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. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Gunn (Foster)
    Robertson Laporte Valery
    Mane Sterling JWP Fraser
    Aguero (c) Vardy

    Final spot in team to
    A Jimenez
    B Digne?

    For -4
    Jimenez to Arnie or
    Digne to TAA?

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

      B

  2. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Repost.

    Hey guys, considering to do Hazard + Jimenez to Salah + Long. What do you think of these moves for -4?

    Cheers

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      do it

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

    De Gea
    Cathcart VVD Bednarek
    Salah Son Babel Mane
    Lacazette Jimenèz Wilson

    Gunn Richarlison Doherty Dunk

    Most votes in just going with now...
    A Richarlison & Son > Pogba & Moura (-4)
    B Son & Jimenèz > Moura & Vardy (-4)
    C Son & Jimenèz > Alli & Rashford (-4) exact funds
    D Son & Jimenèz > Pogba & Rashford (-4)
    E Son > Eriksen or Richarlison > Moura for free

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

    I chose Auba, not Vardy...hopefully got it right...a lot of Vardy buyers here.

  5. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Lloris
    Robertson Laporte Shaw Bednarek
    Salah(vc) Son Sterling(c)
    Rashford Jiminez Gray

    Foster Jota Doherty Camarasa

    I have 0.5m itb and 1ft...

    Who scores more? I'm thinking Bilva as the differential...

    A - Son+Gray > Redmond+Vardy (-4)
    B - Son > Bilva
    C - Son > Redmond

    Chasing 15 points in ML and 34 ahead of third... Rivals do not have Vardy so I will probably captain him. They all have Pogba!

    Thanks!

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

      I’m doing A, exact same moves.

  6. XabiAlonso
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Last decision of the season
    A) sell kola -4 and who for 5.0
    B) play Duffy
    Cheers

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      b

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

    Help would be appreciated chaps!

    Play one from each -
    (A) Kolasinac (bur)
    (B) Doherty (liv)
    (C) Laporte (bha) (-4)

    (1) Jimenez (liv)
    (2) Wilson (cry) (-4)

  8. Legohair
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Play
    A. Jimenez
    B. Robertson

    Captain
    1. Salah
    2. Aguero

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Benching Robbo? You mad?

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

        Forget to but alder on the list too.so i guess i play robbo.what about alder or jimenez,which one to bench?

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          I'm benching Raul fwiw. Starting both TAA and Robbo. Huge game for Pool. Robbo also capable of attacking returns.

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

            Ok thanks

    2. BananaMan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      B2

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

      B

  9. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Chasing down a 29 point lead so need differentials - best moves here?

    A) Son & Jimenez -> Bilva & Rashford
    B) Son & Doherty -> Deulo & Vardy
    C) Doherty, Son & Jimenez -> Shaw, Deulo & Vardy (-4)
    D) Doherty, Son & Jimenez -> Shaw, Bilva & Rashford (-4)

    My team (CAPS = differentials)
    Foster
    VIRGIL, Trent, DOHERTY
    STERLING, Son, Mane, JOTA, REDMOND
    Aguero, WILSON
    Subs: Ryan, Jimenez, Duffy, DUNK
    Bank 0.0m, 2FT

    Rival’s likely team:
    Foster
    LAPORTE, Trent, Valery
    HAZARD, POGBA, Mane, JWP
    Aguero, GRAY, JIMENEZ

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

      Shaw is very doubtful, not pictured at hotel etc.

      I like B.

      1. Roy Rovers
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        This ^

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

        Cheers. Deulo the best option for 6.3m and below?

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

          Fraser?

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

            He’s 6.4 unfortunately

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

              Ah yeah, went up last night!

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

      * B) should say Son & Jimenez

    3. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I would do A with Redmond and Rash.

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

        Cheers. I already have Redmond though

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

    Bernardo Silva or Milivojevic?
    Afraid of Pep’s roulette...

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

      Bilva is the first name on his team sheet

    2. Roy Rovers
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Bilva

  11. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Vardy captain or go safe with Salah/Sterling? Chelsea could get destroyed later...

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Considering it myself.
      Leicester and Vardy in form, surely Rodgers will want to end season at home in a fashion.
      Chelsea not looking good plus just after en european cuos tie so might be tired.

      City and Liverpool options for captaincy are hard to nail beetwen Sterling,Kun, Mane & Salah.

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Destroyed? Vardy barely touched the ball against City. Chelsea are not the same, but don't see a walkover here.

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

    Going to be up a mountain around deadline time today. Need to get back to a signal to get team news and make my changes by 2pm. What could possibly go wrong?

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

      😀

  13. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Best non Liverpoll/City defender worth a hit?

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

      None

  14. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Should i wait for Transfers or just do it & RIP 😛

    Son Jota >> Mane Redmond (-4)

    Maybe some last ditch information 😮

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Hands are itchy to take a hit to replace jiminez who is on bench just in case Robbo doesn't start. 😀

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

        Ha ha

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

      Wait until last possible minute to hear news of the surprise Mane benching.

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

        Lol
        Vardy in instead of Mane then

        1. Cojones of Destiny
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          yep Vardy is a good shout

  15. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Bilva or Vardy? First to 2.

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      V

    2. Party time
        4 years, 10 months ago

        V

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

      Best combo

      (A) Salah (C) Jota Mane Jimenez

      (B) Sterling Pogba Mane (C) Jiminez

    4. Roy Rovers
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      People saying possibility Shaw won’t play.....

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

        Could be young last game for united, hopefully Shaw gets a 1 point cameo! Rival has him

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

        He isn’t playing

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

      Start Jota or Hojbjerg??

      Already starting Jimenez

      1. Duffy Dunk
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Hoj

    6. MFFista
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      6,8 to spend. Who’s the best attached? Thinking of going Long or Batshuayi.

      What do you say?

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

        ATTACKER!

    7. oi no professionals
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Pick one:
      A. Kola > Kompany
      B. Doherty > Kompany
      C. Brooks > Zinchenko

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

      Are Pogba & Rashford both nailed to start?

      I think if I knew they were at home to Cardiff in last home game to get them both in and captain one could really pay off

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        You go and captain United player.
        Good luck.

    9. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Would you change anything?

      Gunn
      Robertson Laporte TAA
      Salah(V) Sterling Milivojevic Redmond
      Aguero Vardy(C) Wilson

      Travers WardProwse Pereira Kelly

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

        Risky Captain but otherwise G2G

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

        Great team

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

      Safe cap is Kun if you want to hold top 10k right?

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

        Will very likely be the only player over 100 eo

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

      Team g2g?
      Lloris
      Valery TAA Wbissaka
      Redmond Sterling Mane delefoue
      Long Aguero Jiminez

      Have son on the bench so can -4 for bernardo silva/pogba/hazard
      Or can -4 and get Jimi out for wilson/zaha

      Cheers guys and good luck today!

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

      Son and DCL > Fraser and Rashford (-4)?

    13. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Best non City goalie worth a hit?

      Currently playing Ryan.

      1. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Gunn?

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

          Thanks. Have Bednarek. Think I will just play him.

    14. fantasydan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Hazard to Mane for -4?

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

        I would

    15. RUUD!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Vardy or Rashford?

    16. TOBY1
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Play Kolasinac or Jiménez?

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

        Always play the attacker

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

        Is Kola not injured?

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

        Only one will play imo

    17. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Final team of the season. Farewell Hazard. One of the best player playing his last PL game .

      Good luck everybody.

      Alisson
      Robertson laporte shaw valery
      Sterling Mane JWP Hazard(c)
      Vardy Ings

      Foster Jiminez Jota Doherty

      Whatever it Takes !!

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

        GL bro 🙂
        I'm keeping him too

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

        I'd be amazed if Hazard plays 90 today. Chelsea will be tired. Big call - if it works you'll shoot up the ranks. Chances not good though imo.

        1. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          I have nothing to play for.

          Ml done and dusted.

          Won't have significant rise in rank ( unless all my players score 15+ POINTS)

          SO yeah captaining one of my favourite player is the way to go. Won't really mind if he gives me 2 pointer.