Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 4

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 4, the final round of fixtures before the October International Break. It’s another 11:00 BST deadline before the action gets underway with Chelsea hosting Crystal Palace in the early kick-off.

This week’s Guide focuses on Manchester City’s enticing encounter with Leeds United, and offers advice from a selection of Fantasy Football Scout contributors on the best players for our FPL teams.

STOP PRESS: Sadio Mané (£11.9m) has been ruled out of Gameweek 4.

Diogo Jota (£6.3m) is Neale‘s tip to replace the stricken Senegalese in the Liverpool starting XI. The doyen of the Team News has made his informed line-up predictions ahead of the weekend matches.

Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho has been keeping FPL managers guessing. Having originally ruled Son Heung-Min (£9.0m) out with a hamstring injury until after the international break, the Portuguese later opened the door to an early return:

I don’t believe [he can play]. But because he is so optimistic and always trying to give us positive feelings and hopes, I don’t want to say he is completely out – because maybe he can surprise us.

– Jose Mourinho

Son replacements were discussed on the Scoutcast. Commenting on the South Korean’s awkward £9.0m price tag, Pro Pundit Holly Shand suggested managers have an opportunity to reshape their attacks::

It makes sense just to go right down and if you’re in a 3-5-2 like we are Az, or if you’re not happy with your strikers anyway, you can get yourself a whole new forward line, get a load of attacking penalty takers.

– Holly

It’s been a high-scoring start to the season but without doubt the headline over the first few weeks has been the number of spot-kicks awarded. Should we all be stocking up on penalty takers and turning our FPL teams into ‘Penalty FC’?

Neale took an in-depth look at the players we might consider targeting should the present rate of spot-kicks continue. However, a Premier League meeting on Tuesday resolved to allow referees “greater subjectivity within the existing rules” in regards to handball decisions.

Although the controversial penalty awarded against Eric Dier (£5.0m) would still have stood.

Penalties were also a topic touched on by Pro Pundit Lateriser this week. Following a disappointing start to his Wildcard in Gameweek 3, the three-time top 200 manager is considering saving a transfer ahead of the international matches. 

As fellow Pro Pundit Zophar highlighted in the latest installment of The FPL Wire, some national teams are playing three times in the upcoming break, therefore saving a transfer could be a sensible decision.

And with three Manchester City players in his side, Lateriser is hoping for a green arrow to propel him up the leaderboard.

Pep Guardiola’s troops travel to Leeds United in what promises to be a high-scoring match. G-Whizz informs us that the Whites have just a nine per cent chance of a clean sheet but even that feels slightly generous given what we’ve seen so far.

Goalkeeper Illan Meslier (£4.5m) made a string of impressive saves to keep Sheffield United at bay, after conceding four to Liverpool on the opening day. 

Writing in Captain Sensible, Jan Sienkiewicz notes:

Unless Bielsa decides to play in a more defensive fashion against Manchester City, which I think is quite unlikely, we should expect to see plenty of goals in this game.

– Jan

As a result, Jan feels that Kevin De Bruyne (£11.6m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) can offer better explosivity this week than Salah and Mané.

Speaking in the Captaincy Video, David feels that it’s the Beligan who can deliver the bigger points tally out of the two:

I don’t think Man City are as dangerous when Sterling has to play the centre-forward role. So I also don’t think Sterling is as dangerous when he has to play the centre forward role because it’s not really what he’s used to… De Bruyne is playing this advanced role, his stats so far have been more rounded than Sterling – he’s created more chances than him: nine chances that he’s created and four shots on target, Sterling only with two.

– David

Outside of the armband dilemma, Pro Pundit Tom Freeman has singled out Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m) as his headline differential pick.

Following his return from a positive COVID-19 test, the Algerian has completed 90 minutes in three successive matches. And he has the potential to deliver points as a goalscorer or creator, having registered 11 goals and 14 assists last year.

While an insight from Neale in his big numbers article offers further encouragement:

Fifteen chances conceded by Leeds United from their left flank this season, the highest total in the division from that side of the pitch. The Whites are up against Manchester City this weekend, and that possible weakness will be of interest to Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m) and, depending on the formation, Kevin De Bruyne (£11.6m).

– Neale

The excellent form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.5m) makes him the most popular acquisition for the second successive Gameweek.

Zophar consulted the stats after three matches before making his transfer decision: the Evertonian joining for the yet-to-impress Timo Werner (£9.4m).

Fellow Pro Pundit Andy has a similar decision to make with German occupying a spot in his side, but is considering a move for Raul Jimenez (£8.6m) instead. While for Career Hall of Fame No 1, Fábio Borges, there’s no question of selling him just yet:

Werner is a world-class forward with two excellent home fixtures ahead of him. I think these two factors overshadow all the possible reasons to lose faith in him so soon.

– Fábio

Concluding his research into the available forwards, the six-time top 5,000 manager, Zophar, agreed with Holly’s sentiment that 3-4-3 will be the successful formation this campaign:

The forward area certainly has more options than it did in previous years and I guess the only silver lining to the new handball rule is that it has made budget strikers more viable. I certainly plan to stick to my 3-4-3 formation going forward.

– Zophar

Meanwhile, during her foray into the numbers, Pro Pundit Sam Bonfield has decided to give underperforming striker Che Adams (£5.9m) a stay of execution. She suggests that his expected goal involvement (xGI) of 1.52 makes him worthy of some loyalty. West Brom should offer further opportunities to score.

However on FPL Black Box, Fantasy Football Scout founder Mark revealed that he has shipped out the Southampton forward in favour of the popular Calvert-Lewin.

And using stats from the Members Area, Mark revealed how much Wolves have struggled this season – only West Brom have a worse minutes per expected goals (xG) tally.

Nonetheless, this hasn’t dissuaded him from adding Jimenez to his squad.

Earlier this week, the Best of the Community feature focused on Chelsea and player value to find the perfect squad. It’s also rounded-up all FFScout Mini-Leagues and Community Competitions.

And finally, for those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 4 can be found below:

Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

May your arrows be green!

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

1,707 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fnug
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Klich to Jota for an one week punt?

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Are you wildcarding next gw?

      1. Fnug
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        No, but rest of the team is set, and Jota is easy to replace

        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I don’t think its worth using 2 transfers on, unless your team is literally perfect

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Jota

    3. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

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

      No. You hare to spend a transfer to replace and there's still a chance Origi starts.

  2. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    In before the inevitable kdb V Salah V jimi debate kicks off

    1. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You forgot Vardy Steve

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I think that’s a great option if you own

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      So which one do I captain?

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        To me it boils down to who you’re backing to bounce back big wolves or city

        City have history of doing it so going for that, Leeds def stats are also terrible

        I think city could also do a bit better away from home and villa defence looks OK

        Therefore jimmy will be my captain

    3. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Throw sterling in there!

  3. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Taken a - 8 to get here but hope for the best!
    Mccarthy
    TAA James ctaylor
    Kdb sterling(c) Bruno soucek
    Adams Jimmy dcl
    (Button bissouma ayling mitchell)

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Best of luck

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers! Disappointed as I was enjoying having Mané as a slight differential.

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

      Like the team and captain. Hate -8’s after my own flop haha. But yours could pay off well. GL

  4. Critical Observer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Son expected to start tomorrow, apparently.

    https://twitter.com/HotspurRelated/status/1312304548543967232

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That’s ridiculous if he does

    2. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Lol how can he have a hamstring injury then magically start. Nonsense

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I thought that, but checked the Twitter account - 145k followers

      2. Das Boot
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        He could say he felt pain in his hamstring without it being really serious, so went off as a precaution. Jose was wise not risking it further regardless of how the result ended

    3. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If he does Mourinho will be the biggest troll ever.

    4. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      won't happen - Jose just trying get an edge by keeping UTD guessing

    5. fc_skrald
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      great news for the 1000000 who sold him

    6. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I recall this happening before, Son with a miraculously quick recovery.

    7. yousunkmybattleship
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No chance

    8. Goonsquad245
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Based on a guardian predicted line up. Be careful.

  5. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Captain?

    A) Bruno
    B) Salah
    C) Kane
    D) DCL

    1. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B from them, though Kane likes scoring against us

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

    3. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Go rogue Jimi. Out of them Salah

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

  6. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is Foden still the best mid up to 6.6?

    1. schlupptheweek
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He is the highest risk highest reward. Trossard might still outscore him with more minutes and if the goal width increases a tiny bit

  7. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is Saiss still nailed on? Any threat to his place at all?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Not nailed. Head to the Wolves Forum.

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Semedo the one to go for then?

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Don't know. He's played one match for Wolves and they lost 4-0.

      2. xHaTr
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I think they arent an accurate representation and are particularly negative about him

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I agree to a degree, but regardless he is not nailed.

          Dendoncker can drop to CB. They have also brought in a new CB.

    2. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I would say he is. Last game he was woeful but can't be dropped due to one game

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Nailed means there is no chance of him dropping out of the XI unless injured/suspended etc.

        Saiss is not 'nailed'.

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Saiss was essential a couple of weeks ago lol

      1. Dash444
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Then I transferred him in!

    4. Vasily
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thats his place to lose but not nailed.

  8. Rochdale_Cowboy
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Brighton to beat Everton today, both teams to score 13/2.

    Thank me later

  9. JenkoJunko
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Last min advice needed 🙂

    Steer Mcarthy
    TAA Tierney Justin Enda Mitchell
    Salah Foden Rodriguez Son Bissouma
    Nketiah Werner Martial

    A. WC the f**k out of it
    B. Martial / Son to Bamford / Sterling or KDB -4
    C. Do B and WC after International break

    Thanks all and GL

  10. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Will Mahrez start do we think?

    1. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes imo

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hopefully my differential

  11. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best two 4m options on a WC?

    A. Dunne
    B. Ferguson
    C. Johnson

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      D Mitchell is playing very well for Palace

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        How long do you think Mitchell is nailed for?

        Does PVAs imminent arrival put his spot at risk?

    2. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      C and D

  12. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    RIP it up, correct C?

    Martinez
    Robbo, Saiss, James,
    C KDB, Salah, Podence, Zaha, Mahrez
    DCL, Jimenez,

    Steer, Lamptey, Mitchell, Delap

    .7

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah I'm going with Kevin too

  13. H-SF
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Son starting tomorrow

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sauce

  14. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Ramsdale
    TAA KWP Taylor Justin
    Salah Sterling *Son Romeu
    Vardy *Werner

    Steer Bissouma Mitchell Davies

    2ft, 0.5 itb

    Choose one you like the most:

    A) Son + Werner to Bruno + DCL
    B) Son + Werner to Rashford + Jimenez
    C) Son + Werner + Davies to Zaha + DCL + Jimenez for -4
    D) something else?

    1. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Probably B but with Barnes for next 2..

  15. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Good to go? 0.8 in the bank but rolling my free transfer this week unless there's something obvious you see needing fixed?

    Martinez
    TAA, Digne, Swiss
    KDB (c), Salah, Foden, James Rodriguez
    Calvert-Lewin (v), Jimenez, Mitrovic

    Subs: Button, Lamptey, Mitchell, Anguissa

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      *Saiss

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Looks great

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cool. Cheers.

    3. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Your team needs no transfers for the next 3 gws tbh

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Wow. That one hundred percent isn't going to happen though. 😀

  16. Cookie Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner to Ings for free?

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Absolutely.

  17. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This son thing is exactly why you don’t make early transfers

    Another lesson learnt

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If it was a yellow flag with slight injury concern fair enough, but it was the deep orange flag with hamstring injury. No one could have imagined he would be in line to start the next game

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      ???

    3. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Will he start?

      That would be really surprising

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I still actually think he won’t start but now knowing that he’ll be back after the international break I would have held

    4. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Well I gained 0.1 in value because of the early transfer so not bad at all for me really

  18. Starky22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Saiss Justin
    Salah (c) KDB Barnes Podence
    Jimi Ings DCL

    Nyland Mitchell Bissouma Targett

    Gtg?

  19. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which one for the armband?

    A) Salah
    B) Jiminez
    C) KDB
    D) DCL

    Thanks all!

    1. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers!

    2. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I own ABC and went for Salah. https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/22170330

    3. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I've gone B

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks all

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

      I own all and it's between Salah and KDB

  20. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Who do you think will score more?

    KDB or Ings

    *I can see KDB grabbing 1 assist surely
    *I can see Ings scoring 1 goal surely

    But I don't know what's more possible

    A)KDB getting another assist (11pts)
    B)Ings scoring another goal (13pts)

    1. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      KDB ceiling higher

    2. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      KDB I think. I honestly think that game could finish about five each.

      1. Mambino
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        this

  21. as33
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling or KDB to capt?

    1. Starky22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling

  22. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Mccarthy
    TAA KWP Taylor
    Salah KDB Bruno Rodriguez Ceballos
    Mitrovic Jiminez

    Nyland Mitchell Saliba Davies

    Ceballos to podence or neto - 4?
    Get Sterling in for Bruno and above for - 8?

  23. Timon
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Foden or Trossard or anyone else in that 6.7 bracket?

    Have Sterling

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Trossard for me

  24. Barnabus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    GTG?

    Guaita
    Keane Coady Saiss
    Salah KDB Foden Zaha Greenwood
    DCL Jimi(c)

    Steer Mitro Lamptey Mitchell

    1. schlupptheweek
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Coady will get a max of 6 points (maybe bonus), and given how badly we defended I would definitely start Mitrovic or Lamptey because it is not like you will miss a big haul on your bench.

  25. MarcusAurelius
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Captain headache!
    Gone from Jimmy all week, to KDB this morning and now I’m hovering over Salah. I’m putting my phone down and not picking it up until 11am..
    KDB final answer!

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Same.

      Don't trust Jimenez though so it's between KDB and Salah

    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      same, staying with salah,are villa improved or otherwise really going to hold liverpool back,i dont think so ,pool are miles better

  26. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    GTG?

    McCarthy
    TAA Saïss Justin
    Mo Greenwood Zaha Hames (K)dB
    Mitro DCL

    Bench: Lamptey Holding Davis
    0 FT, 2.3 ITB

    1. Barnabus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      looks good

  27. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    entirely possible people have swapped son to mane probably for a hit ,could be described as rather unlucky...

  28. Bobby's Teeth
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which option do you prefer, managers?

    A) Castagne + Foden + Adams
    B) James + Neto/Pod + Ings

    1. Barnabus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B Pod

  29. Puzzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Zaha or Barnes on WC?

    1. Bobby's Teeth
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Barnes

  30. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    GTG?

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Justin
    KDB(C) Rodriguez Barnes Podence
    Werner Martial DCL(vc)

    Steer Vinagre Bissouma Mitchell