Scout Picks

Gameweek 31 Scout Picks built on Liverpool triple-up

Liverpool’s key players form the spine of our Gameweek 31 Scout Picks.

Following DavidNealeTom and Andy‘s Scout Squad submissions, we have chosen a starting XI of our best players for the next round of action.

This week we line up in the traditional 3-4-3 formation and come in at £82.1m, £0.9m inside our budget of £83.0m.

Goalkeeper

My Own Strategy to select 'Set and Forget' Shot Stopper for the rest of the Clean-Sheet-less Season

Bernd Leno (£5.0m) is our representative from the Arsenal defence in Gameweek 31 ahead of a trip to Sheffield United. The Blades have scored 10 goals at home this season, only West Bromwich Albion and Fulham (nine) mustering fewer at their own grounds.

Defenders

From a Fantasy perspective, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) looks set to offer points potential for the 2020/21 run-in. He has produced 5.6 points per game over the last six matches, a period in which he among the top two defenders for key passes and big chances created.

We believe Chelsea’s 5-2 defeat to West Brom was a blip, a Gameweek 31 trip to Crystal Palace offering César Azpilicueta (£5.9m) and his colleagues a chance for redemption. The Eagles are currently second-bottom of the Premier League for shots on target over the last six, while Azpilicueta remains the most nailed-on starter in the Chelsea defence outside of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Only Sheffield United and Fulham offer a lower goal conversion rate over their last six matches than Newcastle. That could be good news for value defender Matt Lowton (£4.4m), who is joint-top for big chances created among defenders over the same period.

Midfielders

Only two FPL midfielders have registered more shots in the box than Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) over the last six matches. The Egyptian also ranks joint-top among players in his position for big chances.

Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) is our chosen representative from the Manchester City attack as they prepare for a potentially end-to-end meeting with Leeds. Rests against Leicester and Borussia Dortmund suggest the England international will feature on Saturday afternoon and, if he lines up on the left-hand side of a front-three, he will enjoy a decent match-up. Leeds have conceded 20 chances down their right-hand side since Gameweek 25, more than through the middle or left.

Diogo Jota (£6.9m) has hit the ground running since his return from injury. The former Wolves man has produced three goals in his last two matches and is offering the sort of form that arguably makes him undroppable for Jürgen Klopp. Still, even if he does find himself on the bench, the fact that he has been involved in 50% of his team’s league goals scored when on the pitch this season shows that even a substitute’s appearance can be fruitful, just as it was against Arsenal last time out.

Sheffield United still have the worst figure for expected goals conceded (xGC) over the last six matches, suggesting Arsenal’s attackers can enjoy their trip north on Sunday evening. During the same period, Bukayo Saka (£5.2m) ranks joint-second among Mikel Arteta’s charges for shots in the box.

Forwards

Gameweek 28 Scout Picks built on Spurs, Everton and Villa assets

While a Gameweek 31 meeting with Manchester United is hardly an appealing fixture, there is no ruling out Harry Kane (£11.7m) recording an attacking return on Sunday afternoon. He has two double-digit hauls across his last four matches from a total of five goals and two assists.

Chris Wood (£6.2m) faces a Newcastle defence that has conceded at least twice in nine of their last 13 Premier League matches and has good form of his own to bring into Sunday’s Turf Moor clash. Over his last six matches, he ranks second in the whole division for shots on target, netting in each of his last three.

Without Declan Rice, West Ham conceded the second-highest number of shots in the box of any team in Gameweek 30. Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.8m) could take advantage of that on Sunday afternoon having supplied at least one goal in three of his last four starts.

Substitutes

  • Edouard Mendy (£5.2m)
  • Ben Mee (£4.9m)
  • Rob Holding (£4.2m)
  • Pedro Neto (£5.7m)

THE CAPTAIN

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 36+?

We choose the Scout Picks captain using a four-way vote between our Scout Squad pundits.

Because we use Fantasy Football Scout data so heavily in this process, the skipper we choose each Gameweek is known only to those with a valid Fantasy Football Scout subscription and revealed to the public only when the deadline has passed.

Here’s how we voted for Gameweek 31:

THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Each week, one of the Fantasy Football Scout community takes on the Scout Picks by pitting their chosen XI against ours.

The Community Member who beats our team by the largest margin will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Moderators and Contributors League for the following season.

Peteski29 takes on the Scout Picks in Gameweek 31 going with a 3-5-2 line-up of Leno; Alexander-Arnold, Alonso, Rüdiger; Salah (c), Sterling (vc), Mount, Jota, Neto; Kane, Vydra.

AA33 is the current leader, defeating the Scout Picks by a 53-point margin in Gameweek 2.

1,033 Comments Post a Comment
  1. MoSalalalalalalalalah
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hey fellas, what should I use my FT on?

    2.3 ITB

    Pope
    Cancelo | Rudiger | Cresswell | Digne
    Jota (C) | Lingard (V) | Bruno | Son
    Kane | Bamford

    GK: Martinez | Watkins | Raphinha | Dallas

    Reply

    1. Atwood
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bamford > Iheanacho?

    2. Mighty Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Save it, or I agree with ATWOOD.

  2. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Coady, Saiss or Fofana on wildcard?

    Thanks

    1. suli
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cody

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Coady

    3. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Coady

  3. Ian Davis
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    On WC:

    A) TAA & Iheanacho

    B) Phillips & Vardy

    1. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      philips and ihenacho

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Phillips, Kelechi and Vardy

    3. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  4. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Which two to start?
    A) Sanchez (EVE) or Martinez (LIV)
    B) Dunk (EVE) or Digne (BHA)

  5. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Salah essential on a wc?

    1. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No

    2. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      not, but hes amazing diver so he can score from penalty

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No. I'm going without. If I'm wrong I'll correct in GW33.

    4. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      For me yes

    5. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nope

      Nothing has changed much since before IB. For me the really tasty fixtures fall from 35 on. Could haul of course but that's been true for yonks. Blanked against 3 of bottom 8 in last 5.

  6. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Castagne actually has very poor stats inspite of playing as a wingback.

  7. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Saka Castagne
    or
    Gundo Fofana

    1. suli
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Gundo fofana

  8. suli
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lads
    A. Stones and Kabak
    OR
    B. Dias and Phillips

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

  9. FallingDuck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WC active 0.1 itb
    Team good to go?

    Mendy (Forster)
    Rudiger, Shaw, TAA (Stones and Struijk)
    Bruno, Salah, Jota, Son (Lingard)
    Kane, Nacho, Vydra

    1. Rocketfabs11
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      coady and holding in for stones and struijk - gives you coverage in gw33

  10. teneighty
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Feeling punty. Would you cap Ings or Alonso?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Alonso did everything but score last time out

    2. Mighty Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Alonso.

      Love a punt, best of luck!

    3. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Alonso was the one locked in when I wrote this. Will keep it on him if I don't chicken out!

      1. NETFLIX & CHILWELL
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I don't think Alonso will even play.

        He was a horror show defence-wise against West Brom.

  11. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Only Spurs with two fixtures in gw32? Or is the ticker not updated yet? Likely any other dgw’s left this season? A bit out of the loop. Thanks

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Villa Everton and Palace Southampton still to come. 35 and 37 are likely weeks.

    2. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Everton and Southampton has an incoming double not yet scheduled. I think Spurs are the only team with a double in GW33.

      1. jba
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Spurs are double in 32, don't play in 33;)

  12. blauriecon
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WC
    (Forster) Leno
    TAA (Coady) Dias Rudiger (Shaw)
    Bruno Jota Lingard Neto Salah
    Kane (Vydra) Wood
    GTG? or suggestions - 0.5 ITB

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      G2G, GL!

      1. blauriecon
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        1. Too many risks on Man City rotation with blank coming up.
        2. Wood to Nacho next week.
        3. Spread prices so any injury affords suitable replacement.
        4. Considering Leicester with its upcoming fixtures.
        5. Holding Bruno may be my downfall.

  13. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Sign on WC (mainly as bench cover):
    A) Masuaku
    B) Diop

    Start:
    1) Holding
    2) Coady

    Thanks!

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Is ogbonna close to returning?
      B 1

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Good point, just looked and I think he is. Thanks!

  14. E25
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best 4th/5th choice 4.7m defender for the run in?
    Currently have Rudiger, TAA, Coady and Holding (Mendy Forster keepers)

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Maxed out on Liverpool? It’s slim pickings really probably West Ham or Brighton defender makes the most sense and have some pocket change

      1. E25
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah maxed on Pool.
        Currently on Coufal, unfortunately TV sucks so cant get to Leicester.
        Lowton maybe??

        1. Thomas Magnum
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Lowton good for this week but I think they all score similar. Maybe Coufal cause he’ll be the most attacking

          1. E25
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            cheers.

  15. Super Sharpe Shooter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hi everyone

    WC Draft 1. Too light on the bench or GTG?

    Mendy
    Trent-Alonso-Shaw
    Bruno-Salah-Jota-Gundo
    Kane-Vardy-Vydra
    Bench: Forster-Holding-Amartey-SmithRowe

    WC Draft 2. More of a spread, better balance, stronger bench (but no Trent or Vardy)...

    Mendy
    Phillips-Dawson-Dias-Alonso-Shaw
    Bruno-Salah-Jota-Gundo-Son
    Kane-Nacho-Vydra

    (maybe Son will become Pereira for one week only)

    Which formula to go with?? Heavy hitters with weak bench or more balanced squad????

  16. KaBoZ: Kids,don't Drin…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1ft
    I already have Jota.

    A) Dallas --> TAA
    Or
    B) Raphinha --> Salah

  17. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    People on WC are you settling with Iheancho or pushing to afford Vardy?

    1. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Per below, prefer Laca type plus change to Vardy

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm sticking with Iheanacho. Vardy would be nice but I'm putting my resources into midfield big hitters.

    3. E25
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nacho. I wouldn't go Laca either with EL

  18. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Would you play Laca over Nacho this week?
    Totally overthinking my wc team and really don’t want a fodder 3rd striker

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If you've got Laca, 100% play him this week

      1. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yep. Feel like this could be a recurring headache though.

    2. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’d play Laca if I had him, just can’t trust his minutes enough to sign him...

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

      Don't think so

      Fairly poor odds of a start imo - it's really all about EL for Arsenal. They're a way off EL qualification as it stands let alone CL.

  19. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Not seen many Vardy’s on WC?

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Could be because what I said above, if he goes off against WHU people may be kicking themselves and want him in but he is damn expensive

    2. footballcandy
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Beacuse you gotta have Kane. If you put Vardy up front as well, you'll have to sacrifice Salah/Bruno/Son/Streling punt cap 31.

      AND Ihenacho is a Leicester forward for half the price scoring goals atm...

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

      Very penalty dependent and all the chances have been going to Nacho.

  20. footballcandy
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who's actually nailed Spurs defenders atm? % please

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Genuinely Nobody other than Lloris it seems tbh

    2. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Rodon

  21. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    KDB and Antonio to Sterling and Nacho gives this. Thoughts?

    Martinez
    Azpi • Shaw • White • Dawson
    Salah • Sterling(C) • Son • Gundo
    Kane • Iheanacho
    (3.9 / Raph / Bam / Struijk)

    Should I start Raphinha over one of the defenders? Anything else worth a hit?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not the ideal defence 🙂 but there's firepower to make up for it if Sterling works out.

      I'd be tempted to start Raph over Dawson. In a similar spot with my 4 man defence but playing Cresswell over Raph because of assist potential.

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah it’s tempting and I think i might start him. City should rotate a lot and Leeds will go for goals. Can’t see West Ham doing well without Rice and Antonio.

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Agreed really

          Only reason I'm not following suit is that I have Stones as one of my back 4. Leaving Pep to make the decision for me.

          Would you lose benched Bamford as a minus 4 to play Iheanacho over Cresswell on my set up?

          Ederson
          Stones TAA Cresswell Shaw
          Bruno Son Jota Lingard
          Kane Watkins

          Martinez Raph Bamford Konsa

  22. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    mates pls Cap one :
    a. Kane
    b. Bruno
    c. Jota

    1. Saka Rice
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota out of those. Bruno shouldn't even be an option

      1. poulteren
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        sorry to be anooying but everyone seems very certain that jota is going to start. Firminio could easily start, no?

        1. Cojones of Destiny
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          yeah good shout mate

  23. Zola
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A) Son and Wood
    B) Saka and Vardy

    Last piece of the WC puzzle 🙂

    1. footballcandy
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

      Think next week. You'll probably need a -4 to get Son for the double, I guess.

      1. Zola
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I was thinking Salah - Son for the double, then back to Salah the following week (all being well of course)

  24. Sinichi
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I'm lost with my team right now. Not sure whether to stick or change. Thinking fernandes out for neto (big risk) , kane in for Watkins or Bamford. Not sure jota will start he looked knackered after Madrid, but could be an option. That being said salah looked kanckered too. Probably will play wildcard for gw 33 to the end.
    Currently team is

    Martínez-ryan

    Cnacelo- Shaw- james-stones-dallas

    Son - Salah- Lingard- Fernandes-gundogan

    DCL-bamford-watkins

    I have 2 free transfers, kane for me is needed

    Advice or thoughts needed. Issues are city rotation, I think he's going all out for champions league as title is wrapped up.

  25. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Just ditched Shaw in order to afford a better overall backline. Now left with concern about who to start... which three to play?

    Coady / Lowton / TAA / Rudiger / Holding

  26. Hint
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Tempted by TAA captain. Villa defence is decent but they have no attacking threat without Grealish. Doubt it'll be a goalfest so clean sheet points could be handy...

    Thoughts?

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Liverpool have conceded in and lost their last 6 in a row at Anfield and will play a usual high defensive line against the likes of Watkins, Trezeguet and Traore, I think they can well concede. You're not wrong at all with your points but I said the same things to myself before they played Fulham, Everton, Brighton and Burnley and lost to all of them.

  27. Pedaso Pirates
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Two of Bruno, Sterling or Salah this week?

  28. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Think I’m set on this? Gtg?

    Mendy Forster
    Dias Rudiger Coady Holding Phillips
    Jota Mount Lingard Bruno Son
    Kane Vardy Kelechi

    0.7 left itb

  29. poulteren
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Diego Jota - my scouse liverpool die hard supporting mate said he's not nailed so why would you invest? Has he / I missed something? Looking at his minutes...there's no guarantee he will start

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not nailed but that's probably because we have so little data for him. It's all projection.

      Liverpool front 3 is very dysfunctional but leaving out the one in form looks unlikely to me. Mane a more likely fall guy if Firmino returns perhaps. That would push him wider left likely in front two with Mo and Firmino behind.

      1. poulteren
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        top quality analysis that! thank you. I may now double up

  30. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I've just noticed I've got Keinan Davis and Kelechi Iheanacho in my WC squad.

    It's Keinan and Kel!