zon
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Bench AWB? ManU on the road seem to be getting cleanies.

      2. andrewe63
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        looks good apart from Hazard?

        1. zon
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          It was either him or Sane to Son. Not gonna take a hit there.

    18. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Why do I never have the self control to roll a FT...

    19. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Best FT this week?
      A Pereya to Moutinho
      B Pereya to Jota
      C Alonso to Pereira
      D Alonso to Kola
      E Ings to Rondon

    20. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Just got Auba in today before I heard the news. Do I still start him?

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        If not selling, 100%!

      2. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yrs

      3. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Of course. That's what auto subs are there for

    21. Sahil Yadav
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Play one:
      A) Digne (Watford, away)
      B) JWP (Cardiff, home)

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        B - defo

    22. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Just 4 scout picks... another 100+ points GW confirmed then... 😉

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        😆

      2. Esalman
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I'd also rather not have 4 pool+manutd players when they play each other next week.

    23. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Anyone going Pogba C?

      1. andrewe63
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        If you don't have Salah then why not. Could get goals/assists.

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I have Salah.. Will BOU really let him run wild again? not so sure..

          Pogba may destroy FUL...

          1. Esalman
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Salah scored a hatty against them in the reverse fixture.

            1. The Suspended One
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              hence Will BOU really let him run wild again? not so sure..

              Getting a HT on a team has a way of getting you some extra attention next time you play them

              1. Esalman
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                That's logical, however, we have to look at what exactly Bournemouth have done to suggest that they can stop Salah.

      2. circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        He's in the poll but can't look past Salah

      3. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No but VC after Salah C

    24. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      With questions over Trippier, TAA, Camerasa, Auba, I might struggle to field 11. Does it matter that much or is it mainly a pride thing?
      I was going to carry Kamara until the wildcard but would you do to Long (4.7) or Niasse (5.0)?

      1. Vlad Tepes
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        What is up with Trippier?

        1. circusmonkey
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Nothing but speculation of a rest with midweek in mind.

      2. tucaoneo
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        If I have to, I would pick Niasse for better fixtures.

    25. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Chance of rashford rested for CL?

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        For the final 15-20 minutes? High, if the game is won.

      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Doubtful

    26. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Bench order:

      A) Rich
      B) Digne
      C) Long

      1. Esalman
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        ACB. Forwards first for me.

      2. circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Long first, kind of wish I had him for this week.

    27. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Is the general idea to wait another week for Auba now? Or just go for it cuz nobody really knows? Or go for Laca?

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        TC Kun

        1. Lord.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          That's so last week

      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I prefer Laca but rather play Aguero this week and use last FT on Arsenal defender. I think they'll only win 2-0

      3. The Pesci challenge
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Go for it, I did as long as you have a strong enough of a bench just in case

    28. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Roll FT?

      Fab
      Holebas Doherty Robbo Kola
      Haz Salah Son Pogba
      Rashford Jiminez
      (Subs: Rich, Digne, Long)

    29. CHARLIE HULL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Start one:

      A) Digne
      B) Bednarek
      C) AWB

      1. Robson-Canoe
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Have the same dilemma, I'll start Digne I think, Bednarek first on bench

        1. MarcusAurelius
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I have the exact same choice. Other defenders are Doherty and Robbo so they are definites. Why Digne then??

          1. Robson-Canoe
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            As stated below, Digne offers the most attacking threat. Also Watford aren't scoring much recently.

            1. MarcusAurelius
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Fair point. Iv had AWB all week simply because he’s a BPS magnet and potential clean sheet. Feel like Bednareks assist last week was a one off. And Digne is hit or miss

      2. Esalman
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        A because attacking threat. Otherwise C.

      3. Sahil Yadav
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        C

    30. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Is Sane > Groß a bad idea?

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Like kissing a camel.

      2. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        sane -> mane is a better one

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Can’t do that. Already tripled up on Pool.

          1. The Suspended One
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            poo

            not sure I love the Gross pick, still needs someone to finish those chances... he hasn't been great this year

    31. Henning
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If we get to know before deadline that Aubameyang wont play, is it worth a hit to get Lacazette in for him?

      Etheridge

      Robertson Wan-Bissaka Bednarek

      Salah Son Pogba Sane

      Aubameyang Rashford Jimenez

      Guaita Camarasa Luiz Digne

      1. The Pesci challenge
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Nope stick