Scout Picks

Gameweek 8 Scout Picks retains faith in Salah

We have kept faith in two of Liverpool’s most attacking players for the Gameweek 8 Scout Picks.

The visit of Leicester to Anfield has concerned some invested in Jurgen Klopp’s men but are still expecting a positive result.

The Scout Picks has been carefully put together using David, Neale, Paul and Geoff’s Scout Squad submissions from earlier in the week.

For this weekend we line up in a 4-3-3 formation and come in £0.5m under our budget of £83.0m.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope has a favourable fixture this week as well as good form at home in 2019/20

Nick Pope (£4.6m) was a simple inclusion in the Scout Picks this week ahead of Burnley’s meeting with Everton at Turf Moor. The Clarets have already kept two clean sheets at home this season, against Southampton and Norwich, while Marco Silva’s men have found the net just once in three road trips. Meanwhile, Pope is currently fifth in the league for saves (24).

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a regular inclusion in the Scout Picks this season

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) remains a favourite of the Scout Squad panel, chosen as the best option in defence by three of them this week. Liverpool may not have kept a Premier League clean sheet at Anfield this season but they have conceded the fewest big chances of any side in the last four matches. Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold remains the top defender for chances created in that period, fashioning eight more than any other player in his position.

Nicolas Otamendi (£5.5m) continues to be the most nailed-on Manchester City defender, which should see him do well against Wolves this weekend. The visitors had another exerting Europa League encounter on Thursday night and had to play nine of the players who beat Watford in Gameweek 7. That is far from the ideal preparation for a trip to the Etihad Stadium when Wolves have had troubles in front of goal this season. Only four teams have scored fewer goals than them on the road in 2019/20, while Manchester City have conceded the fewest number of shots in the last four matches.

Matt Lowton (£4.5m) joins the Scout Picks as part of a Burnley defensive double-up. We’ve already covered the Clarets’ clean sheet potential in Gameweek 8, why it’s the right-back getting the nod is his creativity. Erik Pieters may have more assists of any other Burnley defender this season but Lowton has created more chances than any other colleague bar Ashley Westwood. 

Despite graduating from the £4.0m bracket, John Lundstram (£4.5m) can still offer plenty of value in Gameweek 8. Watford remain in the bottom three for big chances this season while Sheffield United kept a clean sheet on their last away trip. Meanwhile, Lundstram continues to be a creative force for the Blades, only four players in the whole league fashioning more big chances than him in the first seven matches.

Midfielders

Salah has been reliable in home matches in all competitions this season

The Scout Squad have retained faith in Mohamed Salah (£12.5m), even ahead of a tricky meeting with Leicester City. The Foxes defence has been in good shape in recent weeks but Salah has done very well at Anfield this season. Every Premier League match there in 2019/20 has seen him produce attacking returns and if we factor in the latest Champions League outing, he has six goals in all competitions in front of his own fans this season.

A midweek rest for Raheem Sterling (£12.1m) should put him in a good place for the visit of Wolves to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Not only did the midfielder get most of the Dinamo Zagreb off, he also provided a goal and assist when he took to the pitch as a substitute. As already mentioned, Wolves have not had the best preparation for this trip and have conceded in each of their last two away matches. Gameweek 8 was another one in which we also like the prospects of Aguero but we could not quite squeeze him and Sterling into the line-up, the latter definitely a much more likely starter this weekend.

Two goals in two for John McGinn (£5.8m) has firmly placed the Aston Villa midfielder on the Fantasy radar once again. So far this season, only two players have registered more shots on target than McGinn, which bodes well for a trip to Norwich this weekend. The Canaries have conceded 15 goals in the first seven matches, only Watford have shipped more, and are yet to keep a clean sheet at Carrow Road in 2019/20.

Forwards

Fresh from a midweek rest, Aubameyang is back in the Scout Picks once again

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) is still yet to blank this season so it is hard to see his scoring run ending in a home match against Bournemouth. The Cherries have conceded five times in their three away matches this season and have historically struggled at the Emirates Stadium.

Tammy Abraham (£7.6m) looks in a good place to reward his owners’ patience in Gameweek 8. In the last four matches, he is behind only Aguero for shots in the box and tops the league for efforts on target. A continuation of that trend at a Southampton side without a clean sheet at home this season should see Abraham do well.

Gameweek 8 should be the week that Teemu Pukki (£7.2m) returns to the Fantasy conversation. While Norwich have struggled on the road this season, they have been full of goals at Carrow Road. Pukki himself has averaged 13.3 points per game there in 2019/20 while Aston Villa have conceded seven goals across their three away matches so far.

Substitutes

Given that we fancy Sheffield United’s clean sheet chances this weekend, it makes sense to include Dean Henderson (£4.5m) on the bench. He was selected by three of our Scout Squad panel.

Harry Maguire (£5.5m) came close to making it into the final XI based on Newcastle’s problems in front of goal this season. Ahead of hosting Manchester United, the Magpies are yet to score more than once in a match this season and have blanked twice at home already.

John Fleck (£4.8m) could be a tidy differential for anyone looking to capitalise on Sheffield United’s favourable trip to Watford. He is joint-top among his colleagues for chances created over the last four matches and is second for shots inside the box.

As we discovered earlier this week, Chris Wood (£6.2m) stands a good chance of continuing his scoring run when Everton come to Turf Moor. In the last four Gameweeks, only three players have been afforded more big chances than the Burnley striker.

The Captain

The Scout Picks now has a captain for the 2019/20 campaign.

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.

Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 8 is Vobinho in Wengerland.

They have gone for a 3-4-3 of Dúbravka; Holebas, Schär, Alonso; Zaha, D Silva, Willian, Saka; Firmino, Aguero (c), Kane.

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 Community Champion in Gameweek 7 as The Greenback Boogie won by a close 54-52 scoreline.

irfansheikh‘s winning margin of 16 points from Gameweek 7 is the latest score to beat for the 2019/20 season.

Lessons Learned from Gameweek 7

5,269 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Le Bluff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    KDB and Barnes > Yarmolenko and Auba a no brainer?

    No other pressing issues and have exact funds.

    1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would..am. 1m shorter to do that move..

      1. Le Bluff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Luckily I've got some money ITB.

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would tbh. As long as u have a way to get Kev back

      1. Le Bluff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks. Would require a couple of moves but would be okay to not own KDB for the Palace game.

    3. Sharkytect
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would be doing that myself if I had a tiny bit extra cash. 0.2short

      1. Le Bluff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks. Yeah luckily I have some money ITB.

        Allows me to keep Salah too who I was *gulp* originally planning to ship out!

  2. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Auba and mcginn for kdb and Barnes for free...ya or na?????

    1. Puncheon Guly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yes!

      1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Sharkytect
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yay

      1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

    3. Bodie
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yep

      1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

  3. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    7 club!

    Grey arrow incoming

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

      +1

  4. timawflowers
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Mcguinn or Yarmolenko?

    1. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Tough one. McGinn long term but I prefer West Ham's fixtures and Yarmo in good form.

    2. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'm going with both, but if it had to be one its McGinn all day long

  5. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    KDB out and Cantwell doubt with C.Wilson and Lundstram ready on the bench. A or B?

    A: Use FT on KDB -> Son
    B: Keep FT and play this

    Pope
    TAA - Otamendi - Tomori - Lundstram
    Salah - Sterling - Mount
    Abraham - Pukki - C.Wilson
    Bench : KDB, Cantwell, Hanley

    1. Dirty Leeds
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B!

    3. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks. It's probably a good time to let the bench doing the job.

  6. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    9 out of 11 here

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

      Red arrow 😛

      1. JELLYFISH
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Lol most probably right mate 🙂

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

          Kidding.
          GL !

    2. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      same here. gulp

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

      7... Just hope they're the right 7...

  7. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    G2G Roll FT
    Pope
    TAA Otemendi Lundstarm
    Salah(VC) Sterling(C) Cantwell Mount
    Pukki Kun Abraham

    Button Guendouzi Kelly Pieters

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

      Pieters to B2, Kelly 3rd imo.

  8. wolves_simmo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which scores more?

    A) Salah & Cantwell
    B) Saka & Aguero -4
    C) Saka & Aubameyang -4

    1. Naboo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  9. Naboo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Otamendi Lundstram
    Sterling Mount McGinn Cantwell
    Auba (C) Vardy Abraham

    Bench: Tomori, Diop, KDB

    GTG? Have 1FT that I'd like to save

    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nice team!

  10. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Will this team look alright after Dendoncker out for Saka?

    Heaton
    TAA - Otamendi - Lundstram - Digne
    Salah - Sterling - Dendoncker* - Mount
    Pukki - Callum Wilson
    (Button - KDB - Rico - Greenwood)

  11. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    whats the furthest anyone has gone in FM?

    Im now in the year 2048 on FM16. Should i consider rehab for a hit?

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

      What's the rating for Milner, Zlatan & Buffon ??
      😀

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Milner is an active coach at QPR (62yo)
        Zlatan retired after PSG at 35
        Buffon retired as a coach (bologna under 20's GK coach) at 62

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

          Amazing 😀
          Loved that. Cheers mate.
          And yes, you're addicted 😀

          1. 7shadesofsmoke
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            😆

    2. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Is everyone a regen yet?

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        does that happen?

        Im just getting weird random gen stuff i thought.

        randomly generated faces are strange - everyone will have a five head by 2050

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

      Got to 2030 odd on FM12, starting with Southampton. 2048 is devotion... Your girlfriend must hate you... Mine hates me. :/

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        *Wife*

        Don't ask me how that happened 😆

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

          Marry her in 2015 by chance?

          1. 7shadesofsmoke
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            lol, nah, I took a career break in 2017/18 😆

    4. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      2033 here.. back in 2016.. 48 is impressive!!

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        nice 🙂

        I want to see if i will get pensioned off at some stage 😀

    5. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Still play CM 01/02 with up to date patches.

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        oh my god, that must be amazing.

        Who was still about then? You got Zidane, Del Piero, Davids, Zambrotta, Cafu...

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yeh you can play it at the original 01 start or download the 18/19 patch and play with up to date player database.

  12. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Thought it was all easy with just Tomori in - but now in doubt if I should get Son instead? - Two free transfers to use but would like to use only one.

    a. Aurier -> Tomori
    b. KDB -> Son

    McGovern
    TAA, Digne, Lundstram
    KDB, Sterling, Salah, Cantwell
    Abraham, Wilson, Pukki

    Heaton, Aurier, Hayden, Rico
    0.1 million in the bank, all chips intact

  13. fridge
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Wildcarding next week probably...

    1FT, 1.5 ITB

    Pope
    Zinch. Maitland. Lundstram
    Salah. Sterling. KDB. Mount. Cantwell
    Haller. Pukki

    Button. Jota. Montoya. Aurier

    A) Jota > Abraham
    B) Zinch > Ota
    C) KDB & Jota > Auba & Yarmolenko (-4)
    D) something else

    1. Sharkytect
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  14. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on Son. Does anyone think he will be rested? How many Int's are coming up.

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      For him.

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Rest for International minutes ??
      If i was Poch, I'd take running him down in PL if he gets exhausted instead of resting & watching helpless Spurs.
      Best attacker by far for them

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      The first is against Sri Lanka. I've been there and never once saw people having a kick about...

  15. King Kun Ta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Did Kun -> Auba as my FT....captain the new kid on the block? Or go for Pukki, Tammy, Sterling or Salah? 🙂

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Why did u sell Kun?

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        You think he will start this weekend?

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Why would he?

      2. King Kun Ta
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Already fed up with doubts around his gametime every GW and Auba’s upcoming fixtures and nailedness.

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Auba

    3. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling

    4. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Well if you swapped out Kun for him surely you gotta give him the armband?

    5. Mr Peanutbutter
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      your grav and name is kun and you're going to miss his first hatrik of the year what a shame

  16. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ryan
    TAA Lundstram Digne AWB*
    Salah Sterling Mount KDB*
    Abraham Pukki

    Button Rico Dendoncker Wickham

    1 ft, 1.6 itb

    A Dendoncker to McGinn/Yarmolenko
    B AWB to Otamendi
    C KDB Wickham AWB to McGinn Auba Tomori

  17. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Barnes and kdb to drop today?

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No

  18. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Worth playing Cantwell or Kelly (fear of Cantwell 10 mins)
    And who to captain?
    Raz
    Sergio
    Salah
    Abraham
    Thanks!

    1. Sharkytect
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      If Cantwell is fine he should start. Wouldn’t make sense to bring him on for 10mins

      1. Sharkytect
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        And captain Sterling

        1. Champions League Varane
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks good luck to you!

    2. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah, Kelly

  19. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    My defense is exactly the Scout Picks. How should I feel?

    1. Party time
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Indifferent until the cleansheets get wiped out

      • Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Devastated

      • Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Lol
        Cue in 90 minute goals 😀

    2. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Bench kdb and play Cantwell or
      Kdb to Mahrez/b.silva/son?

    3. StayoutheSpiceZone
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Transfer out kdb for a -4 or play with 10 + that donkey Greenwood?

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        -4 imo. He may start gw9 from the bench.

    4. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Still undecided betweem Soy and Tomori....help me guys!

    5. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      When does the arsenal team news come out??

      1. Party time
          4 years, 5 months ago

          In the ebening

      2. Sedemuda
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        8 Scout picks for me.

        1. Tempestic
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yep same...

        2. badgerboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          9 for me. Cue Auba and McGinn hauls!

          1. Tempestic
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Oh please 😉

      3. ZAWAd25
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Any hits needed here? Or gtg?

        Pope
        VVD Otamendi Tomori Lund
        Mane Sterling (c) Son Cantwell
        Pukki Abraham

        Button KDB Kelly Greenwood

      4. Daghe Munegu
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        A: Guendouzi
        B: Callum Wilson - 4

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Tough- for longer term Wilson some nice fixtures coming up so that would tempt me

      5. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Kdb cp is 10.0 sp is 9.8 and Pp is 9.7 so a drop won't affect my sp right?stays at 9.8m right??

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Correct

          1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          You can afford 1 drop, yes.

          1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks

      6. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Have 1ft.. nothing else urgent.
        Am hesitant to just move kdb out with intention of getting him back with another ft.

        A)start guendouzi and have 2ft over break
        B)bring in any mf for a punt for free

      7. Gentlemens club
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Play Lundstram or double up on Burnley?

        Pope
        VVD TAA Lund
        Mahrez Salah Lanzini Mount
        Auba Pukki Tammy

        Lowton/Soy/Dendonk

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Play Lundstram

      8. Ronnies
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Best option:

        A) Play Digne

        B) Do Barnes > King & bench Digne

        Thanks Guys.