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. TAT
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner> Ings for free a no-brainer? Got DCL and Jiménez already.

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I made that move. Then took a -8 to sort some other issues.

      1. Right In The Stanchion
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Dangerous games.

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

          For Werner you mean?

          1. Right In The Stanchion
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah. Could backfire

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

              Of course. Beein sitting with him sine GW1 though, and that has only lead to headaches…

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

        A -8 would suit my team fine this week too, but I think I'm going to stick with Werner > Ings or no moves at all. Looking at the WBA game, it is really tempting.

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

      Yep. And captain him

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

        Oh, I don't know if I have the balls to do that! On KDB currently.

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

          Haha! Very honest. Depends if you’re willing to live a little. I’m tempted to go Jiménez over KdB and Salah but it could badly backfire.

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

            Sitting at 3.9m I probably *should* live a little, but I'm probably more likely to play it safe and see how that goes. Owning Jiménez and potentially Ings could result in a decent gameweek even without the armband on either of them (or at least I hope so).

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

              So where’s your armband currently?

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

                KDB (C) and Salah (VC) at the moment. Might change though!

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      do it

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

        Sitting at 3.9m being patient with Werner does feel as risky as not getting Ings with that fixture. It's an easy switch back should it go wrong.

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          you only live once ... I sold him for Jimenez

          Palace have looked quite organised and defensively strong

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

            Quite right!

            Yes, Palace have looked quite decent actually, so even if Werner gets on the score sheet, it probably won't be with that many goals. The WBA game on the other hand feels like a game where anything could happen.

    4. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

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

        With the deadline approaching I'm getting more and more uncertain, but that WBA fixture though…

    5. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No

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

        Keeping faith in Werner?

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

    On A WC. Near 4m Rank.

    Who to get? KDB or Sterling?

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      KDB

    2. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      KDB

    3. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling

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

    Okay, who's going

    KDB(C)
    Salah(C)

    And why?

    1. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I’m on KDB as I think more goals in that game

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

      Can't decide?

    3. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mo.
      Gut.

    4. Paddy Gooner
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'm on the fence - thinking Salah if Mane not playing, but KDB against Leeds as it might be a goal fest

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

      KDB... Villa looking good defensively right now

    6. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Been switching back and forth but settled on salah now. Think villa are overrated a bit as far as solid defense, they been up against fulham and sheffield plus salah usually does well when mane out plus I think city without striker is bad for city

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

    Start 1 of these

    A) Bissouma
    B) Davies (spurs)
    C) Mitchell

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

      Mitchell for me

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

      b.

    3. ameenkw
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      bissouma

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

      Bissouma against Pickford

  5. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Wilson > Ings or Jimi for a -4?

    Yes or no?

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

      No.

    2. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Noooo

    3. ameenkw
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      yes jimi

    4. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      no

    5. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      never

  6. Teahupo'o
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bottomed. G2G?

    Martinez
    Semedo James Digne
    Salah KDB Foden Son Rodriguez
    Jimenez DCL

    (Steer, Justin Brewster Mitchell)
    0FT 0ITB

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

      No TAA or Robbo?

  7. The Chief
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner to:
    A. Vardy
    B. Ings
    C. Save FT

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

      ings

    2. @FPLMason
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

      C

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

    Last roll on the dice

    Salah or KDB captain?

    Just can't decide

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

      salah (I don't own)

    2. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Out of them two, Kdb easily for me, but I'm going with Jimi over both of them

  9. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    @Hazz

    Is there any chance that Jorginho starts for Chelsea today

  10. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    4 out of the Scout Picks - whew!

  11. @FPLMason
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Repost since didn't get any responses.
    Would like to get some views regarding this. I currently own Wilson, Lascelles, McCarthy and Pereira. I will playing all of them.
    In case Lascelles is out injured, Who would you have as your first sub?
    A) KWP (Home to WBA)
    B) Taylor(Away to Newcastle)
    Cheers for the responses.

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. hogree
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Charlie

    4. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    5. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    6. @FPLMason
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thank you for the input, lads. Much appreciated.

    7. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I would start KWP & Taylor ahead of Lascelles

  12. Jinkys Oars
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bottomed on last page.

    Rolling the transfer for after IB so need to start one of...

    A. Baldock
    B. Burke
    C. Brewster

    Any suggestions?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. @FPLMason
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

    3. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

      Burke

      1. Jinkys Oars
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Burke seems to be leading the way

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

    WC team ...is Townsend too punty or g2g?

    Mccarthy
    TAA Digne Castagne
    Tross Townsend KDB Salah Barnes
    Ings DCL

    4.0, Lamptey, Dunne, Brewster

    1. Nate01
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I like Townsend- 3 from 3 so far

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

    First sub

    A) Bissouma
    B) Mitchell

    1. Bruno Commando
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

  15. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any pictures of Trent in training, or at cup game?
    Getting worried by his nI show in squad same as Mane

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

      What's it matter?

      Season keeper for me

      1. checkit_j
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        cOvId?

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

      LFC twitter he’s in the pics

  16. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best combination for this GW

    1. jimenez+mahrez (-4)

    2.werner+traore (-4)

    3. kane+traore/mahrez

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      3. No hit

  17. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Captain is on KDB at the moment, but have a nagging feeling I should put it on Salah...

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

      Same here. Currently have it on Mo but Jimi v Fulham is the fixture that is on my mind. Cannot decide!!

      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        If Jime gets a hattie, then great. But he won’t. Low ceiling

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

        I have Jimi too...diffficult choice this week!

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Villa are better than last year

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

        yeah i agree, and Martinez has had some success against Liverpool

    3. Pedram
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      My gut feelings tell me i should give it to Jimenez

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

        I definitely like their fixture...but being put off by their form and also Jiminez not often getting more than 1. But the fixture is so good...hard decision!

    4. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Go with the instinct!

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

        The instinct keeps shifting when I go towards it...haha!

    5. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kdb has a better fixture and Leeds have been so open.

  18. Ghost86
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is breakfast club on today?

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

      Just finished

  19. Futureform
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Trying to get another big hitter in my team.

    Who's more essential to have?

    A - TAA
    B - Ings

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

      A

    2. Futureform
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      The combo is:

      A - TAA + Bamford
      B - Ings + Lamptey

    3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

  20. JabbaWookiee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone captaining Jimenez? Surely he has to break through the ceiling at some point. Or can nobody see past Salah and KdB?

  21. timawflowers
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Kdb or jiminez for capt?

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

      I was Salah but now really thinking Jimenez

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

        Same here

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

        I have salah and ings as well, any one of them could explode

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

    **Repost**
    A. Son to Mahrez
    B. Son to Barnes
    C. Martial & Son to Bamford & KDB - 4
    D. Martial & Son to Bamford & Sterling - 4

    Thanks all and GL

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

      B

  23. 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

    Davis + Son to DCL + Perreira??

  24. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone else captaining Ings over KDB? o/

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

      What does o/ mean and no but considering Jiminez over him if I owned Ings he would be my captain

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

        o/ is a raised hand

  25. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Davies to Taylor or Justin?

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Justin but Taylor is cheaper.

  26. Nate01
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Sorry first season I’ve played in years and I’m about to play wc next gw.

    Is it still worth following price changes and gaining value over the IB and then set the team afterwards or is that method old news?

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

      Its no where near as fruitful as olden days.

      Its still a decent plan as You still get to react to international injuries.

      1. Nate01
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

  27. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Will Foden start today?

    1. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Should do but you never know with pep

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

      I think so since he was benched midweek

  28. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Salah or Jimenez (c)?

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

      Mohamed

    2. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Jimi

  29. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    WC team - how is she looking, mates?

    Mccarthy
    TAA Castagne Semedo Taylor
    Salah KDB Zaha
    Ings Jimi DCL

    Button Mendy Mitchell Bissouma

    0.2 ITB if you have any better ideas:)

    1. Nate01
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      They say mids have a higher ceiling than defenders... your team favours defenders. Maybe downgrade one and upgrade Mendy? Forwards look deadly

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks mate. Thinking of making Mendy to foden and downgrading Castagne Semedo to Justin Saiss?

  30. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This is a "Two Captains" or "Attack Attack" kind of GW

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      it is in Eliteserien too

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'm happier with my defence than any other part.
      McCarthy, KWP, Swiss, Taylor. No goals conceded there.