Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice to FPL Gameweek 23

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 23 ahead of today’s 11:00 GMT deadline.

The big news is the announcement of more Double Gameweeks in 24 and 25. Legomané updated his ticker, which includes non-Premier League matches.

Manchester City, Everton, Burnley, Fulham, Southampton and Leeds are the six teams to benefit from an extra fixture. 

There will also be a double in Gameweek 26, but which teams play twice depends on the FA Cup results in midweek. The winners will have their Gameweek 29 matches shifted to 26.

The other outstanding fixtures yet to be rescheduled are: 

  • Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur
  • Aston Villa vs Everton
  • Manchester City vs Southampton
  • Fulham vs Tottenham

Six and the City

The Man City backline continues to dish out regular six-point returns thanks to their incredible run of clean sheets. Provided, that is, your selected defenders make the starting XI.

John Stones (£5.2m) returned to the starting XI against Burnley but with Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) fit and available there’s now the risk of a benching, as happened against Sheffield United.

Some on site, such as Camzy, are considering switching to one City defender and two attackers. And, whisper it softly, on the Scoutcast Karam even suggested selling Ilkay Gündogan (£5.9m) for those who want to stick with two at the back.

The reason is Raheem Sterling (£11.6m):

I started to like someone else, he’s not performing at £11.6m just yet, but if I want to move away from defence and I want to stay in attack, then I think I would take a risk on Sterling … his expected goals is 2.31, the most of any City asset over the last four Gameweeks … for me – as someone who is struggling now with the rank – the fixtures are there for scoring goals, I think Sterling is worth a shout. Now I know Gündogan is crazy value, which I agree, but if you need that element of taking a risk – and we know that Sterling is capable of braces, and he looked good against Burnley.

– Karam

Seb added:

The only thing on Gündogan is … he’s created nine chances in the last three but only had three shots – two of those were goals. In the last match he had an xG of 0.03 … I’d just keep an eye on if things are shifting or how City are playing against a deep defence, whether Gündogan is the goalscorer. For me that would just be the difference whether I captain him or not – not whether I have him or not.

– Seb

David noted the impact of Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m) over the last two matches, his presence in the City team does stop Gündogan from shooting as often.

But the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder remained a creative force, fashioning two big chances for Sterling and creating five goal scoring opportunities in total – the most of any player at Turf Moor.

Another factor in the German’s favour is that his ‘expected minutes’, something Career Hall of Fame No 1, Fábio Borges, places great importance on, is high:

Gündogan has less competition to worry about and seems to be in the form of his life so I’m hoping he will play both matches [over the Double Gameweek]. The fact that he could be on penalties and is ridiculously priced at £5.9 million makes him a much better pick than Sterling in my opinion … if I didn’t already have Dias and Gündogan in my squad, they would definitely be my main transfer targets from Guardiola’s team.

– Fábio

Fábio talked through his transfer targets for the upcoming small Double Gameweeks in his latest FFScout contribution. Nick Pope (£5.5m) or a Burnley defender were high on his list of priorities given their favourable fixtures.

While fellow Pro Pundit Lateriser touted Luke Shaw (£4.9m) in his recent article:

With Shaw, you are not just dependent on clean sheet points. He’s become incredibly vital to the Red Devils and is a ball progressor and an attacking outlet on that left-hand side. In the last six Gameweeks, Shaw has created 19 chances, which is top amongst all defenders. Shaw is also top for big chances created (five) in the same period and is on some set pieces and corners.

– Lateriser

And the highest ranked of our elite contributors, Andy, who climbed another 200 places to 479th overall after Gameweek 22, reviewed his season so far, reflecting on what has worked well for him

This year I’ve made a conscious decision to always have who I believe is the best captain each week, even if that means transferring out a big hitter. This sounds simple, but often FPL managers will forgo the best captain because they don’t want to sell a big hitter … I’ve sold Salah, Son, and Kane twice already this season and I’ve found not having value wrapped up in them makes my decisions much easier knowing I can just buy them back as there’s no money “lost”.

– Andy

Captaincy Debate

The armband for Andy this week is firmly on Son Heung-min (£9.7m) ahead of an encounter against West Brom’s obliging defence. 

However, Captain Sensible writer, Jan, does not necessarily agree:

Despite receiving plenty of attention in the captaincy debate for Gameweek 22, I do not think Son is necessarily as strong a candidate as some might think.

– Jan

Jan notes the slump in form for Tottenham Hotspur along with the poor underlying statistics for Son in particular – his total of 15 touches in the box over his last four matches is bettered by 33 Premier League players.

So while West Brom have conceded two goals in each of their last seven matches, could a defensive approach from Sam Allardyce frustrate an off-colour Spurs?

Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) are alternatives from a buoyant Manchester United side, and West Ham’s Michail Antonio (£6.7m) could prosper against Fulham. 

Fernandes is my top captaincy pick for Gameweek 23. Given that his underlying statistics are continuously impressive and his Manchester United colleagues are back in their groove, he could easily repeat the haul he achieved the last time Manchester United faced Everton.

– Jan

However for David – who enjoyed a successful 17-Gameweek captain run back in 2018/19 – Antonio is his favoured armband selection from this week’s Scout Picks.

The in-form West Ham striker has hit attacking returns in four of his five last games. With the highest expected goals rating of any forward in the last six Gameweeks, we are backing Antonio to continue his impressive form against a Fulham side whose recent defensive improvements have stuttered.

– Scout Picks

Team News

In the Team News, Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) is set to return following his hernia operation, while Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) could be a useful asset in the absence of Timothy Castagne (£5.7m) over the coming weeks.

And Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m) has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

While from Pep Guardiola’s Friday press conference, we received confirmation that Sergio Aguero (£10.3m), Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) and Nathan Aké (£5.4m) are still on the sidelines with their respective issues.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning rounded-up the latest Community mini-leagues and competitions

Pro Pundit Andy’s youtube.com/letstalkfpl mini-league is currently the Best League in FPL based on the average score of the top five teams, taking over from our Community Members League, which slips to third.

For those participating in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 23 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

2,746 Comments Post a Comment
  1. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start Salah or DCL.
    Also those with Dier are you starting?

    1. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Start Salah.

    2. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah and dier

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This is what I've gone with but really wanna bench Mo!

    3. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL easily!

    4. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah 101%

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

      I am starting Dier but can't wait to get him out my team!

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Same he'll be gone next week for Mee!

    6. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah defo

  2. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one :

    A - DCL
    B - Justin

    Thanks.

    1. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Justin

    2. RomeluStormzy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

    5. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    6. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2-2...first to go 2 to the better plays?!!!

    7. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

    8. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Justin

    9. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    10. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Justin plays!! Thanks all.

  3. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope

    Rudiger, Dallas, XXX

    XXX = Mee or Cancelo

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cancelo

    2. RomeluStormzy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mee

    3. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cancelo

    4. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cancelo

  4. GCM0803
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Currently have:
    Coufal
    Cancelo
    Justin
    Konsa
    Bednarek

    Who would you play?
    Also should I do konsa to rudiger 1FT and play rudiger?

  5. Erez Avni
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    would you play chilwell before coufal or DCL, just for the odd chance he will start?

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    2. Shipstontrev
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    3. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would be worried about Alonso starting and Chilwell coming on for a cameo. Bad idea imo

  6. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start one (Pope on goal) :
    A) Lowton
    B) Coufal

    Cpt:
    1) Bruno
    2) Antonio
    3) Bamford

    Tnx.

    1. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cou
      Bru

    2. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Brufal

  7. GoonerSteve
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Gundogan or DCL?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

    3. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I have same issues!!! Just seen replies to you so far 50/50!!

      1. Goodricke
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        DCL

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

      Gundo

    5. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Had same issue decided on DCL cant bench gundo on pens in the best team in the league

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Still 50/50 to the gundo v DCL question! But if gundo on pens guess he maybe the better option

        1. GoonerSteve
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Currently got DCL on the bench.

          Tricky gameweek.

          1. Stranger Mings
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I am going to go gundo snd then bench DCL and pray he doesn’t get anything!!

            1. GoonerSteve
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Same

            2. jonnybhoy
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Correct decision imo. If it backfires it backfires but based on stats and logic makes the most sense to bench dcl

              1. Stranger Mings
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                God I hope so I changed it at 10:58 !!

    6. I'M 2 OLD FOR THIS HIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo easily

      1. GoonerSteve
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Really? Even though he's on pens?

        1. I'M 2 OLD FOR THIS HIT
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          They don’t get pens in every game. DCL can make goals against any team without penalties.

      2. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        All sad but I have been keeping count and we have 3 gundo to bench and 5 DCL to bench so think gundo wins!!

  8. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Where did the Antonio rumours go?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      To the west

    2. 2hotty
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      In the bin

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

    Salah and Burke to Son and Rashford free? Leaving me money to get Pope and a Burnley defender next week

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

  10. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    AWB Cancelo Justin Dias Holding

    Bench 2

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DH

  11. FPL AXE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which 1 to bench?:
    Coufal v fulham
    James v Sheffield
    Justin v Wolves

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Justin

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1

    3. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cou

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

    Captain Jackie Weaver?

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

      She has no authority.

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who you going for Captain?

    3. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You have no authority to convene and implement such a move

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

      She doesn’t even know the rules

    5. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Read the rules and understand them!

    6. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends. If you are not chasing big

  13. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain?

    A) Rashford
    B) Ings
    C) Wilson

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

      B

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

      A

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      D

  14. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anything you would switch?

    Meslier
    Maguire - Cresswell - Cancelo
    Mane - Gundogan - Soucek - Fernandes - Son
    Bamford - Antonio

    Bench: Areola - Dias - Watkins - R. James

  15. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg?
    Martinez
    Stones cancelo coufal
    Salah son(VC) Fernandes(C) soucek
    Wilson Bamford DCL

    Nyland Mahrez Alioski Mitchell
    Benching order correct?

  16. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    QUESTIONS

    1) I'm currently benching Cancelo and Maguire and playing Lowton, Dallas and Coufal. Does that make sense?
    2) I'm currently benching Gundogan and playing Watkins, bamford, and Antonio. Yes/no?

    1. Ejaaz11
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      makes perfect sense

    2. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1 No
      2 Yes

  17. JamieC180
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench One:
    A) Dias
    B) Mee

    Bench One:
    A) DCL
    B) Soucek
    C) Grealish
    D) Wilson
    E) Maddisson

  18. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Right bench?

    Pope
    Mee Dallas Dias
    Salah(vc) Bruno(c) Grealish Gundogen Soucek
    Bamford DCL

    McCarthy Kane Stones Coufal

    1. JamieC180
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd have Coufal much higher, probably playing (odds have him at ten percent more likely to clean than Burnley)

      1. Evasivo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Probably bench both city def in that case but a bit scary

  19. lugalooch
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench..

    A) Son
    B) Gundo

    Thanks

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

      B

    2. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  20. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who do sell for Mee?
    A) Dallas
    B) Justin
    C) Mitchell (but no many cash left itb
    Thank you for answers!

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B, not gonna score agin imo

  21. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Why Mee over Lowton? Because of goal threat?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mee averages a goal every 30 games

    2. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah

  22. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one:

    A) Watkins
    B) DCL
    C) Gundogan

    On B atm. Watkins isn't great but thinking ARS defence weaker than MUN particularly with no Leno. Gundogan has penalties.

  23. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Moyes would be an absolute clown to bench his star man striker when they are in such good form, and on the brink of top 4. They’re 5th and pushing, if he rests Antonio today honestly, i hope West Ham fail and fall this season.

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

      Might think they have a better chance of winning the cup than top 4

    2. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If he plays ang gets hus hamstring done then that is also a stupid thing to do? FULHAM, that is posibble to win Even without him starting. I think Moyes does exactly what his medical team says he should do.

  24. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain
    1 Bamford
    2 Antonio
    3 Bruno
    4 Son

    On 2 atm

    1. FC Bazalona
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      3

    2. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2

  25. vandebeek
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one:
    A) Stones
    B)Dawson
    C)Salah
    D)DCL

    1. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  26. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Last question :

    To play

    A : Saka
    B : Soucek

    1. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      saka

  27. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start Kane just in case?

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yes

  28. djaddy
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one

    A Gundo
    B Sterling
    C Cancelo

    Thank you

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

  29. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do we think city will keep a clean sheet again today? Personally I think Liverpool might grab a point from that game - 2-2. So for me it comes down to who get the starts and possible goal threat...

    Play Stones or Cancelo?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Csncelo

    2. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      City will not concede today. 100 %.

    3. Here's Tom with the We…
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Play Cancelo

    4. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks.

    5. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      IT comes doen to what 11 Liverpool can play. If Alison, Fabinho and a mane is back then a midfield with hendo, Gini and Thiago is as good If not better than City.