Gameweek Guide

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for Gameweek 31

On Fantasy Football Scout this week, a fab four from Liverpool have been causing a stir as the fixtures turn in favour of the Reds and the soothsayers have been playing Pep Roulette again – could Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) reward those bold enough to spin the wheel?

There’s a Friday deadline for Gameweek 31 and you have until 18:30 BST deadline to make any last-minute changes to your side. 

Mo, Trent, Nat and Diego

Top of the fixture ticker for the remainder of the season, Liverpool first take on an Aston Villa side shorn of their talisman Jack Grealish (£7.5m). Dean Smith confirmed that his latest injury flare-up “will probably put him back a couple of weeks”.

Mohamed Salah (£12.4m), Diogo Jota (£6.9m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) are all selected in the Scout Picks‘ starting XI, while Nat Phillips (£4.0m) is Tom’s headline differential

Encouragingly for their backers, Villa have been struggling defensively.

As Captain Sensible writer Jan mentioned, they are the biggest over-performers in the Premier League and should have conceded at least three more goals over their last four matches.

And if we cast our net a little further back to Gameweek 21, no team has conceded more shots than Dean Smith’s side since then.

Jan and the Scout Picks selectors have handed Salah the armband for Saturday’s enticing encounter.

Golden Boot race motivation and penalty duties ensure Salah just edges out Jota in Jan’s estimation, while Pro Pundit Lateriser commented:

Salah has now scored in back-to-back matches and I’ve seen him play further forward in the last two games than he has for most of this season.

Meanwhile Jota was described by Az as “the number one target on the Wildcard”, which many are playing this week.

Such confidence is underpinned by an impressive 50 per cent goal involvement this season when he’s been on the pitch, as highlighted by both Jan and Lateriser, as well as Karam on the Scoutcast.

And although rotation remains a risk, there is comfort in the knowledge that the Portuguese has found the net in three of his six cameos off the bench and bagged a brace at Arsenal last weekend, as Neale pointed out when he delved into the stats ahead of Gameweek 31.

Both players seem excellent choices for our FPL teams but, as Seb advised us, captaincy is important when it comes to selecting Salah:

I do not plan on handing the Egyptian the armband and thus his value is seriously diminished. Salah is only worth his price if you plan on doubling those points.

– Seb

Otherwise the main decision when deciding on the ideal Liverpool trio appears to come down to a decision between Alexander-Arnold and budget defender Phillips.

The enterprising full-back costs £3.3 million more than his central defensive colleague – is he worth the extra outlay?

Last four matches

Over the last four matches, only two players have created more chances than the Liverpool full-back, namely Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9m), who both cost considerably more. 

As Seb mentioned on the Scoutcast, Trent has been accelerating away from his fellow full-back Andy Robertson (£7.1m) in terms of underlying stats since Gameweek 24. And the Scot has created just three chances in his last four compared to the Englishman’s 11.

Defensively the signs are also positive. The return of Fabinho (£5.4m) to midfield makes a big difference to Liverpool’s prospects of recording a clean sheet.

Jürgen Klopp’s side badly missed the Brazilian as a number six, and look a far better side with him sitting in front of the back four.

– Tom

In the end the decision will likely come down to the needs of your FPL team. 

Phillips costs just £4.0m, and as one of the cheapest starting defenders in the game, could be a quality enabler for the remainder of the season.

– Tom

While Seb countered:

If I was on a Wildcard, I’d have definitely gone for the Liverpool right-back over the cut-price Phillips as I don’t like looking for value from the best teams with the best fixtures.

Planning Ahead

Digressing away from Liverpool for a moment, Leeds fan Seb backed up recent Meet the Manager interviewee Tom Stephenson’s plan to ‘save a transfer’ by including Raphinha (£5.6m) on his Wildcard.

If you can afford to keep [Raphinha] on the bench I think he provides a great sub and saves you a transfer for when you want him back for those aforementioned fixtures.

– Seb

Maverick Joe

According to Andy, “only an idiot would continue to try and second-guess Pep Guardiola” – and yet, here we are again. 

Speaking after the win over Leicester City on Sunday, Pep Guardiola promised that there’d be “fresh legs, more than ever” for the upcoming clash with Leeds.

Given that neither Sterling nor Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m) started the midweek Champions League quarter-final, they are tipped to make the first XI in what should be an open game against Leeds United. As Neale reminded us:

17 penalty box touches, five goal attempts and five key passes recorded by Raheem Sterling when Manchester City and Leeds United met in the very open reverse fixture of Saturday’s game.

– Neale

It’s even tempted Joe to consider an uncharacteristic one-week punt on the Brazilian, despite Seb’s warning that he’s a trap.

Joe’s plan on his Wildcard would be to switch out Jesus to Jamie Vardy (£10.1m), who is at a similar price point. 

Leicester City

James Maddison’s (£7.1m) return from injury could be good news for our FPL teams, although his price point is considered awkward by Joe.

Nonetheless both Az and Tom have been singing his praises, having picked up on an intriguing quote from the Leicester City midfielder:

Me, the gaffer and Jack, the analyst, sat down and looked at where I can get more goals. Playing a bit deeper, I was a No.8 today, and breaking into the box and getting beyond that last line and really, kind of, almost smelling where the ball is going to drop. It’s not an easy thing to do. Frank Lampard was the best at it, arriving late and scoring goals, and that’s what I did today.

– James Maddison

Tom went on to add that:

Personal motivation could be a key factor, too. If Maddison is to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championship this summer, he will need to play a starring role during the run-in.

– Tom

Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.8m) was lauded for his clinical finishing on the Scoutcast and offers an excellent mid-price alternative up front.

There are concerns that he could drop out of the side for Maddison, having been replaced the Englishman against Manchester City. But, as Karam explained, Iheanacho played for Nigeria during the international break and only returned 48 hours before kick-off. 

For the time being, Neale has predicted that Iheanacho will start against West Ham with Maddison set for another appearance from the subs bench.

Community Competitions and Head-to-Head Fixtures

RedLightning provided us with his usual comprehensive round-up of the latest Community mini-leagues and competitions, which included a new section on a Community Manager of the Week. 

The inaugural winner was Kushral Pakhrel (aka Fantasizer), nominated by FPL Egregious for his impressive tally of 92 points scored in Blank Gameweek 29.

Kushral’s deft use of his Free Hit chip was underpinned by three Brighton players, who contributed 44 points to his total and helped him to a Gameweek rank of 620.

There are five rounds to go in our cup competitions with the finals set to take place in Gameweek 35.

This Gameweek, round six of the FFS Open Cup sees the lowest-ranked manager left in the competition, ronaldez, face Community regular Jarvish, who is aiming for his second top 10,000 finish in the last three seasons.

While Psyurmh, ranked 615,244 takes on 2018/19 FFS Members Cup runner-up Jambo17.

And in this year’s Members Cup, Torpedo will be hoping to overcome the odds when he comes up against FPLMAD, who is currently 1,876,860 places above him in the overall standings.

Neale reviewed the results from the previous rounds yesterday.

Finally, the Head-to-Head fixtures for Gameweek 31 can be found below. 

The scores and tables update every night on the Head-to-Head Leagues main page so you can keep track of the action as the Gameweek unfolds. 

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

909 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Hitthewall
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Crazy to start Vydra over Son?

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No

    2. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes

    3. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes

  2. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    The last time Salah scored an open play goal at home was gameweek 13 LOL! Best captain right guys??

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lol

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

      Must be due another one then

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

        yup and Vydra due a hattrick hasnt had one in a while

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

          Let me guess, you don't own Salah...

    3. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      So he's due.

  3. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start White or Regulon? Thanks!

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

      white brighton easy 2-0

    2. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Reguilon, United might park the bus

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

      Probz Regu and hope for an attacking return or a 0-0

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

    Better duo?
    A) Ings & ESR (can bench Ings in 33)
    B) Diagne & Maddison

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  5. Rabb05
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1.DCL 2.Rich or 3.Laca with Kane up front for the next few weeks?
    Currently on Laca as better fixtures but is he nailed enough?

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

      prefer Ings if possible, Laca not nailed so will be a pain when benched. If you go for Everton option for starts i'd say go Rich

      1. Rabb05
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks. ings blank in 33 put me off. Got to decide between laca and rich i think

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

    My team: don't be surprised e.g. about Ings or Bamford, play in a mini-league and can't take every player
    Martinez
    Digne, Rüdiger, Cancelo, TAA
    Maddison, Salah, Neto, Mahrez
    Ings, Kane
    Bench: Forster, Bamford, Pereira (WBA), Coufal
    Thoughts? Have some questions?
    a) Mahrez to Rodriguez
    b) Who captain?
    c) Who should i bench??

  7. matiakez
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start kasper or Forster?

    Currently on Forster

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Forster

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

      stick with forster

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

        Thanks

  8. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who to start?

    A...vydra at newcastle

    B....son v United (in addition to kane)

    Thanks

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

      B i think only because he's son

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah think that it's a v brave manager that benches son

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

    Start Raphinha or Watkins?

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

      Raph

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

      Watkins

  10. Park the bus
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start:

    Forster or Lloris
    Soucek or Watkins

  11. I Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Am I mad for wanting to captain Gundo over Salah?

    1. Blue Moon Rising
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ye, not even guaranteed to start

    2. mr messi
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No, not a bad punt

  12. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mount or Son just for this week?

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

      mount

      1. Rabb05
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Mount

  13. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    0FT - 5.2m ITB - Only TC remaining

    Martinez
    Stones Digne Azpi
    Bruno Gundogan Lingard ESR Jota
    Kane DCL

    Fabri - Bamford Cresswell Targett

    Captain:
    A) Jota
    B) Kane
    C) Gundogan
    D) Bruno

  14. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I've got both Bamford and Raphinha, need to start one of them. Who gets the nod?

    1. Jones Town
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm playing Raph

    2. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same. Playing Raph due to dead balls

    3. matiakez
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      raph

  15. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pope
    Cancelo Rudiger Lowton
    Gundo Bruno Son Jota
    Laca Kane DCL

    Johnstone - AWB Coufal ESR

    Good to go??
    who to captain
    1. Kane
    2. Laca
    3. Son
    4. Bruno
    5. Jota

    Chasing 38 points in ML

  16. Jones Town
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone captaining Bruno??

  17. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1.9m still in the bank, thoughts?
    Martinez
    TAA - Digne - Rudgier
    Salah - Son - Jota - Maddison - Lingard
    Kane - Iheanacho

    Forster - Welbeck - Masuaku - Johnson

  18. The Prophet
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lads, any major problems here...

    Leno (Forster)

    Trent-Alonso-Stones (Holding/Shaw)

    Jota-Sterling(c)-Salah-Mount-Lingard

    Kane-Iheanacho (Vydra)

    Thanks in advance

  19. CoracAld2831
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Team now:

    Areola
    Dunk-Digne-Cresswell
    Lingard-De Bruyne-Gundo-Fernandes
    Kane(v)-Wood(c)-Watkins

    Johnstone--Raphinha-Dallas-Mings

    Used my FT's to Lingard and Wood.

    What to do:

    1: GTG
    2: KDB -> Salah for a bit
    3: Watkins -> Iheanacho for a hit
    4: Other, what?

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      1 or 2 if you think KDB doesn’t start

  20. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone keeping Dias on wildcard?

    Or will he be rotated a lot now with all the cup commitments City have?

    1. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dias is the only one who’s looked rotation proof with Pep

      1. Prison Mike
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        True! But with Laporte, Stones and now even Ake fit surely he will start to prioritise the cups now the league is pretty much wrapped up...

    2. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dias only city D to get imo

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

      I keep him

  21. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy, Forster
    TAA , Shaw, Rudiger - , Holding
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Jota, - ,
    Kane, Nacho , Davis

    A) Neto, Coady
    B) Lingard, Masuaku

  22. Pino
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Captain Jota or Kane?

    1. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota from those 2

  23. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    On WC. Is no City problem here? Should I do Son to Mahrez or Gundo? Cheers!

    Mendy,Forster
    Holding,Shaw,Coady,Fofana,Phillips
    Salah,Son,Bruno,Jota,Neto
    Kane,Iheanacho,Vydra

    1. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Spurs have DGW next... So keep Son

  24. Gomolon
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How bad is Villa's attack lately? Tempted with a TAA (C) this week

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

      No Grealish, no party! Traore the main outlet

      1. Gomolon
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Oh lovely, didn't realise he was still out, thought he was back. TAA is sub 15% ownership, in good form and with a good fixture. Looking forward to my -2!

        1. Gomolon
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Well this paid off well!! 22 points and up to 17k, FFScout welcome to hire me anytime lol

  25. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play 1, and pick sub 1...

    Raphina, Bamford and Watkins...

    Currently have them in that order. Playing Raph, and benching Bam and Watkins...

    Anything else to consider in that selection?

    1. Gomolon
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bamford is on penalties, but seems a good order to me

  26. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on final WC team?
    Mendy, Forster
    TAA, Dias, Rudiger, Fofana, Coady
    Salah, Bruno, Jota, Lingard, Neto
    Kane, Iheanacho, Vydra

    £0.1m ITB

    gtg?

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

      It's the same as me but I have Coufal instead of Fofana because I have less money.

    2. Mookty
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ah actually I have son instead of neto

      1. tabby98
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Can't afford Son unfortunately unless I drop TAA or one of the other premium players

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

          I think your team is good. Wolves have good fixtures.

  27. Spg76
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    KDB(C)

  28. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start one?

    A Vydra
    B Iheanacho

  29. Wılly
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Aubameyang
    or
    Jota

    Captain?

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

    Ok Coady or Saiss then?

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Coady - Saiss at risk from Boly