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. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Will KWP play this gw ?

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

      Talk of Foyth or Sissoko

  2. S3
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    anyone reckon mahrez will start after playing 90mins on tues

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mahrez is so on form. He’ll start I’m convinced

      1. S3
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        thinking of putting my armband on him...maybe too much of a risk

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

    Yarmolenko or McGinn short term?

    1. S3
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yarmo

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

      Yarmo, clinical one chance one goal

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

        Sustainable?

    3. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yarmolenko’s next four are delightful

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

    anyone thinks mahrez will start after playing full 90mins on tues?

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

      Kdb out helps his case but who knows with Pep

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

    I have 1 ft (0 ITB) - current back line looks like:
    VVD, Soyuncu, Montoya, Rico, (Aurier)

    Also have KDB (benched).

    A) Aurier -> Tomori
    B) KDB -> Son / Mahrez
    C) Aurier -> Other

    Who gets bench out the back 4 ?

    1. S3
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

    KDB to which man City coverage?
    A) David silva
    B) mahrez
    C) sterling

    Money no option

    1. S3
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      on mahrez but not sure if he will start. for security i will say sterling

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

        I want mahrez to have some cash left but sterling leading for me...
        So captain sterling or auba??

        1. S3
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          hmmn very tight one...i will go auba cos of his consistency and probably a bit more safe

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

      In that case it should be C

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

      c)

  7. MaSt1989
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    2FT, no Liverpool attack apart from Mane and thinking:
    Mane + Greenwood OUT for McGinn + Auba IN

    any thoughts?

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

    With only Soy on bench, Son rotation risk and Cantwell a doubt this week, would you take a hit?

    Have to use my FT to bring someone to cover for KDB.

  9. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on the following with £2.2m ITB:

    KDB > Mahrez
    Greenwood > Abraham -4

    Means I bench Lundstram

    Opinions appreciated!

    1. S3
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      if its 2FT ...pls go for it

      1. Garfield1001
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        It’s not, it’s a -4

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

    Locked & loaded 😎 Good luck all!

    Pope
    TAA • Zinch • Digne
    Salah • Sterling(C) • Son • Mount • Cantwell
    Pukki • Abraham
    (Heaton, Lunds, Rico, Greenwood)

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

      Well done man - he was always your favoured route. I'm still umming and arring, but working it out, I can do Pukki to Vardy with 1FT next week if I go Mahrez, so might punt on that. Don't quote me!
      But I do prefer Son, he's always done well for me....damn it!

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

        Yeah mate. Perhaps it’s time our two teams separated a bit 🙂 Good luck either way

  11. CHARLIE HULL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Worth using FT to do Dendoncker to Saka and start him?

    Greenwood playing at the min. Hanging on to KdB.

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

      Its a hmmm moment sorry

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

      Seems Saka could offer better returns right now

      Greenwood is a 1pt a game cameo so far

      1. CHARLIE HULL
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Agreed. Think Greenwood may have a chance of minutes this week after the Lingard injury, and still hard to know if Saka is nailed on with Emery.

  12. Tauruspt
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    1FT what move would you make?

    Pope
    Taa vvd ota digne lund
    Salah dsilva cantwell*
    Vardy pukki

    Button greenwood kdb* martial*

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

    WC this team?

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

    1. Pia06rc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      How many FT and £ itb?

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

        Just the one FT, and £1.0 itb.

  14. RVP20
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Should I do Digne, KDB & Barnes > Tomori, Mount & Auba for -4?

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

      Yep. Auba(c)

  15. SH1M1
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is it too simplistic to think that Aguero is more likely to start this weekend because he is not going away with Argentina, whereas Jesus is with Brazil ...

    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      People who are saying he will be benched because he played 89 mins what will be 5 days ago on Sunday are clutching at straws. It's just like playing the Monday night game then playing Saturday.. if he's dropped it won't be to rest him will it

  16. Atwood
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    James > Yarmolenko sound wise?

    1. S3
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I believe so

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

    Why aren't we talking more about Saka from Arsenal?

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

      Plenty are

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Too short term, Laca could be back soon or others may get a chance

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

      Seen a lot...
      Mulling over cantwell or martial out for him

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

      One more start give me one more start

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

        He is class in the making though

    5. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      So many are. Even on all the podcasts and fpl show too

  18. gamesmad11
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero to Auba?

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

      Nope

      1. gamesmad11
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        why?

    2. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nope

    3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      That's sideways, if not backwards.

      1. gamesmad11
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        But Auba is confirmed a start whereas Aguero is only 90%

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

          Releasing lineups pretty early nowadays aren’t they?

  19. FCRS BGD
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Guys,
    In FPL DRAFT

    Fraser or Cleverley ?

    Thanks !

    1. Party time
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Pick Cleverley

        1. Party time
            4 years, 5 months ago

            not sure if he is nailed tho, could still be a clever pick

            1. FCRS BGD
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Thanks

      • XabiAlonso
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Who should I captain on sterling currently

        Pope
        Taa ota Lund tom
        Sterling mane Mahrez mount
        Auba pukki

      • 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) KDB & Jota > Auba & Yarmolenko (-4)
        C) something else

      • FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        With Kdb would you do Dendo —> Saka (free) or save the FT?

        My subs:
        Dendonker - Soy - Wickham (I have Kdb)

        1. Lecky Legs FC
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yes saves the hassle of having it switch kdB out in the first place

      • Visionaries
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Help!
        Have 2 FT

        Sterling, Mane, Mount Cantwell, KDB
        Kane, Pukki

        A KDB & Kane > Auba & Son
        B KDB & Pukki > Mcginn & Auba
        C TAA, KDB, Pukki > Otamendi, Maddison/Bilva & Auba -4

      • Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        A) Pukki/Kdb > Auba/Yarmo (-4)
        B) Kdb/Drinkwater > Mahrez/Yarmo (-4)

        Ty

      • have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        What score do you reckon you will get this week? Its a good week, im going with a modest 142 points 😀

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

          If I got that I’d be over the moon

        2. Party time
            4 years, 5 months ago

            -25 all my players own goals & red cards

            1. have you seen cyan
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              its gonna be a high scoring week, mega scores for some I think

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

                Where do you see the high points coming from?

                1. have you seen cyan
                  • 4 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  no good player has a bad fixture, I cant find a bad fixture for love nor money

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

          It’s just a game, eh folks? Why not have a bit of fun. 800k rank rn anyway, need to do something spicy.

          Barnes KDB to Auba Yarmolenko (-4). Going Tammy-less for another week, but WC still intact. Sterling(c), team linked x

          GL 🙂

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

            GL mate! 🙂

            The best way is to go with your gut.

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

            Rank is pretty irrelevant at this point

            I keep telling myself

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

              Keep on you're doing something right

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

                Hope so, can feel some points this week!

          3. Fpl Richie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I like the way you play amigo - good luck.

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

            I've dropped badly to 7ook but no need to panic, marathon , slowly with the odd punt all you need

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

          GOOD TO GO ?

          Heaton

          Robbo - Walker - Digne

          Sterling - Son - Mount - Cantwell - Salah

          Pukki - Wilson

          subs: rico, lund, green

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

          Hayden to:

          A) Saka
          B) Guendouzi
          C) Dendoncker
          D) Save FT and play Greenwood

        6. KGFC
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Is Saka worth the punt? Have 2FTs, no other issues. So planning on using 1FT on swapping out Hayden for Saka and rolling over the other over IB.

          Plan is to start Saka.

          Yay or nay?

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

            Yay

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

              Thanks!

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

          Best 1 week punt midfielder under 6m? Thinking McGinn