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. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is anyone considering a 3rd Spurs attacker for gw32 and if so which one?

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

      Only Moura for me,but i am not big fan of it. Bale is dead to me

      1. tbos83
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah I've rules Bale out. Moura seems logical pick or Ndombele, but neither v prolific

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

          Yeah,and you know they blank in GW33,so Kane and Son are enough

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

      Nop

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No, Kane & Son are enough for me

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

      None

    5. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Going with what I have:Lloris,Son,Kane.

    6. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I have Kane, Son and Bale. Haven't transferred the latter out yet because of other pressing issues, but guessing GW32 will be his last in my team.

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

    TC Kane next GW?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No point not doing it if you still have it

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

      Yes

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

      Yessir

    4. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Easily

  3. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    TC Kane already looking juicy.

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

      Yeah for sure mate

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

    Ended up WC-ing in the last hour with this lot below... will try BB next week. Fingers crossed it pays off and thanks for all the input everyone! Top draw community as ever!

    Time for a beer!!!!!

    Mendy
    TAA. Rudiger. Holding
    Salah(C). Bruno. Lingard. Jota. Gundog
    Kane. Iheanacho
    (Forster, DCL, Coady, Shaw)

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

      The less time you leave the better. No time to overthink.

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

        I had a rough idea but yeah felt like I was a lot more decisive. Might be crap but hey Ho! Cheers mate

    2. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Good luck Raf

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

        Cheers boss

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Solid except for a City defender I think. Would have tried to fit in Dias rather than Coady 'BUT' who knows eh? Could be a master-stroke and we can't have 'em all anyway!

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

        Yeah who knows. And with BB I wanted a little more nailed. That said I still couldn’t resist Gundog

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          It's all about good value. Finger on the pulse for the run-in .. bol!

    4. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Good Luck mate, I see you kept DCL....My WC team.

      Martinez, Forster.
      TAA, Alonso, Rudiger, Regulion, Holding. ( Alonso a 2 week punt )
      Salah, Bruno, Jota, Son, Madison.
      Kane, Nacho, Vydra.
      0.9ITB.

      Thanks for your help as always.

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

        Looks very nice. I just really couldn’t stomach Vydra with a bench boost left. I can’t stand him haha. Also Alonso and Reg are great without BB but not good for me. Hopefully we both do well matey 🙂

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

    Magnus brought in Vardy (C)

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      So did I

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hattrick incoming

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

      Who cares what Magnus did I want to know what Fudgy did

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

        This

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

      His recent captains haven't been that fab. I know since I've had the same.

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Time for a Fudgy Cap punt hot topic then? We all know you're following his tweets 😉

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

          Fudgy tweets?

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

    Two insiders transferred out Alonso?

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

      Counter mind games?

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

      I did 🙂 on a last hour WC. Too many players I wanted

  7. WHUFCSmith23
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    70% moderately template after wildcard. Quite pleased with that. Anyone get lower?

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

      Nah, 71% here

    2. ManUtdFan977
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      nope i'm 74%

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

      61%

  8. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Just discovered I actually captained Jota this week. Sorry, friends.

    1. ManUtdFan977
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      could be a big differential

  9. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    GW31 'professional' watch:

    Fabio Borges: WC played, Salah (c)
    Mendy, TAA, Veltman, Rudiger, Jota, Bruno, Raphinha, Son, Salah, Iheanacho, Kane. Bench: Forster, Fofana, Coady, Davis
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/440328/event/31

    Magnus Carlsen: Antonio to Vardy, Vardy (c)
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/76862/event/31

    Ville Ronka: save FT, Salah (c)
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/617620/event/31

    Jay Egersdorff: Gundogan + DCL to Jota + Iheanacho, Salah (c)
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/259780/event/31

    Mark Sutherns: WC played, Sterling (c)
    Mendy, Alonso, TAA, Rudiger, Lingard, Sterling, Bruno, Jota, Iheanacho, Kane, DCL. Bench: Sanchez, Holding, Raphinha, Dallas
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/194/event/31

    Lateriser: -8, Havertz + Bamford + Antonio to Jota + Aguero + Iheanacho, Aguero (c)
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/55085/event/31

    Jan Sienkiewicz: WC played, Jota (c)
    Mendy, Holding, Rudiger, Phillips, Jota, Salah, Bruno, Son, Iheanacho, Vardy, Kane. Bench: Forster, Saka, Masuaku, Cooper
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/3904/event/31

    Darren Wiles: WC played, Salah (c)
    Mendy, Phillips, Holding, Dias, Jota, Gundogan, Son, Salah, Iheanacho, Kane, Vardy. Bench: Forster, Lingard, Coady, Rudiger
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1331101/event/31

    Stephen Harrap: -4, Dallas + Cancelo + Watkins to Phillips + TAA + Iheanacho, Salah (c)
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1191/event/31

    Tom Stephenson: WC played, Salah (c)
    Mendy, TAA, Rudiger, Alonso, Jota, Bruno, Son, Salah, Wood, Iheanacho, Kane. Bench: Forster, Holding, Shaw, Raphinha
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/129818/event/31

    Andy LTFPL: -8, Tierney + KDB + Antonio + Dallas to TAA + Jota + Vardy + Alonso, Salah (c)
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/40/event/31

    Michael Coone (OR #1): -4, Raphinha + Martinez to Jota + Schmeichel, Salah (c)
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/4865323/event/31

    Fudgy

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      * Fudgy 😉 : -4, Dallas + Gundogan + DCL to TAA + Jota + Davis, Salah (c)
      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/32812/event/31

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

        This is what we want!

      2. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nice one! Got the same cap as Fudgy - Legend!! 🙂

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Aguero (C) and Sterling (C) there! Great stuffs!

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers for that Sunny - best thing I've read all week! +1

  10. Steinburg FC
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    had bus team Alonso C then did a -4 for Salah and thought i made him C but its still on Alonso...

    1. ManUtdFan977
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      he could still do well
      even if he doesn't play u still have salah VC

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

    What is that smell? Thousands of burnt wildcards.

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

    Feel like I tried to go for it on my wc but only 71% template.
    Mendy
    TAA alonso holding
    Salah(c) Bruno jota mount
    Kane nacho vydra
    (forster neto shaw veltman)

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

    Exact money for Odegaard -> Salah y/n?
    (also have Antonio, Tierney, triple Leeds)

  14. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Klopp to have us all off and rotate Jota for Firmino and even bench Salah?

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

      probably press conference comments would suggest some rotation

      1. Oggle22
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Hopefully not just brought Jota Salah and Trent on on my wildcard!

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

      I can't see Jota and Salah rotated while they are fighting for their lives. I think Mane will go to bench now, if they don't go four up front.

      1. Oggle22
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Hope your right!

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who knows? We're locked in - let's enjoy the spectacle of footie. It's going to be an exciting end of season I reckon to see who makes top 2-4 and which teams beat relegation.

  15. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Leno and Holding and 3 Wolves Neto Coady and Fabio Silva no city or Chelsea on wildcard lost Bale and Jlingz panacking now!

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who did you go big on?

      1. Oggle22
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Leno
        TAA Holding Coady
        Salah Son Bruno Jota Neto
        Iheanaco Kane

        Forster Fabio Silva Amartey Mitchell