Scout Picks

Salah and Sterling headline Gameweek 2 Scout Picks

Liverpool and Manchester City’s big guns are still important assets for Fantasy Premier League managers to own for Gameweek 2.

Once again, we have three premium options selected in our Scout Picks for this weekend, what we believe to be the best starting XI for the upcoming round of action.

This has been chosen using the Scout Squad selections made by David, Neale, Paul and Geoff earlier in the week.

For Gameweek 2 we line-up in 4-4-2 once again, this time coming in at £82.6m, £0.4m inside our budget of £83m.

Goalkeeper

Ryan scored nine points in Gameweek 1

Mathew Ryan (£4.5m) was an eleventh-hour addition to the Scout Picks after news of Adrian’s injury filtered around the Fantasy community. The Liverpool goalkeeper was originally given the nod but doubt over his starting place meant we had to drop in. Ryan is his replacement after facing no big chances in Gameweek 1 while West Ham could be without both Felipe Anderson and new signing Sébastien Haller.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold in action for Liverpool against Norwich

While Liverpool’s defence has not inspired confidence in Fantasy managers this week, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) was still a popular option in the Scout Squad submissions. Neale, Paul and Geoff selected him as the best defender for Gameweek 2, David slotting him into second place. Despite conceding against Norwich, the right-back was top for key passes and big chances created at Anfield on Friday night.

Lucas Digne (£6.0m) was another hugely fashionable option according to the Scout Squad pundits, tipped by all four of them. While there are cheaper assets in the Everton defence, the £0.5m is worth paying this week for Digne’s involvement in set pieces. Watford conceded more chances from dead-ball situations between Gameweeks 21 and 38 last season. The Hornets also failed to register a single big chance in Gameweek 1, so a clean sheet is also on the cards for the Frenchman.

Neale and Geoff both selected Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£5.0m) in their Scout Squad selections ahead of Burnley’s visit to the Emirates stadium. Arsenal kept a clean sheet in Gameweek 1 and it was the right-back who got the assist for their only goal of the game.

After being the talk of the town for the last few weeks, John Lundstram (£4.0m) makes his Scout Picks debut for Gameweek 2. The Sheffield United asset faces a goal-shy Crystal Palace side this weekend and created two big chances in Gameweek 1, the joint-highest in the whole division.

Midfielders

Mohamed Salah scored against Norwich City in Gameweek 1

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) remains our favourite option in the Liverpool attack ahead of the trip to Southampton. The Saints were particularly leaky at home last season, only Manchester United managing fewer clean sheets in front of their own supporters. Furthermore, Salah was top of the league for shots in the box and shots on target in away matches in 2018/19. Any concerns over his 120-minute outing midweek were eased by Jurgen Klopp’s assurances in his Friday press conference.

While Salah was the unanimous first-choice midfielder, Raheem Sterling (£12.1m) occupied the second-place spot for all our Scout Squad pundits. No player had as many shots on target as him in Gameweek 1, while Spurs did not look too assured at the back against Aston Villa.

Like his defensive colleague, Gylfi Sigurdsson (£8.0m) looks set to benefit from Watford’s vulnerability to set-pieces in Gameweek 2. The Icelandic international created 45 chances in home matches last season, only Eden Hazard and James Maddison fashioning more than that.

Something of a left-field inclusion in the Scout Picks this week is Norwich City midfielder Emi Buendía (£6.0m). We were a big fan of Teemu Pukki in the Scout Squad but needed to save some money for spending elsewhere. Buendía is not necessarily a massive step-down though. He created three chances at Anfield on Friday night and his role in set pieces could help unlock a Newcastle side that conceded the joint-most chances from dead-ball situations in the whole of 2018/19.

Forwards

Aubameyang got the only goal in Arsenal’s win at Newcastle on opening weekend

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) has a fantastic record of scoring against Burnley, with a brace in each of his last three matches facing the Clarets. He was also afforded the joint-highest number of big chances in home matches across the 2018/19 season.

There was plenty of backing for Bournemouth’s attack in the Scout Squad submissions but we, unfortunately, ran out of cash for one of either Callum Wilson or Ryan Fraser. Josh King (£6.5m) deputises for his Cherries colleagues then, as we expect a return to last season’s attacking form in an open game at Villa Park.

Substitutes

Martín Montoya (£4.5m) makes the bench this week, after Neale and Paul included him in their Scout Squad selection. The defender looks likely to retain his place at right wing-back for the visit of West Ham, who could be without key attacking personnel.

John McGinn (£5.5m) made a great start to life in the Premier League scoring on his top-flight debut at Spurs. Bournemouth come to Villa Park in Gameweek 2, with a defence that’s hard to trust, so we won’t be too shocked if McGinn gets more attacking returns this weekend.

As already mentioned, we didn’t have the cash for Teemu Pukki (£6.5m) in our final XI but we still think he will do well in Gameweek 2. He had three shots in the box against Liverpool, the same number he had per game in the Championship.

The Scout Picks Captain

As we mentioned last week, the Scout Picks now has a captain in the 2019/20 season.

This skipper is chosen using the conclusions of the latest Captain Sensible article and a four-way vote between David, Neale, Paul and Geoff.

Because the use of Fantasy Football Scout data is used so heavily in this process, the captain we choose each Gameweek will be known only to those who have signed up to Membership for the 2019/20 season.

It will be revealed to the public only when the deadline for the Gameweek has passed.

The Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 2 is Hot Toddy.

They have opted for a 4-4-2 of: Leno; Digne, van Dijk, Coleman, Alexander-Arnold; Fraser, Martial, Sterling, Richarlison; Aubameyang, Pukki.

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.

Unfortunately, our Community Champion did not submit a team in Gameweek 1.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 1

3,382 Comments Post a Comment
  1. sglancelot
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Bench Moura for Lundstram
    B) Bench Perez for Lundstram
    C) Bench Lundstram and play both Moura and Perez

    1. Mull
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      C

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      C

    3. Mishon
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I am in the same boat. Just asked a similar question without first seeing yours. Guess I am going to play both and hope for the best.

    4. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      C

    5. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      C

  2. One Man
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best 2 or 3 4.5m defenders ?

    1. L S P
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      no one knows yet

  3. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Start 1 (lund - kean - trossard)

  4. Mishon
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Not very happy with both Moura and Ayoze in my S11. Should I switch one or keep the FT?

    1. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      No - save use 2ft next week to sort it out if it's a problem

    2. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Keep

    3. TheSpecialOne
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      take them both out go -4. try do it every week.

  5. davies
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play one:

    A) Diop (bha)
    B) Dendoncker (MUN)
    C) Rico (avl)

    1. Manani
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      b

    2. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

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

      Rico

    4. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Rico lools obvious to me

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Looks 🙂

    5. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  6. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play 1

    A)lund
    B) kean
    C) trossard

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Again?

      Play an attacker unless you think A is guaranteed points.

      1. Nightf0x
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Nobody answered me above

        1. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Tross

        2. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          It was 10 minutes.

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Always play attacking players ahead of defenders unless it involves attacking fullbacks TAA etc...

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

    Who would you start?

    Montoya (WHU)
    Dendonker (MUN)
    Lundstram (CRY)

    Cheers

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

      Montoya

  8. One Man
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    There is no 4m long term defender ?

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Too early to tell but Rico looks to have that spot over Daniels perhaps, Kelly put in a MOTM performance last time out too.

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

        Rico faces competition from the currently injured Lloyd Kelly ..

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          He could easily keep his place over Kelly though

  9. Koflok
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play

    A) KWP
    B) Montoya

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

      or C) Lundstram

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Montoya

  10. Scratch
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which 1 would you start from
    KWP, Cathcart, Dendoncker, Hayden

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Toughie but probably Dendoncker best out of those.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        ...wouldn't like to be starting any of them if I'm honest!

    2. BROOKLYN GOONER
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Have Hayden above Dendoncker on my bench.

  11. Yankee Toffee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Percentages they will start
    A) Kean
    B) Barkley

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      63.66%
      51.33%

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Go with Kean. Pretty sure he will start as Everton playing Watford.

  12. 3 A
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    2 min silence for those tranferring out Allison to get Adrian just to see Adrian injured too....by own fan

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Adrian probably will play.

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Reckon its a bit of drama from Klopp and Adrian starts

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        More like drama from social media

  13. One Man
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is coleman and Digne to much for some weeks ?

    1. Saint & Reevesy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I don’t think so personally, great fixtures and defensive form, both get up the pitch too.

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Reckon they both outscore any mid 6.0 or below easily so could work out very well imo but not for me.

  14. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    TV is 100.3 already...sweet 🙂

  15. Saint & Reevesy
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    After his comments, I’m sticking with Adrian in goal, reckon he’ll play.

    Any news to the contrary?

  16. Ik2000
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pick 2 to bench:
    A) Zinch
    B) Montoya
    C) Dendoncker
    D) Trossard
    E) Ings
    F) KWP

    Currently on A & F

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      E and F

      1. Stockport Hatter
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Sorry D and F

        1. Saint & Reevesy
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          ^ this ^

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      F & C

  17. I Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    So the price changes are at random times this year then.

    1. Point-one short
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would appear so - changed at ~3 this morning?

  18. Saint & Reevesy
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Good to go?

    Adrian

    Zinchenko / AWB / Coleman

    Salah / Stirling / McGinn / Barkley

    Aubameyang / rashford / Pukki

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Looks good to me as long as Barkley starts, love your forward line...GL

      1. Saint & Reevesy
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You’re right there is risk with Barkley.

        I think he and mount will start and he’ll ease Pulisic into the first team over time.

  19. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Just read about Joel Darlington. So sad and heartbreaking. I hope everybody is Fine.
    You matter. Stay.

  20. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Big Saturday chaps:
    Puk(k)i
    Auba
    Sterling
    Bobby
    Robbo
    Digne
    Fraser
    Heaton
    8 including captain...how are you fixed?

    1. Saint & Reevesy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      All set I think - see above

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yup, who's your cappo?

        1. Saint & Reevesy
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Salah.

          Too much of a risk not to. Soft I know.

          I’m tempted by Aubameyang though, I just don’t fully trust arsenal though, the manager is erratic.

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            The manager and Burnley's performance in GW1 put me off Auba a bit. If I owned Salah I'd most likely captain him too, that Soton defence!

    2. Little fekirs
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Rolled my transfer and ready for a big day.
      Wilson, Salah, TAA, Buendia, Heaton, Montoya, Sterling, Moura.

      Captain likely to be Salah but for tempted by Wilson for some reason.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Nice GL, hard to argue Salah v Stephens and that 7 foot monstrosity 😉

        1. Little fekirs
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Cheers. Best of luck with Pukki, hopefully Buendia can get involved for my sake.

  21. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Good to go? Saving a tranny..

    Ryan
    Robbo VVD Digne
    Salah (C) KDB Siggy Perez Dendoncker
    Kane King

    Button Rico KWP Greenwood

    1. Saint & Reevesy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I went Kane to Aubameyang... will sub back next week.

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Waste of 2 transfers imo and Kane can easily score against City. 2FT gives me the ability to get Sterling or Martial next week whilst offloading King and possibly Perez

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      GTG, perhaps Rico over Dendoncker although that's marginal...GL

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Always prefer the attacker, and Dendoncker’s average position last week almost matched Jimenez. Bournemouth are awful

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          yeah, fair points!

    3. One Man
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Who is KWP. Is Rico the replacement for Daniels ? If he is you have a okay defense.

      1. Stockport Hatter
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Kyle Walker- Peters

  22. some witty pun
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Trossard owners, whats your move?

    1. One Man
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I bring in McGinn. But could be wort holding too. I'm just trigger happy.

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

      Keep for GW2

      1. datamunkey
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This

  23. S3
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    who too bench...lundstram or zinch?

  24. One Man
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would you be better with Coleman and 2 4m defenders or 3 4.5m defenders rotating for that final spot ?

  25. emyoueffsee
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bad start and since I think Auba is a good thing tomorrow I have taken a hit for this team. vardy an Tielemans out Auba and Dendoncker in.

    Henderson
    TAA Robertson Digne
    Dendoncker Barkley Salah Sterling(c) McGinn
    Jota Aubameyang

    Heaton Kelly Femenia Greenwood

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cant say I like that hit at all (as you might want rid of him next week!) but I hope Auba smashes it for you...GL!

  26. One Man
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mane or Salah ?

    1. dzrihan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mane for me

    2. Party time
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mané has a higher chance of playing more minutes than Salah

      • Down with this sort of thin…
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mane looks in better form, I have Salah, would love both. If the extra 1m improves significantly elsewhere, maybe Mane. Dangerous though if all your rivals have Salah captain.

    3. Party time
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Good to see Pukki rise, now I am ready for the party today. Gotta clean my new kicks now!

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yay, Pukki party! 🙂

          1. Party time
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Yay! Got meself a little bit extra goodies tho... Buendía also 😉

              1. jia you
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                In my best Borat impression 'Very nice'!

                1. Party time
                    4 years, 7 months ago

                    Lol. Thanks chap 🙂 . Hopefully a great week ahead for us 🙂

          2. dzrihan
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Best Midfielder for 5m/4.5m ?

            1. jia you
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Dendoncker

          3. One Man
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Double Everton defense maybe even tipple

            1. jia you
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              you would need a strong tipple watching double EVE defence every week 😉

              1. One Man
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                I think They kept 8 of the last 12 games last season clean sheets. And have the best run of any team in the next 10 games. Meant Triple btw

                1. jia you
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Yeah but I don't particularly like defensive double ups, apart from Liverpool of course if they hit the heights of last season. Digne + Coleman I could get on board though if EVEs form picks up! Triple up would be way too much EVE imo.

                2. Pukki Blinders
                  • 4 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  No Zouma, no gueye. Gonna impact their CS for sure

            2. Plant Based FPLer
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Coleman is super slow and I think Pickford just looks ridiculous at times. I'm not particularly good in general though so I don't know. I have Digne only. This keeps the option open to get two attackers if Kean lights it up.

            3. Down with this sort of thin…
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Looking to ditch Walker-Peters for either Digne or Coleman. Anyone been watching much of Everton preseason or see the Palace game? Who'd be the best bet?
              Thanks!

              1. One Man
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Digne was v good. Coleman was also good tho.

          4. Ruinenlust
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Who’s doing Kane -> Aubameyang?

            1. Pomp and Circumstance
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              probably doing the other way after this week!