Scout Picks

Premium midfielders with appealing matches headline Gameweek 26 Scout Picks

We’ve gone big in midfield and relatively light in attack for the Gameweek 26 Scout Picks, which may raise an eyebrow or two.

As usual, we deliberated over the Scout Squad submissions made by David, Neale, Paul and Geoff over the last few days before coming up with the final team.

We shape up in a 3-5-2 formation, with our team coming well inside the allotted budget of £85.0m.

GOALKEEPER

No goalkeeper received unanimous support among our Scout Squad panel but Alex McCarthy did get three votes ahead of Southampton’s clash with Burnley. The Clarets are in the bottom three for attempts on goal and shots in the box in away games and ranked 20th for shots on target. Southampton, meanwhile, have allowed fewer attempts on goal than all teams bar Manchester City over the last six Gameweeks.

DEFENDERS

All three of our defensive picks this week received universal backing from our Scout Squad panel.

Nine clean sheets in ten matches is reason enough to back a Liverpool defender in Gameweek 26, with Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s assist potential – he has already matched his total number of attacking returns from 2018/19 – another string to his bow. The Canaries have allowed more crosses per home game from their left flank – i.e. Liverpool’s right – than any other club this season.

While Bournemouth have admittedly picked up back-to-back wins at home, they haven’t scored in four of their last five games on the road and Enda Stevens could potentially profit from a Cherries defence that has conceded more chances from their right flank than any other club over the last six Gameweeks. Sheffield United have kept clean sheets in five of their 12 games at Bramall Lane, with only Liverpool conceding fewer goals on home soil.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have not only scored fewer goals than any other Premier League side this season but they have also allowed more crosses from their right flank than any top-flight team over the last dozen Gameweeks. Lucas Digne, therefore, is our Everton representative, not least because 65 of his 81 FPL points have arrived in home fixtures.

MIDFIELDERS

How many top 10k managers played the Triple Captain for Double Gameweek 24?

Mohamed Salah, the leader in our captaincy poll, has registered 16-point hauls in each of the last two Gameweeks and averages 9.2 Fantasy Premier League points per match in 2020 so far. It has to be said that Salah hasn’t been prolific on the road this season, scoring only two goals away from Anfield – although he has supplemented those strikes with five assists. Salah bucked the trend in his last away outing, however, racking up 14 points in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Ham United. Norwich have shipped 25 goals in 12 home fixtures this season, meanwhile.

Manchester City’s home game against West Ham is arguably the standout fixture of Gameweek 26, with Kevin De Bruyne‘s security of starts – he has made Pep Guardiola’s starting XI for 17 league matches in a row – a big draw given the unpredictability of Guardiola’s selections elsewhere. David Moyes’ troops have conceded 14 big chances and ten goals over their last four matches. De Bruyne tops the league for key passes in his last four, meanwhile.

With Aston Villa the only side to have conceded more big chances than West Ham since Gameweek 21, Son Heung-min is our third premium midfield option selected. The South Korean may be in a more central role at Spurs following Steven Bergwijn’s arrival and he has fired 11 shots in the box in the last four Gameweeks since Harry Kane was sidelined.

Sergio Aguero was a first-choice pick for three of our Scout Squad but, omitted by Paul and with other £10.0m+ options receiving universal backing, the Argentinean was a luxury we simply couldn’t afford. Instead, we turn to Riyad Mahrez as our second City representative. Both Aguero and Mahrez have started 14 matches this season, with the latter proving the more explosive with five double-figure hauls to the Argentinean’s four.

We’re gambling on Graham Potter’s unpredictable team selection as we take a punt on Leandro Trossard extending his reliable home form against Watford. All three of the Brighton winger’s goals this season and four of his five assists have come at the Amex Stadium. When selected, he has been involved in 64% of the Seagulls’ efforts in front of their own supporters. Trossard has averaged 5.1 FPL points per home appearance.

FORWARDS

Crystal Palace are without a clean sheet in nine Gameweeks, so Dominic Calvert-Lewin has a chance to continue his fine form in the Carlo Ancelotti era. The Everton striker is joint-second for big chances when all FPL assets are filtered by their last four matches.

Danny Ings may have blanked for three Gameweeks in a row (one of his run-outs coming off the bench, in mitigation) but there is little wrong with his underlying stats, with the Southampton striker joint-third alongside Calvert-Lewin for shots in the box when players are filtered by their last four matches. The fact that he has racked up those attempts in just 270 minutes of football (out of a possible 360) makes that an even more impressive statistic. Ings has scored in five of his last seven home fixtures.

SUBSTITUTES

No goalkeeper has kept more league clean sheets than Dean Henderson this season and the Sheffield United shot-stopper was the first-choice pick for three of our Scout Squad panel ahead of the Blades’ clash with Bournemouth, who score at a rate of less than one goal per game away from home in 2019/20.

Mason Holgate is an ever-present under Ancelotti and David was keen to see us double-up on the Toffees, with Palace’s shot-shy attack visiting Merseyside.

Jack Stephens was Geoff’s preferred Southampton option, having recorded three assists and three clean sheets in the last ten Gameweeks.

Watford forward Troy Deeney – third for xGI among FPL forwards since Nigel Pearson took charge – this weekend faces a Brighton and Hove Albion defence with only one clean sheet to their name in 14 matches.

THE CAPTAIN

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 26 is Haggis.

They have gone for a 4-3-3 line-up of McCarthy, van Dijk, Doherty, Digne, Stevens, Salah, Mahrez, Moura, Aguero (c), Jesus, Ings.

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.

Community Champion gwitbrock beat our Scout Picks 86-63 in Gameweek 25 and as a result, their winning margin of 23 points is now the target to beat.

3,460 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Martial -> Son -4pts ?

    Yay or nay?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Neigh

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nah

    3. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Only if you will captain him

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Nah, Salah(c)

  2. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Final call on my WC team! 0 ITB! GTG?

    Hendo
    TAA Robbo Stevens
    Salah KDB Traore Fleck
    Kun(C) Jimenez Ings

    Pope Taylor Lascelles Hayden

    GW28 - Kun & Hayden to Vardy & Perez/Barnes for free!

    1. Goooo Rickie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers mate!

    2. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      mane could cut you 🙂

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Haha I hope not

    3. Gideons Rolling Another One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nice. Pretty close to mine, managed to get in Mahrez instead of Traore and VVD in place of Robbo.

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Amazing TV mate! Cheers!

    4. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Robbo to VVD. What options does the saving give you?

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Nothing special! Lascelles to Boly? Don't fancy 4.7 defender on my bench every week! Traore to Redmond? A risky punt!

  3. MTFCfan50
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Best mid under £6.4m ?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Harvey Barnes

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        This

  4. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ryan
    TAA / Pereira / Lundstram*
    Salah / KDB / Son / Martial
    Ings / Deeney / DCL

    Button // Traore / Rico / Masuaku

    A) Lundstram/Martial > Stephens/Mahrez (-4)
    B) Lundstram/Masuaku > Stephens/VVD (-4)
    C) Lundstram/Masuaku/Ryan > Stevens/VVD/McCarthy (-8)

    I think the reason I'm quite hell-bent on two defender transfers, is that I don't want to play Pereira & Rico very much for the next two, and Ryan/Masuaku are also trash.

    Not going double Liverpool defence feels dangerous, as does no SHU coverage..

    As I plan to get Jiminez for GW27, A does not allow room for 2 x Liverpool defender until GW28, basically.

  5. JonSnow
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tanganga - Stephens or Stevens

    1. JollyGoodYellows
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stephens

    2. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stevens

  6. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Play One?

    A) Daniel James (che)
    B) Williams (che)
    C) Rico (she)

    1. Goooo Rickie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Probably have to be Rico....

  7. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Martial > Mahrez (-4)?

  8. Punter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    How's this wc squad look chaps? £0.2 itb

    Hendo (Mccarthy)
    TAA - VVD - Stevens (Stephens - Lascelles)
    KDB - Salah - Son - Mahrez - Traore
    Jiminez - Ings (Martinelli)

    4 blankers in GW28 but have time to sort one of them out

  9. sambyy
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Martial to Mahrez for -4? I have no other City players and I'd probably WC him out after GW 27.

  10. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on Armstrong at 5.2? seems to do well when starting and has been till injury

    Is he the best 5.3mid or less out there?

    1. WannabeScout
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I got 5.5 to work with
      I was thinking jorginho, gundogon or mooy

  11. R.C
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which teams will play in both blank GW 28 and 31??

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      BUR, WOL, BOU, WAT

  12. beric
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pope
    Vvd - trent - holgate
    Salah(c) - kdb - grealish - traore
    Auba - ings - jimenez

    Catwell, kelly, lascelles

    Good to go?

    Good luck everone!

  13. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Henderson
    TAA VVD Stevens Bertrand
    Salah KDB Grealish
    Auba Ings Jiminez

    Mccarthy Traore Fleck Lascelles

    Worried about benching Traore and Fleck :/ any suggestions or is bench correct?

    1. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Fleck over Bertrand??

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Triple SHU?

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I would play Traoré over Stevens.

    3. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Traore over bertrand

  14. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Don’t usually take hits on defenders but it needed sorting.

    Done Lundstram and Kelly to Stevens and Bertrand

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Why Bertrand?

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        No JWP so chance of set pieces. Hes a good option

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Why take a hit. None of those have goals in them

    3. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Oh no

  15. Mufc202020
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    All greens apart from KDB next gameweek.

    Should I be playing my bench boost or waiting for a Double GW??

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Theres a long time till next gw

  16. Francescoli
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Salah baby watch

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      KDB VC comes in and Traoré first on bench. No worries.

      1. Francescoli
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Tempted to captain Mané

  17. as33
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Will Mane play?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ask Klopp

    2. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I’m 90% that he will. He’s been training at Melwood

    3. Francescoli
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He will play imo

  18. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    TAA, Dunk, Rico
    Salah (C), KDB, Grealish, Traore
    Aguero, Vardy, Ings

    Martin, Felipe, Lund, Kelly 0.3itb

    Felipe to H Barnes or Perez?
    Or anyone else under 6.9?

    1. WannabeScout
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      How do y not captain agüero if u have him.. Brave

      1. Muscout
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        What’s the pros of having Aguero C?

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Surely captain Kun when youve got him?

      1. Muscout
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        What’s the pros of having Aguero C?

  19. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone seen the betting odds for goals against Norwich & West Ham?

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

      West Ham expected to concede considerably more.. surely you don’t need bookies to realise that

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Deciding on Salah or KDB C

        1. Whats the Huth
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Salah

          1. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            🙂

  20. Whats the Huth
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Why are people selling Mahrez all of a sudden

    1. Long ago I drew a walrus
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Who exactly is selling mahrez??

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      My punt for a few weeks with Razz out.

    3. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Masses, because he blanked. On here people buying surely, sterling out sane not fit yet so probably starts

      • Whats the Huth
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        People also freaked out by BSliva

    4. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Team GTG?

      Henderson
      TAA Stephens Lundstram
      Salah(vc) Mane KDB Fleck
      Kun(c) Ings DCL

      Subs; Stekelenberg Traore Soyuncu BWilliams

      1FT £0.2ITB

      Thanks in advance!

    5. andres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Kwp or stephens?

      1. Francescoli
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I went with Stephens because we know he is nailed

      2. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Stephens

    6. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hi all

      Would you play

      A/ Sidibe (Home to Palace)
      B/ Grealish (Home to Spurs)

      Thanks

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        A

        Grealish is going to have it tough up against Toby A and the Mourinho defensive tactic

      2. CONNERS
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        thanks

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

      What changes would you make to this team after this GW?

      Henderson McCarthy
      TAA VVD Stephens Dunk Lacelles
      Salah KDB Son Perez Cantwell
      Auba Jimenez Ayew

      1. andres
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        You will see after the gw 🙂

        But i would probably bin auba and ayew and get strikers like jimi.
        Solid team btw

      2. Whats the Huth
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Auba.
        Son
        Perez
        Cantwell
        Ayew

        All out

        1. Whats the Huth
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Dunk too

      3. CONNERS
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Dunk and Ayew out if poss.

    8. Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Play Martial at Chelsea or Fleck at home to Burnley? Asking for a friend....

      Has to be Martial surely?

      1. Champ
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cherries sorry

      2. Francescoli
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Tony

        1. Champ
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers

    9. Jet5605
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Salah v KDB captain debate.

      Ok there is a feeling that Salah could be pulled off (Ooooh er) after around 60 mins but could he still do enough damage to warrant being given the nod over KDB? Is there a chance KDB plays deeper if Dilva is back? What are people's thoughts on this?

    10. Dbz91
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I’m a WHU fan...

      Seriously considering TC Aguero

      Too risky?

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        All down to gut feeling. If I still had the TC I would

      2. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Fancy a triple return, go for it

      3. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Win-win situation, go for it

    11. John Colby (Capt)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Jota a good shout to bring in?

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Nope

        1. John Colby (Capt)
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Can’t afford Jimi

          1. Holmes
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Try someone else then, Pukki or maybe Wood.

            No sign of points for Jota plus Neto played well in his absence.

            1. John Colby (Capt)
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Cheers mate - Wood could be the way to go.

    12. Francescoli
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      C.Taylor or Lascelles?

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Taylor

    13. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Order this bench please.

      A. lund
      B. Cantwell
      C. Soy

      Currently on a, b, c. TIA

      1. Boss Hogg
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Abc

        1. Luton_Fan
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Thx