Scout Picks

Gameweek 38 Scout Picks – Goals expected outside Man City and Liverpool games

We’ve included three attacking players from Liverpool and Manchester City for our final Scout Picks of the season.

The two title-chasing clubs may be the only ones with anything left on the line to play for other than proud, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be goals elsewhere.

Using the Scout Squad submissions by Paul, Neale, Az and Peter, and an analysis of the Fantasy Football Scout members data, we have come up with a XI for you.

For the last time in 2018/19, we line up in a 3-4-3 formation and at a total cost of £82.8m, we are £0.7m inside our budget.

Goalkeeper

Sergio Rico (£4.4m) finds himself in the Scout Picks at just the right time to make sure we didn’t go the whole season without including one of Fulham’s defensive assets. Name-checked by three of our pundits, and selected as the best option by Paul, the Cottagers’ shot-stopper faces a Newcastle attack that has managed just three big chances in their last six away matches, the worst of any team in that time. Meanwhile, no goalkeeper has more saves than Rico in their last six at home.

Defender

Aymeric Laporte (£6.3m) was an easy inclusion for the Gameweek 38 Scout Picks. Manchester City have kept 10 clean sheets in their last 12 Premier League outings and travel to Brighton on the final day of the season. The Seagulls are bottom of the league for shots on target, big chances and goal conversion over their last six at home. Laporte himself has added two attacking returns in the last six Gameweeks and his threat from set pieces is always in his favour.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.8m) is once again our chosen representative from the Liverpool defence. Price continues to be on the right-back’s side as well as his attacking potential. Compared to colleagues Andrew Robertson and Virgil van Dijk, the England international has the superior minutes per chance and minutes per chance created in the last six home matches. In that time, Liverpool are in the top two for fewest shots allowed in the box and big chances conceded.

Luke Shaw (£5.0m) completes our three-man defence ahead of Cardiff’s trip to Old Trafford. Manchester United may not be in the best form right now but the Bluebirds have been sufficiently poor on their travels this season that we believe a clean sheet at least is on the cards. In their last six away matches, Cardiff have been in the bottom two for shots inside the box and big chances. Meanwhile, Shaw himself has created more big chances than any other defender in the last six matches.

Midfielders

Mohamed Salah (£13.3m) should be back in the Liverpool side on Sunday afternoon for the visit of Wolves following his concussion and he comes into Gameweek 38 as the Scout Squad’s unanimous best midfield option. The Egyptian remains on an incredible run of form that has seen him get at least one attacking return in each of his last six matches in a row – his longest stretch without a blank all season. In those fixtures, no player has registered more shots on goal, efforts in the box or shots on target than Salah either. Wolves might have a good record against the top-six but considering they rarely keep clean sheets, Liverpool’s Egyptian star certainly has what it takes to reward his owners in Gameweek 38.

Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) is our chosen Manchester City attacker for the trip to Brighton. In the last six away matches, none of his colleagues has managed more shots in the box or efforts on target, while he also has the best expected goals (xG) score among Manchester City players in that sample. That has translated to 11 attacking returns on the road this season, more than any of his team-mates in 2018/19.

Sadio Mané (£10.3m) has been one of the most reliable attacking options in home matches this season. The Liverpool man has 12 goals in his 11 Premier League outings at Anfield, which have come from some encouraging underlying statistics. In the last four at home he has the second-highest number of big chances among all players, as well as the second-best xG too. Just as is the case with Salah, Wolves’ have asked tough questions away at top-six sides in 2018/19 but are yet to keep a clean sheet.

Nathan Redmond (£5.5m) looks like one of the most appealing budget midfielder for Gameweek 38 as Southampton host Huddersfield on Sunday afternoon. The Terriers are bottom of the league for shots allowed in the box over the last six away matches, as well as for their 18 goals shipped. Meanwhile, Redmond currently ranks fourth for big chances and third for xG out of all players in their last four at home.

Forwards

Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) looks set to enjoy the final day of the 2018/19 season. In the last four home matches, no player has registered shots inside the box, more efforts on target or more big chances. That has yielded five goals and an assist ahead of a meeting with Chelsea at the King Power Stadium. The Blues are still without a clean sheet on the road in 2019, will be without the injured N’Golo Kanté and Antonio Rüdiger while doubts hang over the fitness of Andreas Christensen too. Furthermore, Chelsea come to Leicester just a few days after playing 120 minutes against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League, which will have almost certainly drained them physically and mentally.

After Bournemouth’s troubles on their travels earlier this season, Callum Wilson (£6.8m) has all of a sudden become the king of football on the road in the closing stages of the campaign. In the last four away matches, no fit player has been afforded more big chances or a higher xG score. Furthermore, in such games, Wilson is also second-best for shots on target, so he stands a good chance of converting his opportunities. His Gameweek 38 opponents Crystal Palace are in the bottom four for goal attempts conceded in the box over the last four home matches, are without centre-backs James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho while Scott Dann is now a doubt.

Shane Long (£4.7m) completes our Scout Picks team for Gameweek 38 as another option who gets to enjoy facing that travel sick Huddersfield side. We’ve already covered how vulnerable the Terriers will be when they come to Southampton, as Redmond also has decent points potential this week. Long himself has actually been afforded more big chances than the midfielder in his last four home matches, ranking third best in the whole league. His accuracy of 57% over that period suggests his chances of converted more big opportunities are quite high.

Substitutes

Budget man Yan Valery (£4.1m) gets a place on the bench for Gameweek 38 ahead of Huddersfield’s visit to Southampton. The Saints have not exactly been adept at keeping clean sheets under Ralph Hasenhüttl but their visitors on Sunday remain the division’s joint-lowest scorers on the road in 2018/19.

Like his colleague Wilson, Ryan Fraser (£6.3m) has been impressive on the road of late with six attacking returns in his last Premier League away trips. He will also get to play against a potentially makeshift Crystal Palace side who have struggled at home this season.

Marcus Rashford (£7.3m) is probably one of the few attacking Manchester United options we can be confident will get a start against Cardiff on Sunday afternoon. There is not a great deal of form to go on for the forward but given the Bluebirds are in the bottom three for shots conceded in the box over the last six away matches, he should get plenty of chances.

Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 38 is Karan14. He has opted for a 3-4-3 of Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Kompany, Laporte; Redmond, Bernardo Silva, Pogba; Wood, Mitrovic, Zaha

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 Greyhead in Gameweek 37 by a 46-45 scoreline. fclackless‘s winning margin of 33 points (77-44) in Gameweek 10 is still the current target to beat.

3,966 Comments Post a Comment
  1. korbendallas82
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    A: Guaita, Bournemouth Home.
    B: Fabianski, watford away.

    And
    1: King, Palace away.
    2: Milivojevic, Bournemouth Home.

    Bench one of these:
    -Digne,tottenham away.
    - Rice, Watford away.

    1. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      b2
      rice

      1. korbendallas82
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Thanks. My current setup.

    2. Boberella
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B2
      Rice

  2. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Foster
    Laporte - TAA - Valery
    Salah (c) Mane - Pogba - Siggy - JWP
    Aguero - Wilson

    (Ryan - Jimenez - Bednarek - Dunk)

    Good 2 go ?
    Bench order ok ?

    Thanks guys.

    1. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      yes

  3. gedda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Got Pogba and TAA in for the final day, chasing a 30pt lead in the ML with Aguero TC.

    Good luck tomorrow everyone.

    /g

    1. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      who is rival likey to c?
      GL..

  4. acidicleo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    bottomed...

    pick one guys..

    A Salah + Jota/Jimenez
    B) Pogba + Wilson/Vardy

    cheers..

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      A

  5. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Is Moura nailed?

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Careful... Lamela back... wouldn't buy or sell

    2. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      90 mins unlikely imo

  6. puhd
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Bottomed...

    A- Hazard and Rondon/Mitro
    B- Fraser and Vardy

    Thanks!

    1. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      b easy

  7. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Which player would you most like/need to know is definitely starting or not tomorrow?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Robbo, obviously!

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Robertson

      1. GREEN IS GOOD
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        OK I might get a premonition just before deadline.

    3. Sap
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Laca

    4. JurgenRodgers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Robbo

  8. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Firmino to Vardy for a hit?

    1. puhd
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Vardy seems a popular pick

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Who comes in as a sub if you don't make the transfer?

      1. Gringo Kid
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        My current team, so many injured and questionable players, 0 FT Son to Pogba was my transfer for free

        Lloris (Gunn)
        Robbo*, Shaw*,Laporte (Doherty, Dunk)
        Pogba, Mane, Eriksen, Deulofeu, Jota
        Kun, Firmino *, Jimenez

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Hmm not sure. It doesn't help you if Robbo & Shaw both miss out as you can't play 8 attackers.

    3. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I'd do it (and have done - and will also do Son > Pog tomorrow). Let's face it, one Wolves player starting away to Pool is fine, 3 is too much.

  9. lowkey
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    H2H opponent has Aguero

    HAZARD TO AGUERO for -4?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Does your rival NOT have one of Mané/Sterling, and can you get that player in, instead, without a hit?

      1. lowkey
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        We both have sterling, I have Mané and Salah. The league comes down to the last game week so trying to see how best to close it out.

        Take the hit or risk Aguero exploding?
        Thanks for the reply

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Feel like I've saw your gravatar somewhere before...

      1. lowkey
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Ha, nice one - had it for five years!
        What’s your thoughts?

  10. dontyouknowimloko
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Need help please, chasing in all mini leagues (from 1pt to 17pts) so tough to cover all opposition.

    Team is:
    Foster (Pat)
    Laporte TAA Valery (Doc Duffy)
    Salah Mane Haz JWP (Camarasa)
    Kun Vardy Jimi

    2 FTs - Which move do I make?

    Haz & Camarasa to:
    a) Sterling & bench fodder (exact cash for anyone at £4m)
    b) Bilva & Fraser (means benching Jimi)

    1. Sap
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. BooYaKasha
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      A
      very high EO, if he does anything you're in trouble

      1. dontyouknowimloko
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers mate, most rivals have Sterling - none have all the other big hitters.

        Any recommendation on who I captain out of that lot?

  11. puhd
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Play Valery or Bednarek?

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Valery

    2. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      v

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Valery

    4. puhd
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks

  12. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    1,302 OR...Trying to get into top 1K...... 2 Questions pls....

    A) Long or Llorente for my final spot?
    B) Salah or Aguero Captain

    Foster
    VVD Valery Laporte
    Salah Mane Sterling Jota
    Aguero Rashford XXX

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Anyone pls?

      1. Tambling5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        I am going to swop Long for Llorente as think Spurs will be knackered.
        Salah

    2. puhd
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Long and Salah C

    3. Sap
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Long
      Salah

    4. Diedhiou See That?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Long and Aguero c

    5. radawson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      A) Long

      B) Salah

      1. gaurava1216
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        thanks guys... Long and Salah it is

  13. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Could do with some advice here. Nowhere near in my minileague and way off the pace overall but just looking to maximise before the holidays. Willing to take a hit. Current team is:

    Gunn
    Doherty / Laporte / Valery
    Salah / Mane / Jota / JWP
    Jimenez / Aguero / Llorente

    Subs: Foster / Son* / Duffy / Dunk

    Only got .1 ITB

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Son and Jimi or Son and Doherty out....

      Defenders: TAA/Shaw?
      Mids: Pogba/ Bilva/Fraser
      Fwd: Long/Wilson

  14. Claudio555
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Is it worth a -4 to transfer Son+Eriksen > Salah+JWP?

    Or is it better to just transfer Jiménez>Rash?

    1. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      i would take that hit

    2. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I would take -4

    3. puhd
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Do it

    4. Sap
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Just transfer Son

  15. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    A Salah JWP Jiminez or
    B Redmond Eriksen Wilson

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      A

    2. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B but I think you could better options than Eriksen

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Thanks. I have Eriksen so don’t want another hit- in A would go for Salah

  16. mr messi
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Any Liverpool mids worth getting other than Mané and Salah?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Henderson the only 'maybe'. I wouldn't bother though

    2. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      no

    3. radawson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Nah

    4. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Nope

  17. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Mane or Kun(C)?

    1. puhd
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Kun

    2. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Kun

    3. Victor6359
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Mane

    4. Boberella
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I’ve got it on Mane

  18. Queens of the South Age
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Good to go? Can't decide on whether to play Jota or Jiminez.

    Foster
    TAA Robbo Doherty
    Sterling(c) Mane Pogba JWP Jota
    Aguero(v) Zaha

    Ryan Jiminez Duffy Yoshida

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      yes and jota

    2. radawson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Jimmy

    3. Sap
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Play both bench JWP

      1. Queens of the South Age
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Damn. 3 different options. Was looking for you lot to give me the right answer!

    4. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I'd play jimenez

    5. Boberella
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Jota

  19. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Current team, only got 1FT:
    Alisson
    Robertson - Pereira - Doherty
    Sterling - Hazard - Redmond - Jota (also have Son)
    Aguero - Llorente - Jimenez

    A) Replace 1 of Doherty, Jota or Jimenez
    B) Replace 2 of Doherty, Jota or Jimenez for a hit

  20. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Good luck everyone.... Team locked.

    Foster
    VVD Valery Laporte
    Salah(C) Mane Sterling Jota
    Aguero Rashford Long

    Ryan Doherty Camarasa Dunk

  21. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Salah or Sterling (c)?

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Sterling

    2. radawson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Salah for me. Depends on minileague situation

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Salah

  22. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    A Laporte JWP or
    B Kompany Redmond

    1. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. Sap
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B

    3. Queens of the South Age
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B

  23. The_Fish
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    What’s been your best and worst decisions this season?

    My best was getting on Pogba as soon as Solskjaer was appointed. Gained me a huge amount of points.

    My worst was not getting on the Wolves hype train. Didn’t have Doherty or Jimmy until my WC34.

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Pogba, Dohety, Jimenez and C Sterling vs Soton

      Worst TC Aguero last GW

    2. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Best: Sterling (c) vs Watford

      Worst: Bringing 2 Brighton defenders in on WC, and every decision I made regarding them thereafter.

    3. Queens of the South Age
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Aguero triple captain in first double helped he get to top of mini league.

      Stubbornly not getting Mane until this week has seen that lead reduced to 10 points now.

    4. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      This season most of my decisions has qualified as "worst", but the "worst of the worst" must be Sané(TC). Also being late on Mané train, and procrastinating on Liverpool triple-up. Final bad decision has been triple Spurs - Son, Eriksen, Verthongen - for GW34 Wild Card.

      Only good decisions have been being early on Wolves players (though sold Doherty GW34), and also Barnes was a modest success.

    5. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Best - getting Fraser and Mitrovic in GW 3, or getting Jimenez in GW 7. FPL is easy when you make early moves for the best cheap attackers (and season keepers in Jimenez's case).

      Worst - going for Origi (TC)/Sterling (TVC) in GW 36 in an attempt to gain ground on the top 10. I had to resort to something drastic, but that move was comically desperate. The fact that Origi then scored 2 against Barcelona makes it a bit better.

  24. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    R u considering Deeney?

    1. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      No

  25. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    With the leaked ManU squad in Manchester Evening News, what changes do you think there will be to the lineup? Something like

    DDG
    Valencia Jones Smalling Dalot
    MacTominay Pogba Mata Lingard
    Rashford Greenwood

    ??

  26. Claudio555
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Start Gray (WHU) or Jiménez (liv)?

    Gray will probably get a cameo

  27. Victor6359
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Neck and neck with ML rival. Would you just play your own game? 90% sure he’s brought in Moura for Son but I was going to go Fraser or Babel.

    Cheers

    1. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      You should only block with a lead. If it’s tight then play your game.

      1. Victor6359
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers

  28. Hobolicious
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Which one would you go for with Son/Jim out? Currently on A.

    A) Fraser/Wilson
    B) Sigurdsson/Wilson
    C) Babel/Vardy
    D) Redmond/Vardy

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      D

  29. Dion D's Solo Shower
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    With Shaw not in the squad for the game tomorrow, should I:

    A) Replace with Valery for a -4
    B) Play Jimmy in stead.

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. radawson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B

    3. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B. You’d be expecting 6 for Valery at best. Can’t see where the upside is.

  30. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Looking for another Man City defender that's nailed on for this week. Already got Laporte. Got 6.3 to spend.

    1. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Kompany will surely keep his place after Monday I'd have thought.