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. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Start Zinchenko or Lundstram?

    1. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      zinchenko of course

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Zinch easily for me

    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Join me , Lundstram

    4. TeddiPonza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Zinch

    5. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Zinchenko

    6. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Chenko

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

      Both for me

    8. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram. Can see him keeping a clean sheet and maybe even scoring

  2. Giovanni Giorgio
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Evening.
    Start Lundstram or Jota?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Jota

    2. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Jota

    3. Another Hoops
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mate come on?

    4. nadman89
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      why even get jota if youre considering this

    5. One Wheels Enough
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      if you're serious it has to be Lun for the diff, otherwise zzzz

  3. DARE TO BISCAN
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would you play?

    a) Kelly (shu)
    b) Dendoncker (MUN)

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Dendoncker

    2. Hog Roast Junkie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  4. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I could indeed be very wrong but these Lundstram OR 'X'? questions could look pretty stupid if he doesn't start on Sunday, which I have to be clear is pure speculation at this point - I've now seen Lundstram or Moura, Perez, Maddison, Zinchenko, Jota

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      also assuming he does start, are Palace really that bad away from home?

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        *MBP incoming to tell me they are a better team in away games*

      2. DARE TO BISCAN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Can only think they're doing it for attention. Can't be serious, right? I mean there's a guy just now asking if it's worth benching Salah/Robertson/TAA...

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          no idea, I mean he COULD score well - but you could say the same about a lot of players

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram or Kane?

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Kane is away to the best team in the league, I think that one is obvious

    3. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Agreed. He's the best of the cheapies but the worst of any other debate.

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I don't know...Lundstram or Benteke is pretty close 😆

    4. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tbh I didn’t feel uncomfortable benching him before this article. Didn’t see his match last gw and didn’t hang out here this week before tonight. So it’s just second guessing if I missed something vital.

    5. evilfish
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram or Barkley?

  5. LSK
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is it worth benching Salah, Trent and Robertson this week? They played midweek and have injured keepers.
    Would be for Dendoncker, Rico and Greenwood.

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yep, could be great

    2. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tough choice

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Definitely - bench them all - wouldn’t have them anywhere near the first team

    4. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cheers all. Will captain Dendoncker as he only came off the bench midweek for Wolves so will have a good game

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Has to be Triple Captain imo

        1. LSK
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Too maverick for me mate. I’m more of a sensible player

    5. One Wheels Enough
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      i would

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

      Yes, then play BB chip.

  6. Hairy Potter
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which would you start with this week?

    A) Dunk
    B) Barkley
    C) Diop

    1. Hog Roast Junkie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Close but C

    2. Capitan_K
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

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

    What should I do with this lot guys?

    Pope (McGovern)
    Zinchenko TAA Digne Fredericks Reid
    Salah Stirling Lucas M Trossard Hendrick
    Wilson Deeney Jota

    I know so much needs doing but 1 FT and 0ITB...should I save or what?

    All suggestions welcome!

    1. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Get rid of Hendrick for a start

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

    Play Dendoncker or Lundstram?

    1. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram

  9. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    That Real Madrid home shirt really does not flatter Hazard

    Either that or he’s been on the Denny Sausage Rolls

  10. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bench order correct?

    Lundstram, Dendo, Greenwood

    1. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yep, definitely.

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers mate. GL!

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Y

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers! gL

    3. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Nice one

  11. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    No Trossard 😮

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      at home to a team that just conceded 5 goals at home...it's utter madness

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      didn't even make the bench

    3. Marty McFly
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      ?

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

      What do you know? Is he not in the team at all for GW2?

  12. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sterling v Salah for the captaincy doing ma head in!

    And there’s always Sigurdsson too for a bigger punt

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

      Everyone’s!

      Probably both get 3/2 points each 😀

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      120 minutes for Salah & Liverpool 48 hours ago

      City played spurs in champs leg 4 months ago & scored 4 (really 5) with Sterling brace

      I’m trying to weigh these up

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

    Captain Sterling or Salah? I really can't decide.

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      You aren't alone, talk to us, or fantasy friends

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

      I'm thinking Sterling. He's facing Walker-Pieters on the back; could be interesting.
      Salah has 120 minutes from wednesday, might be a bit tired.

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

        Cheers guys. I am on Sterling and I think I will leave it there.

    3. Rust Cohle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I have both and the arm band is on Sterling. Great form. Home. Facing a club whose badge is a cock balancing on a beach ball.

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

        Ha! Lol!!! 😀

  14. Ciarant20
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hi guys have I ordered my team right here, would you change starting XI or bench?

    Ryan
    VVD TAA Digne Kelly
    Sterling Salah Pérez Fraser
    King Jota

    Button Moura Lundstram Greenwood

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think if you're going to own Moura you should play him. Move Kelly to the bench

      1. In a Rush
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yes definitely this

    2. mundian
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Are you kidding!? Moura has to be in 11. Drop Kelly.

    3. One Wheels Enough
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      did you look at the fixtures prior to your gw1 team, if so why get lucas if you planned to bench him this week, didn't you consider this 2 weeks ago 🙂

  15. Blens
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Trossard going to get a look in? Picked him for my squad after all the hype last week...poor guy didn't even get a look in.

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

      They wouldn't give him his debut away. I think he will play next round, at least some. I got him, and I'm not selling. He will be good!

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

      I think he should. Potter specifically said he went with Gross because of the particular fixture

  16. bruuuno
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Start two:

    A. Trossard
    B. Barkley
    C. Perez

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A and B

      1. bruuuno
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks. Feeling the same, but a bit worried on play time for both

  17. Four Hit Wonder
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) TAA, Maitland-Niles
    B) VVD, Zinchenko

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. FPL-(VAR)dy
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      b

    3. Capitan_K
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  18. LevonCD
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hi lads, opinions please, lund or kelly for this week?

    1. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram playing at home for me

  19. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Lundstram or Salah?

    1. KAR
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Funny

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Finally, a sensible question.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You've searched high and low . Well played.

    3. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you're playing Scrabble, Lundstram FTW

      1. Party time
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Meeoww 🙂

      2. Harper (No more Penandes)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Tough one for me
        Lundstram has the home advantage and Salah played 120 minutes in the supercup but he also finished top scorer the past two seasons
        toss a coin

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

          this. coin toss that one

        2. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Salah disappointed after African Nations too, Lundstram still on a high after Sweden's World Cup finish.

      3. Party time
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Ever seen a man flogging his arse all by himself?

        • JustPark
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Didn't play 120 mins in midweek, against toothless Palace, no europe competition.
          Definitely Lunds.

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

        ryan (button)
        vvd, coleman, walker (lunds, rico)
        salah, kdb, fraser, trossard (dendock)
        kane, wilson, wood

        A. save ft
        B. kane to auba

        1. FPL-(VAR)dy
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          save..u d want Kane next week anyway

          1. KAR
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            That is true

      5. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        That's it then. Starting Montoya ahead of Deulofeu.

        1. Valar(Keith)
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Haha. I'd planned at season start to play Montoya over perez gw 2 and gw 5..bottling it now 🙂

      6. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Is salah on pens still?
        think I'll give him the armband for that!

        1. In a Rush
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          When Milner isn’t on the pitch

        2. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Milner likely to start in goal so no

          1. FPL-(VAR)dy
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            surely wont allow keeper to take penalty..so Salah it is

      7. Snapes on a Plane
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Bench Heaton(bou) or Pope(ars) ?

        1. FPL-(VAR)dy
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          pope IMO

        2. Mr Bird
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Both concede but Pope to get more save points

      8. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Is Lundstram on pens?

        1. FPL-(VAR)dy
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          nope

      9. The Chosen One...
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Imagine if Lundstram starts and actually gets a haul

      10. Garth Marenghi
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        My final Brighton question:

        Does Montoya have risk of rotation or could they change formation based on who they’re playing in a game week and Montoya then sits out?

      11. FPL-(VAR)dy
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        As the deadline nears..I am persuaded more and more to (C) Sterling over Salah

      12. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        How did KWP look v Villa?

        Right as I was about to lock in Salah(c), just remembered that Sterling plays down that side...

      13. Party time
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Who is the best £ 4.5 goalie for this gameweek?

          1. SADIO SANÉ
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Adrian

            1. Party time
                4 years, 7 months ago

                He is a doubt isn't he? 1 goal kick could come with a little twitch on the ankle

            2. hugothedog
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Heaton. Excellent fixtures going forward too.

              1. Party time
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Thanks. I am on Heaton at the moment & I will stick. Cheers!

            3. Blue Gaffer
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Play Perez or Lundstram?

              1. KAR
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Perez ofc

                1. In a Rush
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  It’s bizarre this is the most frequently asked question this week