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. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner against Ward. Yummy

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Ward theory in full swing!

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

      I thought that in GW2 when I had Rashford there. That went well...

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

    Come on Raz(C)

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

    I transferred in Chilwell for this GW. I got a lot of stick on my WhatsApp groups and on Twitter saying he wouldn’t start and James was the way to go.

    But not listening to random people on the internet always pays off.

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

      Chilwell was always gonna start, it's between Azpi and James on the RB slot.

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

      And you've told a load of random people on the internet in this post?

      Well done, have a biscuit.

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

        Haha great reply

    3. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Longer term Chilwell by far the better option and seems like you timed it perfectly

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

      Should we then listen to you random internet person?

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

        Well there’s a lot of people who don’t understand football on here and Twitter. I think that’s a fact.

        Like 99% of you were convinced KDB would play #10 this season because he played it vs Wolves who needed to match their back 3 with 3 attacking players in that central zone. Kevin even said it himself.
        People aren’t the brightest round here

    5. Dennis System
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      my ironyometer just exploded, thought I would tell a bunch of randoms cheers

  4. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz playing no.10?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah - hopefully he steps up

    3. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Unlikely. Lampard doesn't like playing players in their best positions.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        😀

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

        Lol

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

    Hope Puli replaces Tammy in the second half so Werner could play tip

    1. Viprin
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      *top

  6. DRIZ ✅
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Oh no i left my Captain as Salah and Vice as KDB. Im doomed!

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

      Salah is a good option, what ya on about lol

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

        That was sarcasm I think

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

      Not doomed, just 15 less points

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

    Mount finally benched, about time.

  8. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    James benched. Now its Saiss turn next 😉

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

    Werner and Havertz goals would be a nice start to the GW.

  10. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Or Puli will come on for Abraham and push Werner upfront instead of the wing

    1. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Reply fail .. sorry

    2. CostaCoffee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Doubt Pulisic will come on tbh, unless Chelsea are chasing a goal

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

        How is that being honest? You mean 'in my opinion'.

  11. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Can't wait for the international break already...

  12. FPL AXE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Please tell me this is fake news regarding 4 wolves players having covid!?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Apparently not

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

        No names yet though?

    2. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Source?

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

        I saw FPL Mathew post it, but now it's not showing

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

          He deleted it because his source misread stuff and blew his load too early.

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

            Aaaah, phew!

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Seriously?

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

        Fake news then.

    4. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      My God

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

        If Wolves have waited until after the deadline to announce 4 of their players have Coronavirus then that’s out of order
        Rolling on the floor laughing
        Sam Martin
        @SmuelMartinFPL
        Replying to
        @SmuelMartinFPL
        Ah xxxx no, it’s Kilmarnock not Wolves

    5. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wow really?

    6. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      We are going to have to filter these covid rumors from facts all season..don't get too affected by it

    7. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It’s Kilmarnock. He corrects himself immediately below the tweet.

  13. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling you beauty juhuuuuuuu il capitano delivers juhuuuuuu get in.

    Practicing for later today...

    Feel free to practice in the replies as well

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling fail!

    2. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      lol good luck danny...

    3. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      More like Sterling you f**** why did i captain him over KDB.

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

      I'm wanting a sterling brace, so long as Leeds score more goals than city.
      Marching on together.

    5. Wicked Weapon
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      YESS!! I'm with you on that for sure.

  14. Yankee Toffee
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner out left again...not really a good fpl choice is he

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

      Sell sell sell

      1. Yankee Toffee
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Sold him in GW2 lol

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

      Today, no. But next game Puli and Z will likely be back and everything will be in their right place.

      1. Yankee Toffee
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Hopefully but probably not until Frank gets fired...

    3. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sold this week, just couldn't take any more

  15. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Burke coming in for James.. hopefully, he gets an attacking return for me...

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

      James will come on

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

    I reckon Pulisic comes in second half / 60 mins to replace Tammy, Werner shifts central

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

      Nope, unless they are losing

  17. tokara
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    James w come on

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah and get a yellow card

  18. Wicked Weapon
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Saiss likely to suffer the same fate as James ? or just speculation ?

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He might

  19. FPL Theorist
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    If no IB injuries, do Doherty (WHU) -> Robbo (eve) in GW5, or wait until GW6? Have 1.5 ITB.

  20. tokara
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone bot mount? Lol

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

      Yep. I sort of knew he wouldn't play when he played 90 mins in midweek, but convinced myself they didn't have enough fit bodies to go without.

      Bye bye Mason!

      Got James too, I'm flying.

  21. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Game updated!

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Noice!

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

      Robbo benched

  22. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    4 in the back: Azpi and Chilwell
    3 in the back: Alonso and James

    I think these are the ideal backs per system for Chelsea. Maybe in the easy games they can throw one of Alonso or James but not both (like the last game).

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

      We won't play 3 ATB very often.

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

    This games brutal!

    James no show.

    Talk of Saiss benched.

    Took a gamble & did Son & Sterling > Salah & Mahrez, more talk of Mahrez not starting 🙁

  24. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Already know that I am going to get 0 points from this Chelsea game

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

      GW1 i had Werner, Pulisic and James. Only Zaha now!

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Zaha good pick Andy good luck! I don’t have any players in this game so that’s how I know.

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

    sh*t sh*t sh*t sh*t sh*t.

    didn't check my team at all this morning as I knew I was set rolling FT. somehow when trying to swap vc from werner to salah I seem to have swapped c from kdb to salah instead?

    not sure how the hell that has even happened, as am certain that wasnt what I did. incredibly annoying 🙁

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

      Maybe it'll work out

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

        🙁 maybe. can hope, but I was so set on kdb(c) over salah. actually so confused how that's happened. finger slipped or something

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

      lucky you if its on Salah.

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

      I think Salah is a better option personally. Villa have played terrible teams and he's going to be involved in everything. Rather that than KDB relying on Sterling to finish everything.

  26. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Wooo no James. Suck it minileague rivals with no bench

  27. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Where does this TAA covid talk come from?

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Haven't heard that but guess there's a chance any of the Liverpool players could have it as a couple of them do.

  28. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Next GW's team looks pretty meh

  29. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Those who bought mount lol

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

      Hey Melvin!

  30. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Congrats Jorginho and Zaha owners on your penalty goals. Guaita owners will feel annoyed about the VAR intervention giving Jorginho a chance to retake his.