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. lambownumber5
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Two, million dollar questions:
    1.) Any love for Wilf Zaha at home against Bournmouth?
    2.) Is there a cat in hells chance of Trippier playing and a Spurs clean sheet?
    Thanks in advance!

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Yep plenty here.

      It’s Spurs, probably not

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

      Palace awful at home. Zaha only 1 goal 3 assists all season

      1. lambownumber5
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers KV, those stats have helped make my mind up!

  2. TreborGrebtsev
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Chasing a 10 p deficit in my ML.

    2 FT, 1.0 ITB
    Ryan/Button
    Robbo/TAA/Valery/AWB/Ogbonna
    Mané/Sterling/Mili/Son/Brooks
    Kun/Vardy/Jimenez

    Rival has 1 FT and pretty much 0 ITB with:
    Ederson/Gunn
    TAA/Matip/Shaw/Kola/Bednarek
    Mané/B.Silva/Eriksen/Son/Doucouré
    Kun/Rash/Jimenez

    Feels like a tight race. Was thinking about getting in two out of Laporte/Redmond/Fraser and put Jimenez first on the bench. Opting for 4-4-2 with Laporte/Robbo/TAA/Val would leave room for Robbo not playing without having to auto-sub AWB in. Torn between Redmond and Fraser, is it stupid to get a fourth defender (Laporte) in instead of two attacking players?

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

    https://twitter.com/officialfpl/status/1126977027171594241?s=21

    Callum Wilson captaining himself this GW because he's chasing in the Bournemouth ML.

    TC worthy? He has the motivation...

    1. lambownumber5
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Palace fairly tight at home though are they not?

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

        Read the Wilson paragraph in this article

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

      Genuinely fear a big red arrow not having Wilson this GW....

  4. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Evening all! Best off luck to everyone tmoz!! Who’s everyone for the armband on?? Currently On Mané myself!!!

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

      Also on Mané, yeah.

    2. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Aguero for me

    3. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Salah

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Salah best choice this week imo if I had him I’d deffo captain him

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

      Mane for me.

  5. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Is shaqiri an option?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      No. Won’t play

  6. Federico
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Still struggling with the final decision of the season. Any help appreciated.

    A) Pogba
    B) B. Silva

    1) Easy decision
    2) Close call

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      A2

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

    All set... Good luck all.... 😀

    Foster
    Laporte(C) Valery Matip
    Sterling Mane Hazard Redmond
    Aguero Jimmy Rashy

    Ryan Jota Kolasinac Bennett 0.4

    1. Federico
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Like the captain pick. Good luck!

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

    Bottomed.

    Evening fellas. What would you do here ? 1 FT and 0.4 ITB. I would really apreciate any help. THX in advance.

    Lloris
    Bednarek-VVD-Laporte
    Son*-Salah-Sterling(C)-JwP
    Ings-Jimenez-Aguero

    Foster-Docoure-Doherty-Dunk

    Anything worth a hit ( 2 transfers)

    Son has to go, but Ings is questionable too.

    What should i do ?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Son jimi to Fraser rash probably worth it

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

        thx on advice ! dont like Fraser cause his match up is AWB

        1. zotter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Lucas and rash ?

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

            I like it. That was my original plan. Im a little scared of Moura rotation

  9. HD7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Best striker for 38 from:
    Wilson, Zaha, Rash, Long, Arnautovich

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha imo

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

    So which key player is going to be missing tomorrow when the lineups are announced to cause heartache?

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

      Robertson?

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

      Sterling.

      (JK.)

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

      Zaha. Milo will be calling Dusan first thing in the morning

    4. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Pogba would cause frenzy.

    5. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Most likely more than one.

  11. Mince n Tatties
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Some Southampton Journal predicting Ings will play instead of Long...

    https://readsouthampton.com/2019/05/11/southampton-predicted-xi-huddersfield-h-2/

    Surely not - Ings has been gash and mucks up my transfers!

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

      As I have Long, bound to happen the way this season been going

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

    Wilson or Pogba as a punt for -4?

    1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Wilson for me

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

      Wilson

  13. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Anything worth a hit here? I def think I could use a hit

    Foster
    Laporte Valery Shaw — kola Doherty
    Sterling mane Pogba JWP Redmond
    Kun Jiménez — Gray

    - shaw won’t start and with kola injury doubt, Doherty will be needed I suspect

    A: Doherty >> Taa (-4)
    B: Jimmy >> Wilson/Rashford (-4)
    C: Gtg

  14. Puzzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Son, Hazard -> Salah, Fraser or similar worth a -4?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Probably if you cap Salah

  15. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Evening all
    Am I G2G? Bench order?

    0FT 0.6itb
    Lloris
    Robbo, Laporte, Valery
    Salah (C), Sterling, JWP, Mili, Babel
    Aguero (v), Wilson
    (Foster) (Jimi, Doherty, Yoshida)

    Assume nothing worth a hit?

    Cheers and GL!

  16. HD7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Best duo for 38 from:

    A)Babel Vardy
    B) Pogba Rash
    C) Pogba Zaha
    D) Pogba Wilson
    E) Fraser, Vardy

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      C or D

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        D or E for me

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

      E, Maby.

    3. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      D

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

      E

  17. EMBOLOFAN
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    so MEN united leaked squad features the following defenders: valencia, young, dalot, jones, smalling

    who do we think starts?

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Dalot, Jones, Smalling, Young

      1. zotter
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        This

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

      If from only those 5, Jones/Smalling/Dalot.

      Toss up between Young & Valencia. Valencia's appearance could a start, or late sub.

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

      thanks all!

    4. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      No shaw !?!

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

        not according to MEN

        1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Irritating....

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

    Will Ings start what you think ?

  19. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Would you play Jimi over any of the below? Cheers

    Lloris
    Laporte TAA Robbo Valery
    Sterling Mane Pogba Deulofeu
    Aguero Wilson

    Foster Jiminez Jota Dunk

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      No

    2. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      No way

  20. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Lloris (Foster)
    Robbo Laporte Valery Doherty (Duffy)
    Sterling Mane Jota (Son Holland)
    Aguero Vardy Jimenez

    With 2ft, son has to go of course, but where would you use the other?

    A - upgrade Duffy to trent
    B - upgrade Holland to a cheapie
    C - jota to another mid
    D - Jimenez to another forward.

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Son Holland to Pogba Redmond?

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Need to check cash, but you think a playing bench is the priority?

        Had intended to ship wolves players before son did his thing.

        1. _Ninja_
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Yeah so if Robbo is out then Jimi or Jota would come in.

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Starting to feel emotional about tomorrow

  22. Jedi_Reed
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Taking a -4 on the last GW feels mighty wrong, but sorely tempted by Jiménez to Vardy. With a high rank is a hit all the more dangerous?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I would

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

      Jimenez is a guaranteed 2 pointer. If Vardy against Chelsea is more than 6p on average is unlikely though.

  23. L S P
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    One (probably) last time. Which?

    a) Firmino->Vardy
    b) Martial/Firmino->Mane/Wilson for -4

    (Salah TC)

    Cheers

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B definitely. Other two won’t play

  24. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Guys what are the best options here? Got 1.6m ITB and 1FT. Leading my mini league by 10 points....

    Was thinking Foster to Ederson??

    Any other suggestions appreciated!

    Foster
    TAA, Shaw, Valery
    Mane, Sterling, Deulofeu, Hazard
    Aguero, Wilson, Jiminez

    Ryan, Jota, Kola, Bednarek

    1. FPL Mentor
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Im hearing no Shaw in squad 🙁

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

      Get Kompany Laporte in for Shaw

      I’d be tempted to play Ryan - save points

      1. Annie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Ryan save points have been poor to date

  25. FPL Mentor
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Good to go?

    Foster
    Shaw TAA Bertrand
    Sterling Manè Pogba Redmond Deulofeu
    Aguero(C) Rashford

    Ryan / Jimènez / Cathcart / Doherty

  26. pol
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    long post but would appreciate some opinions on the below:

    I am trailing in my ML by 5 pts, leader took a 4 point hit to do 2 Transfers

    My team:
    Lloris (Foster)
    Shaw Bednarek Laporte (Yoshida Doherty)
    Mane JWP Stelring(C) Son (Jota)
    Rashford Aguero Jimenez

    Leader team: (I am assuming he got Mane/Salah for Son)
    Ederson (Boruc)
    Laporte TAA Trippier (Keane Doherty)
    Hazard Sterling Poba Son (Jota)
    Jimenez Ings (Deeney)

    Which transfers would you do:

    A- Son + Jimenez > Pogba + Zaha (-4)
    B- Son + Jimenez > Fraser + Vardy (-4)
    C- Son + Doherty > Pogba + TAA (-4)
    D- Son > Pobga + play jimenez and shaw(doherty)

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      C.

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      No point matching him with Pogba unless you think he hauls hugely. Son, Jimenez to Bilva, Rondon?

      1. pol
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        I am just afraid of pogba haul that would destroy my chances already have Aguero and rash as big differentials

  27. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Lloris
    Robbo! - Shaw! - Valery - Bednarek
    Sterling - Mane - Eriksen - Son!!
    Aguero - Ings
    (Ryan - Jota - Jimenez - Doherty)

    Son & Shaw to Pogba & Kompany for free?

    Gives me a solid starting 11 hopefully. Jota to come in for Robbo in case he doesn't make it.

    Cheers! 🙂

  28. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Best defender for 4.4m that isn't Valery? Bednarek?

  29. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Team linked and Rival (24 ahead) can be found in King Egs league... Thoughts on what to do would be appreciated? Thinking bringing in 2/3 of Long/JWP, Rondon, Laporte, Perez, Arni, Zaha? Have 2 FT also.

    Rival has done Son to Redmond. Thanks guys

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

      son to pog, kola to dalot?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Can't stand Man u so not risking it all on them hahaha. Pogba is a shout but would like Laporte in tbh

  30. konrad.sygula95
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Mane & Son to Salah & Fraser on 2 FT ?
    Yes or No?
    That would leave me with Jimmy & Jota in the starting line-up

    Foster
    Robbo/Laporte/Shaw/
    Mane/B.Silva/Son/Jota
    Aguero(c)/Vardy/Jimenez

    Subs: Ryan/Bednarek/Jonny/Hojberg

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      If shaw is out as rumoured it would be bednarek too