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. weaver93
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Pick one to start..
    1. Reid -Man U
    2.Jota. Liverpool
    3.Doherty. Liverpool
    Cheers

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

      1

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

      2 easily for me. As I am playing him

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

      2

  2. Guru Mediation
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Pogba triple captain. Can feel it in my bones

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

      Ok, enjoy!

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

      go for it

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

      High risk and high reward.
      Personnally I wouldnt go anywhere near United's prima donnas as they are clearly bored of OGS now.

      1. Guru Mediation
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Yeah, but Cardiff fan here and think we will get utterly pumped today. Pogba is a bully and will enjoy it

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

      dont even feel good bringing pogba in
      nice home game v poor team, on pens, good luck

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

    Last captain pick of the season:
    A. Sterling
    B. Pogba
    C. Aguero
    D. Salah

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

      Salah chasing golden boots

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

      i’m going D

    3. myboycharlie
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      D

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

      D

    5. zm82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      D.

  4. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    how she looking? bench look sensible?

    Foster
    Trippier TAA Laporte
    Mane Hazard Redmond Sterling (c)
    Aguero Wilson Long
    Ryan Jota Doherty Monreal

    1. Party time
        4 years, 10 months ago

        I'm having a boner now staring at her

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

          Haha cheers. she's a bit naughty. Surprised to not see many going Sterling captain on here!

      • myboycharlie
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Looks good

      • Party time
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Trippier is a 50/50 to start

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

          I was planning to play Ryan over Foster for saves

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

            I just think Ryan will.conceed 3 or 4 easily

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

        Rumours shaw isn't playing...

        Would you do

        A) Duffy + Son -> Fraser/Redmond + Laporte (-4 have JWP)
        B) Firmino -> Vardy (No hit and play Shaw + Doherty with 2 BHA defs subs)

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

        heart says A. Long
        brain says B. Fraser

        which one lads ?

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

          Followed my heart now I'm stuck with 2 kids and a bossy cow.

          Go with your brain mate, always better.

          1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            You followed your weaner that was your mistake 😉

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

            lol

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

            Hopefully someone is not watching/Reading FFS article & comments 😛

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

              No she hates anything fantasy football related, plus dosent understand that Livescore needs to be checked every 2 minutes on a matchday.

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

                Ha ha

        2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Go with heart it's the last game of the season

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

        Go crazy with one of these:-
        A Richarlison & Son > Pogba(c) & Moura (-4)
        B Son & Jimenèz > Moura & Vardy(c) (-4)
        C Son & Jimenèz > Alli & Rashford(c) (-4) exact funds
        D Son & Jimenèz > Pogba & Rashford(c) (-4)

        Or Go dullard with one of these:-
        E Son > Eriksen (exact funds) for free (c) Salah
        F Richarlison > Moura for free (c) Salah

        1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          B

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

        Actually feeling Vardy over Zaha now with Chelsea’s Europa exploits...

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

          If u have the cash I’d go vardy

      • Dockers
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Foster or Lloris?? Expect both to concede, but who’s the better option?

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

          I’d go Lloris

        2. Balls of Steel
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Foster

      • myboycharlie
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Morning all on TC would u put it on
        A) mane
        B) Sterling
        C) Aguero

        1. Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          A of those

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

          B

        3. myboycharlie
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Cheers BC & Rinseboy currently on mane but had it on sterling all week... decisions

      • Party time
          4 years, 10 months ago

          All these united rumours!

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

            Yes
            James is a good signing though 😛

        • lilmessipran
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Pick one to play out of this lot

          A Digne
          B Jimi
          C jota

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

            C

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

            Digne over Jota (just)

        • Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Final decision of the year

          Will be playing Vardy(c) and Wilson in the front-line.

          Who gets the Son spot (can spend up to 6.9m)

          A Redmond
          B Fraser
          C Maddison
          D Tielemans
          E Moura (also have Eriksen)
          F another?

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

            B

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

            Redmond to spread the risk, or one of Leicester boys if you're confident they will get good result.

            1. Business Cat
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              I'm not really feeling the Redmond love, though there's a lot of it around

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

                Fixture and recent form not bad, though I agree his finishing is a bit hit & miss 😉

              2. Party time
                  4 years, 10 months ago

                  The redmond trap might be my team name for 19/20 season

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

              A

            3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              E - Man has 2 hattricks recently

              1. Business Cat
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                Given they're a) playing a decent Everton defence, b) played midweek, could be rotated and c) Lamela's back and Vincent Janssen is available, he's probably the one I'm least inclined to go for TBH

                1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 10 months ago

                  Not sure Lamela will go from 8 minutes in 2 months to starting... especially with Son & Kane out that’s a lot of reliance to put on a perma-crock

                  Jansen on the other hand must have 8 minutes in about 2 years...

                  Midweek game is always a bit of a risk, but wouldn’t be majorly concerned about a 4 day turnaround for someone who is arguably Spurs key attacker with no Son & Kane

                  Everton 8 CS’s in 10 is a ridiculous stat, but it’s 3 cleansheets in their last 6 away, fancy spurs to score a couple and Moura to be involved - should be interesting though

                  1. Business Cat
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 9 Years
                    4 years, 10 months ago

                    All good points, cheers for that

                    But as per the below, I'm actually 0.1m short cos of Son dropping last night 🙁

            4. Van der Faart
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              I went with Moura. Stadium will be bouncing after Wednesday night, he's going to play as Son is out, will want to finish on a high.

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

              Actually, I can't do Moura...he's 6.9m and I've only got 6.8m cos Son dropped overnight 👿

              Looks like Fraser might be in the box seat

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

            A) Duffy + Son + Firmino -> Laporte + Fraser + Vardy (-8)

            Or

            B) Firmino -> Vardy (No hit) Play Doherty + Shaw + Jota (subs are BHA defs)

            1. Belli2007
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              Tough one.

              Depends what you are playing for (e.g. closing out any mini leagues etc).

              A certainly more exciting.....

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

                I am 7 ahead in ML, he has TC. I will Capt Kun he will TC sterling and I Have sterling. He has Laporte.

          4. Belli2007
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            23pts ahead in my ML and pretty sure rival has gone Son>Bilva...he also has Rondon.....

            Planning on the same and could take a hit to do Jimi>Rondon to squash this threat (seems a bit boring but cash at stake) which would leave differentials in mids and forwards

            rival - Laca, Moura, Brooks (inj)
            me - Pog, Rashford, JWP

            Keen to play JWP given at home to HUD so would then have to bench Pog or Rash???

            Also have Shaw but he has Lindleoff and neither seen at hotel with squad so prepared to run that risk I think.... so

            A - bring in Rondon and bench who from Rash/Pog/JWP
            B - don't bring in Rondon and play all 3

            1. Belli2007
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              ignored Rondon as a threat at Liverpool last week and clearly now have the fear!!!

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

              Fulham have played well last few games and not conceded much I’d nearly lean towards b in your case

              1. Belli2007
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                That has come into my thinking although I thought the same against Liverpool albeit Newcastle were at home that day...

          5. myboycharlie
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            27 ahead in my ML rival has double Southampton defense would you
            A) play Valery and bench JWP
            B) play JWP bench Valery

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

              A just in case there is a cs

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

                Cheers Kop

            2. Belli2007
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              if you don't play Valery I take it you have no Saints defence?

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

                Correct Valery my only saints defender

                1. Belli2007
                  • 13 Years
                  4 years, 10 months ago

                  play valery. he brings attacking options too

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

                    Cheers Belli2007

          6. ChipsnGravy
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Foster or Leno?

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

            Pick one to start:

            A- Valery (HUD)
            B- Jimenez (liv)

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

              A of them I took a hit to move jimi to Wilson

            2. Belli2007
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              A

          8. Oggle22
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Chasing 5 points in my ml

            Hazard and Son to slaha and fraser - 4

            Or just son to Bilva?

            Cheers

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

              Take the -4

              1. Belli2007
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                Does ML rival have Salah?

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

            TC who?

            Mane
            Sterling
            Kun
            Vardy

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

              Same dilemma on TC and have all 4 I’m on Mane and the mo but been switching between him and Sterling

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

                Sorry at the moment in case u think I was referring to Salah

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

                  Ha ha, no worries.

                  I’m on sterling right now, but changing my mind all the time!!

                  Whoever I pick will be the wrong choice no doubt!!

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

            Salah, Mane, Jota*, Son*, (Brooks*)
            Aguero, Wilson, Jim*

            A Son, Jim & Brooks (bench)
            > Sterling, Long & Fodder -8

            B Son, Jim & Jota > Pog, Zaha & Redmond -8

            C Son & Jota > Pog & Redmond -4

          11. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Only 13 weeks to GW1 - time to start planning!

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

              Bringing me out in hives and excitement all at once!

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

              I miss FPL already and the season's not even over. #addict

          12. MFDoom
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Any keepers worth a -4? Not City or Liverpool. I have BB to use and have an injured keeper on it, but dunno who'll keep a clean sheet.

          13. LLoris
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Hello I'm down 30 pts in my mini league and I need a triple captain he doesn't have!!! No Aguero Sterling Salah

            1. Wally711
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              Foster

              1. Wally711
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                Do it lol

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

              take a -4 for one of those three

          14. Olivier Bernards watch
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            shaw to vvd -4?

            1. Olivier Bernards watch
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              also: gray to rash for -4?

          15. AVFCChris1984
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Gunn (Foster)
            Robertson, Schar, PVA, (Valery, Doherty)
            Mane, Sterling, Jota, Redmond (Hayden)
            Kun, Vardy, Jimi

            3.7 ITB

            I'm over 100 points clear in all my ML's so not worried about taking a few hits, I want to make today interesting. Would you guys doing anything? I'm not fussed about OR either really.

            What transfers will make today more entertaining?

            Was thinking mane to salah but is that a bit sideways?

          16. gullibaldurs
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            On top of my ML. Considering what to do with Son.

            A) Son > Pogba
            B) Son & Jimenez > Pogba & Wilson -4 (The guy chasing me has Wilson)
            C) Son & Jimenez > Fraser & Vardy -4
            D) Jimenez > Wilson, bench Son and play Hojbjerg vs HUD.
            E) Something else.

            My lead is quite big but we don't have many of the same players.

            Any suggestions?

          17. Captain Warlock
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Any advice ??
            A) Babel & Vardy
            B) Bsilva & Wilson

          18. ChipsnGravy
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Who scores more this week,

            Vardy or Wilson