Gameweek 12 Scout Picks includes Liverpool double-up

We have included two Liverpool players in our selection for the Gameweek 12 Scout Picks.

Fantasy Premier League managers have been somewhat put off by Manchester City’s visit to Anfield this weekend, but we do believe there will be goals there.

After deliberating over David, Neale, Paul and Geoff’s Scout Squad submissions, we came up with an XI-man line-up.

This time we have deployed the troops in 3-4-3 formation, coming in at £83.0m, £3.0m inside our budget.

Goalkeeper

Despite conceding seven goals in the last two matches, Burnley’s defence is always worth considering when hosting a so-called lesser side at Turf Moor. So far this season, the Clarets are yet to concede to such a club in front of their own fans, having shut out Southampton, Norwich and Everton between Gameweeks 1 and 8. Furthermore, in all home matches of 2019/20, only one side has conceded fewer big chances than Burnley – hence why Nick Pope (£4.7m) gets a nice easy route into the Scout Picks XI.

Defenders

Even in the face of a daunting meeting with Manchester City, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) still keeps his place in the Scout Picks XI for Gameweek 12. In the last four rounds, no player has played more key passes than the Liverpool right-back and only one has topped him for big chances created too. Furthermore, 30% of the league goals conceded by Manchester City in 2019/20 have come from set-pieces, in which Alexander-Arnold is involved for Liverpool.

Chelsea’s defence at Stamford Bridge has been a reliable route for investment this season, so Fikayo Tomori (£4.8m) gets into the Scout Picks XI. In all home matches played so far, no side has allowed fewer shots inside the box or on target than Frank Lampard’s men. This week’s opponents Crystal Palace have managed just seven big chances on the road in 2019/20, better than only two other sides.

Diego Rico (£4.3m) makes his second appearance in the Scout Picks XI this season ahead of a trip to Newcastle. The Bournemouth defence continues to surprise Fantasy managers with its recent transformation into one capable of producing clean sheet reliably, culminating in that 1-0 win over Manchester United last time out, the third shut-out in a row. Meanwhile, Newcastle are bottom of the league for goals at home this season and over the last four Gameweeks, no other side has conceded more chances from set-pieces, in which Rico is involved for Bournemouth.

Midfielders

We believe that there are goals for Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, even though it’s Manchester City coming to Anfield. In the last four away matches, the reigning champions have conceded 11 big chances, only five clubs doing worse than that. Manchester City’s opponents in that time were Bournemouth, Norwich, Everton and Crystal Palace. The fact that Ederson is also out injured also suggests that Liverpool could be handed plenty of opportunities in Gameweek 12. Sadio Mané (£12.0m) is top of the charts among his colleagues for big chances afforded in the last four Gameweeks and you have to go back until Gameweek 3 for the last time he blanked at home.

Anthony Martial (£7.7m) may have only been back a short time for Manchester United but has already shown his worth to the side. The Frenchman scored against Norwich in Gameweek 10 and netted a wonderful individual effort on Thursday night too. Meanwhile, Brighton’s defence has not been too impressive on the road recently. In their last four away matches, the Seagulls are joint-bottom of the league for big chances conceded (15), while centre-back Adam Webster has also been ruled out through injury.

James Maddison (£7.4m) is the first of two Leicester attackers in the Scout Picks XI for Gameweek 12. The former Norwich man should really enjoy facing Arsenal on Sunday afternoon for two reasons. Only Aston Villa have conceded more goal attempts from set-pieces than the Gunners since the season began while over the last four away matches, Unai Emery’s men have given up the joint-highest number of chances through the centre of the pitch. As a central midfielder who takes the set pieces, Maddison is perfectly poised to heap the pressure on Arsenal at the King Power Stadium.

We believe Christian Pulisic (£7.3m) has secured his place in this Chelsea side now and could be the key to victory when Crystal Palace come to Stamford Bridge. The USA international is currently joint-top of the league for shots on target over the last four Gameweeks, despite registering just 209 minutes of game-time during that period. His goal threat should bubble to the surface once again in Gameweek 12 as he continues to earn time on the pitch.

Forwards

Our Captain Poll winner was an easy inclusion in the Scout Picks for Gameweek 12. Jamie Vardy (£9.4m) is currently top of the Golden Boot charts with 10 goals this season and faces that brittle Arsenal defence which we’ve already documented the weaknesses of. It is their vulnerable centre that should prove the most exciting for Vardy owners as he thrives through the middle for Leicester.

Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) has been desperately unlucky not to score more often at Stamford Bridge this season and we believe Gameweek 12 is when he turns his fortunes around. In home matches this season, Abraham has been afforded more big chances than any other player and is joint-third for shots on target.

Raúl Jiménez (£7.3m) completes the Scout Picks XI ahead of Wolves’ Gameweek 12 clash with Aston Villa. This is a great fixture for the Mexican as Dean Smith’s men have been quite obliging this season. In the first 11 matches, no side has conceded more shots inside the penalty area as Villa, while Jiménez himself has four attacking returns in as many Premier League outings.

Substitutes

No team has conceded fewer big chances at home this season than Spurs. Therefore, we predict that Paulo Gazzaniga (£4.5m) should benefit from his side’s strong defence against a Sheffield United.

Serge Aurier (£4.8m) will also head into Gameweek 12 with similar clean sheet potential to his goalkeeper but with his more advanced positioning, does carry slightly higher points potential.

Matt Lowton (£4.5m) could provide a budget way of doubling-up on that Burnley defence as they host West Ham in Gameweek 12.

Norwich’s attack has underwhelmed in recent weeks but Emi Buendía (£6.0m) could be the man to spark it into life against Watford. The Hornets have conceded more chances down their left-hand side than any other club since the start of the season, and this has got worse since Quique Sanchez Flores arrived.

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.

Here’s how we voted for Gameweek 12: 

Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 12 is Kadhai Paneer FC.

They have gone for a 3-5-2 of Gazzaniga; Digne, Aurier, Tarkowski; Willian, Richarlison, Maddison, Son (c), Martial; C Wilson, Rashford.

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.

Tea & Busquets was defeated by a 63-57 score-line in Gameweek 11.

The current winning margin of 17 points recorded by irfansheikh in Gameweek 7 and AK in Gameweek 10 remains the score to beat.