Scout Picks

Gameweek 36 Scout Picks – All eyes on Liverpool attack

The money is in midfield for the Gameweek 36 Scout Picks, with a big focus on Liverpool.

The Reds host Huddersfield at Anfield in what many expect to be a one-sided affair.

With the quick turnaround between Gameweeks in the last few days this week the Scout Picks were chosen by the Fantasy Football Scout editorial team without input from the Scout Squad.

We’ve gone for a 3-5-2 formation that comes in bang on our £83.5m budget.

Goalkeeper

Redemption for Mat Ryan (£4.4m) and his colleagues at the back came swiftly in Double Gameweek 35. They came close to earning two clean sheets at Wolves and Spurs with impressive defensive performances and were only breached by a late Christian Eriksen driver from range on Tuesday night. With Newcastle coming to the Amex Stadium there’s the potential for more defensive returns as the Magpies rank inside the bottom four for shots in the box and big chances in the last four away matches.

Defenders

It was a tough call picking a Liverpool defender, because the options all look so good, but we’ve gone Andrew Robertson (£6.8m) in the end. While Virgil van Dijk is probably the most nailed-on to start against Huddersfield, the Scottish international is not far behind. We think Trent Alexander-Arnold presents great attacking threat too, but Robertson has been the more reliable across the course of the season. Huddersfield remain the division’s lowest scorers and the Reds have more clean sheets at home than any other side this season.

As Manchester City bare down on successfully defending their Premier League title, their defence has once again become a key component. Pep Guardiola’s men have kept clean sheets in eight of their last 10 league matches, more than any other side in that time. As ever, Aymeric Laporte (£6.2m) is the most likely to start at centre-back for Manchester City as they travel to Burnley. In the last five matches, he has registered 35 points, more than any of his team-mates.

With Ben Davies (£5.6m) rested midweek, and Danny Rose likely to start at left-back against Ajax, it looks like the Welshman will get the nod to start in Gamweek 36. West Ham come to north London in the bottom five for both shots on target and big chances in the last four away matches. Furthermore, Spurs are yet to concede a goal in their new stadium.

Midfielders

Mohamed Salah (£13.2m) is the first of two Liverpool attackers to be included in the Scout Picks this week as Huddersfield Town come to Anfield. The Terriers have conceded 11 goals in their last four away matches and have allowed more shots than any other side in that selection too. Meanwhile, Salah is top of the league for shots on target over the last four matches and has attacking returns in three of them.

Sadio Mané (£10.1m) completes our Liverpool triple-up ahead of Huddersfield’s visit to Anfield. Obviously, we know that the Terriers will allow plenty of opportunities for the Senegalese international, as we’ve just read, but there are certain areas in which he looks even more likely to score than Salah. In the last four home matches, no player has a higher xG score than Mané who has is enjoying most often being on the end of Liverpool’s big chances.

Given that he is suspended for the first leg of Spurs’ Champions League semi-final with Ajax, Son Heung-min (£8.8m) is the most likely of his attacking colleagues to start against West Ham on Saturday. The Hammers have conceded more big chances than any other side in the last four away matches, which should play into the South Korean’s hands. He may have just two goal involvements in the last nine Gameweeks, but out of himself, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, he has the most shots in the box over the last four matches despite playing the fewest minutes.

Since Kevin de Bruyne went off early with an injury in the first match of Double Gameweek 35, Bernardo Silva (£7.6m) has stepped up as the key midfielder for Manchester City. In the last two matches, he has created more chances than any of his colleagues and has double the number of shots and shots in the box of popular team-mate Raheem Sterling.

Nathan Redmond (£5.4m) may have disappointed his owners in Double Gameweek 35, but he should do much better back at home in Gameweek 36. The Southampton man is typically much more effective in front of his own fans, with only six players registering a better xG score than him in the last four home matches. Meanwhile, Bournemouth make the short trip to St Mary’s Stadium having conceded at least two goals in 10 of their last 12 away matches.

Forwards

Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) is still in great form going into Gameweek 36 with eight goals in as many league matches. This weekend sees him face an Arsenal side he has six goals in seven Premier League starts against so far in his career. The Gunners are hardly in decent form of late too, conceding three times both to Crystal Palace and Wolves in the last few days. Meanwhile, only one player has been afforded more big chances than Vardy in the entire of 2018/19.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.3m) may be a surprise inclusion for some, but there’s a good chance he could deliver against Cardiff City this weekend. Since they lost Sol Bamba to a season-ending injury in Gameweek 29, the Bluebirds have conceded more headers than any other side, which plays right into Mitrovic’s strengths. Furthermore, the Fulham striker is joint-level with Salah for the most number of shots on target in the last four matches.

Substitutes

Shane Duffy (£4.8m) continues to stay in the plans of Fantasy managers for Gameweek 36. We’ve already covered the defensive potential for Brighton this week against a potentially shot-shy Newcastle side but we still believe there’s some goal threat for the centre-back. Duffy has been a threat from set pieces this season, to which the Magpies have allowed 155 chances in 2018/19 – the second most in the league.

Ryan Babel (£5.5m) looks to have decent points potential in Gameweek 36, just like his colleague Mitrovic. He has three goals and two assists in his last seven matches, which could continue when Cardiff come to Craven Cottage desperately searching for the goals to keep themselves up.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.4m) completes our subs bench as he continues his run of decent form. The Everton striker has two goals in his last four away matches while Crystal Palace have conceded five times in their last two without James Tomkins.

Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 36 is our Eliteserien writer Johannes. He has opted for a 3-4-3 of Ederson; Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, van Dijk, Laporte, Walker; Son, Hazard, Moura, Babel; Mitrovic.

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.

It was a win for the Scout Picks over TopMarx in Double Gameweek 35 by a 80-65. fclackless‘s winning margin of 33 points (77-44) in Gameweek 10 is still the current target to beat.

1,232 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HaffNanner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    TAA or VVD?

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      VVD

  2. SuperHam
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Lacazette --> Firmino (-4)?

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      There's rumours (albeit somewhat unreliable) that he is injured.

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Here is the source for anyone wondering:

        https://twitter.com/Johnjohano1983/status/1121777183775760384

        1. Jay_
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Thanks mate

          • Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            “Any reasoning or back up to what you’re saying here”
            “No”

            1. goriuanx
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              😀

      2. bring_on _the_fantasy
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        could be injured

        Sturidge TC!

      3. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Not for -4

      4. clodhopper
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Its not a source just some daft twatter account i dont have him

      1. JoeJitzu +42
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Brilliant!

      2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Wetting yourself is not a great decision tbh...

      3. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Love it

    2. Óró Sé…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Eriksen or Son ?

      1. HaffNanner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Son is banned from CL so won't get rested

      2. Deeney-is-a-god
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        son

      3. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Sin

      4. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Both?

      5. Óró Sé…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Damn it, I agree, prefer Son over Erik.

        I don't know what I was doing but I made the wrong transfer last night, Son to Mane when I had totally intended to do Erik out.

        Hopefully he proves to be the better of the two for the run in.

        Damn it tho!

    3. mikess
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Start two...

      A) Doucoure
      B) Valery
      C) Doherty

      1. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        A+C

      2. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        AC

      3. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        AC

      4. mikess
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers

    4. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Chances of eriksen starting?

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        dunno. sold him.

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Got Salah?

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            nope. Not gonna lose kun for -4. Settled for BF

      2. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        There's a chance.

      3. Deeney-is-a-god
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        he played everything over christmas and is one of the players in the league with the best stamina. He is also very important for spurs who has not secured a CL spot just yet. On the other hand ajax plays intensive football and a rested eriksen might make a difference....

      4. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        75%

    5. Ian Davis
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Pogba > B Silva (-4) ?

      1. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I wouldn’t. On penalty’s and Nice fixtures.

      2. Forza Juventus
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Nah, Pogba in a must win at home and then against two relegation teams in likelihood, plus on pens. I'd stick with Paul.

    6. leocarter27
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Start one?

      A) Ings (Bou H) *May not start*
      B) Hojbjerg (Bou H)
      C) Bennett (Wat A)

      Thanks

      1. JoeJitzu +42
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Ouch! Think B

      2. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        A

      3. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Starting Ings over Højbjerg

    7. JoeJitzu +42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Is Doherty to TAA and Lacazette to Firmino (-4) a good move?

      Thinking for last three GWs

    8. Cheeseoid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I just want to say a big get well soon to Jonty from all at Nirvana.

      Hope we get an update on his health situation soon. Nobody likes to see someone going through such a nasty health scare.

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        x

      2. Cheeseoid
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Thought this might be worth a hulk to make sure Jonty saw it when better possibly

      3. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        As before, wishing you a speedy and full recovery Jonty.

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          What's Nirvana? But yeah, get well soon Jonty

    9. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Dilva bilva or sane for free?

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Bsilva more nailed

    10. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Either of these worth a hit?
      A) Duffy to TAA
      B) Vardy to Firmino

      Reason I don’t mind a hit this week is I will have to get rid of vardy next week anyway so using the hit now can act as saving a transfer if it pays off

    11. smix
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Play Jimi or Jota ?

      1. Teror
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Jo

    12. Takamba
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      If you had to choose between...

      a) Maddison (ARS, mci, CHE) or

      b) Lingard (CHE, hud, CAR)

      ...factoring in Lingard's potential for rotation, which one would you go for?

    13. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Correct to play Dunk over Saints def?

      Lloris
      Robertson Laporte Dunk
      Sterling Mane Eriksen Son
      Kun, Jimenez, Wilson

      Foster Deulofeu Valery Yoshida

    14. Cak Juris
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      For GW 37 & 38, which one is better pairing:
      A. De Gea - Kelly
      B. Guaita - Shaw
      C. Gunn - PVA
      D. Guaita - Matip

    15. Greek Flair
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Redmond or Babel for the 5.5m midfielder spot? Don’t want Delu as chasing ML rival who had him

      1. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Babel

        1. Greek Flair
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Cheers people

      2. Cak Juris
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Babel for me, because I have JWP

    16. Teror
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Eriksen + aguero > salah + mitro/wilson/rashford (-4) ?

      Already have mane. Planning to play TC

      1. Larnell
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I wouldn't

      2. clodhopper
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        No

    17. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Bilva always plays!

    18. bradplum
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Should I start Jota or Duffy?

      Already starting Doh and Jimi. No Ryan in goal (have Lloris)

      Cheers

      1. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Jota

      2. Larnell
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Jota. Higher ceiling

    19. cb101
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      leno
      robertson, laporte, duffy
      mane(c), sterling, son(v), erikson, jota
      laca, llorente

      foster, jimenez, doherty, valery

      should jimenez come in for llorente?
      foster for leno?
      doherty for duffy?

    20. smix
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Also thinking my ML rival is gonna play Mane (c) too. Thinking won’t be a great differential and would rather use the chip some other GW ?

      1. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Are you defending or chasing?

        1. smix
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Just a 1 point lead . He has used his TC chip so thinking of holding on for a differential TC in case needed

          1. Sloopy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Or you could expand your lead with the TC!

      2. Genji3lade
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Yep, I am saving mine til next week for the same reason

        1. Sloopy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          But are you sure your rival won’t captain the same player Alain next week?

          1. Sloopy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            ..... again .....

            1. Genji3lade
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              My lead is closer to 40 points, so he's more inclined to captain a differential, but yeh it is possible

    21. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Sit One
      A - Lacazette
      B - Fraser
      C - C Wilson

      Whoooooo knew Deulofeu would be my hottest player?

    22. Salah'd n Sauce
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Have had Gray in my 11 all week with Redmond 1st sub.......

      However, the more I look at it the more I consider swapping.

      Who to play?

      1.Gray
      2.Redmond

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Red

      2. HaydenXL
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        i went with Redmond in the end.

    23. Ribus
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Bench one:
      A) Jota (wat)
      B) JWP (BOU
      C) Llorente (WHU)

      1. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        B

      2. cb101
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        B

    24. HaffNanner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      ML Leader will have Mane(C). Chasing so need to take a risk.

      Jota and Aguero out. Salah(TC) and Llorente in for -4?

    25. Genji3lade
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      About to bring TAA in, are we confident he will start? Will be for a -4

    26. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      IF the rumours about Bobby were true, this would cause me TC doubts again

      1. Big Hands Barry
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        that source is banter

    27. Richd
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Ooooh

      Origi or Sturbridge I can afford

      If Firm out for the season. Which one ?

      1. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Origi. Salah up front?

    28. Viper
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'm going to press the button on Eriksen & KDB - > Salah & Redmond.

      Is there any rumours/news etc. not mentioned in the tweets that I should know before doing it?

      1. OldBenKenobi
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Rumour Firmino is out for season but not confirmed