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. niloh1
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Any updates on auba? Wondering if I should switch aguero out to auba for free.

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

      Do it next week

    2. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Next week.

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Do it now, you won’t regret it

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

    play Etheridge or Fabi?

    1. Fernando Torres
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Fab

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

    Who's #8 captaining this week? 😆

  4. gryffsonofarthur
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    1 FT

    Need to get rid of a City or Everton asset.
    Who though?

    Aguero
    Digne
    Ederson

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Digne out for Kola

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

        Yeah was thinking Doherty, or his cheaper teammate Jonny.

        1. S.Kuqi
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Not bad option.

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

    Bench one please, currently on Fraser myself.
    A) Digne (wat)
    B) WanB (WHU)
    C) Fraser (liv)

    Good luck to you all.

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah. Bench Fraser

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

      Tough one. Reluctantly Fraser. Liverpool could be vulnerable at set pieces.

    3. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Bench Digne

    4. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Fraser

  6. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Need some advice. Want rid of Sane, B Silva, Richarlison and Barnes. Should I just do Sane > Son?

    Ederson
    Shaw / Doherty / AWB
    Sane / Richarlison / Pogba / Salah
    Rashford / Jimenez / Barnes

    Subs: Hamer / B Silva / Digne / TAA

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      How many fts and itb?

      1. Plagued by indecision
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        1FT 0.2 itb

    2. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      5 blankers is alot to deal with, maybe sane to son/mane or sort GK issue

  7. JT11fc
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    GTG? 1ft 1.8 itb
    Fab
    Trent doherty awb
    Salah mane sterling sane pogba
    Rashford jimenez

    Stl digne bednarek kamara

    Dont like the look of the city double up but prefer having 2 tranfers to play with next gw

  8. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is Sane > Mane worth a -4?

    Current midfield is:
    Salah Hazard Pogba Son (10.0m)

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      For free i would but not sure if worth a hit

  9. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Skipping one week to GW27: Man U v L’pool
    Who wins head to heads?
    1. Shaw vs TAA
    2. Pogba vs Salah
    3. Rashford vs Firmino

    I say individual scores will be:
    1. 4-1
    2. 2-8
    3. 6-2

    I own all 6 so is 23 points total from all six about right?
    Would rather return 30+ points minimum from all six in GW27 match at Old Trafford.

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

      Could be lower than that. See a lot of cancelling each other out in that fixture. 1-1 game.

      1. FPL Forward Thinker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Probably - with goals and assists from
        Lukaku (Sanchez) and Mane (Robertson)
        And Shaw to definitely get booked and maybe another 1-2 bookings from my players
        So really I am looking at 9 points from six !!! Boo!!!

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Repost next week, enough on our plates this week to think about 🙂

  10. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play Awb over Bednarek amd Digne?

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

      Got the same dilemma myself.

      Based on clean sheets, (Cardiff punchless on the road) Bednarek.
      Based on set pieces, Digne.
      I see West ham scoring against Palace, so not AWB

      Toss up between Digne and Bednarek.
      Go for the home fixture.

      Bednarek.

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Good thinking. Will switch Bednarek for starting 11

  11. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Morning dzzz, anything worth a hit here? Good chance i might take a 8 point hit next gw to have 12 players (currently got 9) so whether to spread the hits into one this gw and one next gw. got 1m itb and really dislike alonso/rich.

    Fabianski -- Button
    Digne Doherty Holebas -- Alonso Schindler
    Salah Pogba Son Sterling Rich
    Rashford Jimenez -- Kamara

    A: Gtg and do Sterling/Kamara >> Redmond/Auba (-4) or anderson/laca (-4) next gw

    B: Rich >> Anderson (-4) and next gw do the planned transfers as in A

    C: Alonso >> Kola (-4) and start ahead of Digne..and do the planned transfers as in A

    D: Something else.

    REALLY tempted by C as i dont see the point of benching alonso who then has a blank and then spurs @home.

    1. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      D hold transfer unless you think kola will outscore digne by 4.

      1. UnitednationsXI
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        yeah kola might, hard to say.

        During the dgw, i didnt think Alonso > Laporte was worth a hit and after alonso kept a cs, i was sure i made the right call as laporte would need 10 points in the dgw to just breakeven...i was soooo wrong!

  12. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who to bench?

    A) AWB
    B) Laporte
    C) Doherty

    1. Fernando Torres
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Laporte

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

      B

    3. SUPER 11
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

    4. Claudio555
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn't bench Laporte since Mendy is still out and he would continue as left back

  13. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    G2G? I have all chips. Correct bench order?

    Fabianski
    Rose Shaw Robertson
    Salah(c) Pogba Son Sane
    Firmino Jiminez Rashford

    Subs: Hamer, AWB, Richarlison, Bennett

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

      Like Rose as a differential.

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

    Which 2 defenders do i bench?

    Robbo
    AWB
    Bednarek
    Duffy
    Kola

    1. Fernando Torres
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Very tough, bench AWB and Bednarek

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

      Awb and Duffy

  15. Brunsvigeren
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Thinking of bench boosting this team, 0 Free transfers, already made Sane to Son..

    Ederson
    Robertson, Digne, Doherty, TAA
    Pogba, Salah(c), Son, Anderson,
    Jimenez, Rashford

    Bench, Fabianski, Arnaoutovich, AWB, Sigurddson

    Should I? Ranked 2100 overall

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

      Got 1.1 in the bank btw

    2. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on your dgw plans but you def have a strong bench

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

        Dont really have plans. Have Wildcard and bench boost left

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

      Do it

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

        I shouldn't -4 to bring in another alternative to Arnaoutovich then?

  16. Hermanos FC
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    My Current Team:
    Robertson Alonso Digne
    Salah Sane Richarlison Pereyra
    Jimenez Rashford Aubameyang

    Fabianski

  17. SUPER 11
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Time to bring in Zaha ?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      1 goal in 4 months.

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      You mean the player who is most likely to be suspended next Gameweek?

  18. Hermanos FC
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    My Current Team:
    Robertson Alonso Digne
    Salah Sane Richarlison Pereyra
    Jimenez Rashford Aubameyang

    Fabianski WB McNeil Cedric

    I have got two FTs and 0.4 m in the bank

    1. Fernando Torres
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Play AWB over Alonso then do
      ..

      Sane and rich out for Son and Fanderson

      1. Hermanos FC
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks Mate...Cheers!

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

      Digne Richarlison

      To

      Doherty Son

      1. Hermanos FC
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks Man...Cheers!

  19. Jonty Rhodes
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    pls advise. -4 Mane for Sigurdsson (-0.1 loss on price too - My bad missing out last night):

    A) Yay
    B) Nay

    Other team is:
    Lloris (Button)
    Doherty, Robertson, Saiss (Bednarek, Kiko)
    Salah (c), Pogba (vc), Son, Sigurdson (Camarasa)
    Aguero, Rashford, Jimenez
    0 FT. 2.8 in Bank

    1. SirT83
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Next week for a FT?

  20. SirT83
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg?
    Fabs Hamer
    Shaw Pereira Doherty WB TAA
    Salah (C) Son Mane Sane Billing
    Auba Rash Barnes
    0ft, 0.6 itb

    Also would like to know who to bench. Must bench 2 of the above.
    A- TAA
    B- Shaw
    C- WB
    D- Barnes
    E- Pereira

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

    When Everton played watford in Dec both Richarlison and Digne scored... Both on my bench this week.. Yikes.

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Illuminati confirmed

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

        Exactly, i put them in my team pressed save and they are still on my bench 🙁

  22. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Lloris
    AWB Bennett shaw
    son pogbA Jota salah(C)
    aguero jimenez rashford

    subs - richarlson liscelles luiz

    Should I start richa in place of jota considering the former is a injury doubt?

  23. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    1FT and 5.4 ITB

    A) Ings -> Jimenez
    B) Save FT, play AWB (WHU) and fix Ings, Kamara and Sane next week.

    Guaita
    Robertson, Kolasinac, AWB, Bennett
    Salah, Sane, Pogba, Son, Richarlison
    Rashford

    Speroni*, Pereira, Ings*, Kamara*

  24. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    1 FT, 2.0 ITB

    Fabianski
    Tomkins | TAA | Trippier
    Sane | Salah | Richarlison | Pogba
    Jimenez | Firmino | Rashford
    Button | Camarasa | Pereira | Luiz

    A) Sane -> Son
    B) Firmino -> Aubameyang
    C) Luiz -> Kolasinac
    D) Other?

  25. olidooley
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Benching headache!....left a load of points on bench this year too....

    How’s this?

    Patricio
    Robertson TAA Doherty Digne
    Salah Pogba Son
    Aguero Jiménez Rashford

    Ederson AWB Fraser Hojbjerg

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

      Isn’t Digne still banned and TAA ink?

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

        Ah seen TAA now amber

  26. Benditlike
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who to play?

    A) Richarlison
    B) Digne
    C) AWB

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

      A

  27. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Morning everyone, who's ready for a depressing day?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Jafooli, Chucky

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Your motivational speeches need some work mate.

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

    Big News: My wife just said I should C Pogba over Salah

    0_0

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Is she any good?

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Meant football I mean lol

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

          Uncanny knack for picking the best C when Im split

          Knows nothing about football 😉

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

      Good option. But Salah is going to be massively capped.

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

        Thats why its a good option

    3. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Did she explain and justify her thinking?
      I always ask my wife for a short dissertation on why she wants to influence my team.

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

        She usually asks to see a picture and I give her a short description of the fixture

        1. FPL Forward Thinker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          So your short description of the fixtures has influenced her decision - so it sounds like you influenced the decision:
          Good luck with Pogba captain - could pay off. I hope they both score 15 each

    4. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Can you ask your wife who I should captain next week
      Laca
      Anderson
      Salah
      Pogba
      ?

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

    Spurs trying to get Kane back early again!

    How many times will they make the same mistake again??

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      How do you know it is early?

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

        Poch said he’ll be back in training mid March.

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Maybe he is genuinely ahead of schedule.

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

            Let’s hope so. But this has happened before and then he looks sluggish for a while.

            1. Now I'm Panicking
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              But everyone at Spurs knows this. You would hope they wouldn't be stupid enough to make the same mistake twice! But it is Spurs I guess 😉

    2. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If they are gonna wil the Prem and champ league double, they need him back quick.

      1. FPL Forward Thinker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        *win

      2. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        And hell to freeze over 😉

  30. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play B Silva or Barnes?

    AWB or Digne?