Scout Picks

FPL Gameweek 5 Scout Picks features Liverpool triple-up

A Liverpool triple-up forms the spine of our Gameweek 5 Scout Picks for Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

After Sam, Az, Neale and Tom submitted their Scout Squad selections earlier this week, we have chosen our best players ahead of tonight’s 18:30 BST deadline.

We line up in a 4-4-2 formation and we’ve used every penny of our £83.0m budget.

GOALKEEPER

With our expensive purchases further forward, we needed a £4.5m option for goalkeeping duties this week. Aaron Ramsdale (£4.5m) fits the bill after a debut that earned huge plaudits from his manager, and it was no surprise that the Gunners finally recorded their first clean sheet of the campaign when they had their first-choice back four all available for the first time. The rotation risk can’t be eliminated, especially after this match, but a clash with Burnley doesn’t seem like the time to reinstate Bernd Leno (£4.9m) give his inability to handle crosses.

DEFENDERS

Thomas Tuchel’s Blues have had the best backline in Europe since January and are yet to concede from open play this season. Weekend opponents Tottenham Hotspur offered very little in the final third in Gameweek 4, registering just two shots, and are a lowly joint-18th for big chances created in 2021/22. That lack of goal threat, plus an injury crisis in north London, makes us keen on Chelsea representation at the back. It’s always a nerve-wracking game trying to second-guess Tuchel’s line-ups but Reece James (£5.6m) at least had a ‘rest’ last weekend thanks to suspension and his tallies of four shots and five key passes in just 161 minutes of pitch-time really catches the eye.

On the subject of solid defences, Manchester City’s often doesn’t get the attention it deserves thanks to their exploits further forward. The reigning champions are on a run of three clean sheets and have remarkably only conceded one shot on target since the opening weekend, with even Ederson (£6.0m) smothering that effort at source. With injuries to other centre-halves and concern over possible rotation at full-back, mainstay Ruben Dias (£6.0m) is the safe play.

A home match against Palace might have looked like a stonewall banker for a clean sheet under the dour Roy Hodgson but Patrick Vieira has got the Eagles playing with a bit more attacking verve since his appointment. But shut-outs are only a small part of the reason why we love Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) so much, and the Liverpool right-back is in red-hot form: over his last 14 matches, the prolific chance creator is averaging 7.8 FPL points per match.

Marcal (£4.6m) delivered the goods for us last week but we’re changing flanks for Wolves representation against a Brentford outfit who look solid at the back but who are struggling up top. Marcal has generally been providing service from out wide but Nelson Semedo (£4.9m) is the one who has been more regularly drifting infield into threatening goalscoring positions and had two of the six big chances that Wolves created last weekend. Semedo’s 11 penalty box touches is a tally beaten by only two FPL defenders this season.

MIDFIELDERS

Who are the best FPL captain options for Gameweek 2? 6

The solid centre-half pairing of Marc Guehi (£4.5m) and Joachim Andersen (£4.5m) look like they could really improve the fortunes of Palace’s backline this season but after Liverpool racked up 52 shots against Leeds United and AC Milan in the last week, we can’t look past the Reds on home soil. Serious consideration was given to a rested Sadio Mane (£11.9m) after he registered an eye-catching 10 goal attempts against the Whites but it was unsurprisingly his two attacking comrades who instead received the bulk of the votes in this week’s Scout Squad.

Mohamed Salah‘s (£12.5m) totals of 16 goal attempts, 14 shots in the box and 12 chances created all rank among the top three players in the Premier League this season, while his points-per-match average of 9.5 is the best among FPL midfielders. And Diogo Jota (£7.7m), as he did for much of the previous campaign, is right up there Liverpool’s premium midfield pair for underlying stats: a total of 0.99 big chances per 90 minutes is even better than what Salah is managing this season. Had it not been for Mane’s wastefulness in Gameweek 4, the Portuguese – who carved out six chances last Sunday – would have dodged a blank.

With slight concerns over Ferran Torres’ (£7.2m) minutes after five successive starts for club and country over the last fortnight, we’ve opted for a relatively rested Ilkay Gundogan (£7.3m) as our not-entirely-risk-free route into a potent Manchester City attack. Gundogan evoked memories of last season’s purple patch with his stats against Leicester last weekend, racking up six shots and four key passes.

We have yet to see the best of Leeds this season but as luck would have it, along come Newcastle United. The Magpies are woeful at the back, bottom of the table for goals conceded and big chances allowed. They also shipped seven goals to Marcelo Bielsa’s side last season across their two meetings. Raphinha (£6.5m) has yet to catch fire but still sits 14th among FPL midfielders for expected goal involvement (xGI) despite facing fairly sturdy backlines in Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool.

FORWARDS

The best FPL forwards to consider as Calvert-Lewin and Antonio replacements 7

On the subject of the Friday night game, Patrick Bamford (£7.9m) was cleared to play by his manager to quieten the social media frenzy around a possible ‘pinged’ hamstring. Among the top five Fantasy forwards for penalty box touches and shots in the opposition box despite the tricky start to the season, the striker averaged 5.89 points per match in away fixtures last season and four of his five double-digit hauls came on the road.

It was a toss-up between Romelu Lukaku (£11.6m) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.6m) for our premium forward slot. With little to separate their own credentials, it’s as much about the opposition this weekend. Nuno Espirito Santo’s counter-attacking Spurs look like they will fare better against the bigger teams this season but are ravaged by injury going into Sunday’s game. West Ham, meanwhile, have registered just two clean sheets in their last 15 Premier League fixtures (both against Southampton) but may well set up in a more defensive shape in east London, as they did in both league meetings with the Red Devils last weekend. The Portuguese gets the nod, marginally, with the Hammers’ loss of an out-ball in Michail Antonio (£7.9m) likely to invite more pressure and the form of Craig Dawson (£5.0m) iffy.

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.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

FPL Gameweek 2 round-up: Sunday goals, assists, bonus and injuries 4

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.

BobMcMayday, who triumphed 74-68 in Gameweek 4, has set the target to beat.

Our champion this week is Boleyn Boy.

The Scout Picks are 3-1 up on the community this season.

1,419 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Best striker for 10.4?

    A) Bamford (have Raphina and Ayling)
    B) Jimi
    C) Vardy
    D) Someone else?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Vardy time

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      If you’re going that high find the extra 1.2 for Lukaku, if not it’s still probably Antonio

    3. BraveJ1
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Auba....

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Does have a great record vs Burnley

    4. Francescoli
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Auba

    5. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Nice spot to pick up Vardy for the next 3 weeks or so I think; could be great differential(ish)

    6. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers might go vardy!

    7. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Auba. Under the radar

  2. Redranger
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Which of these:

    A) Ayling > Coady/Marcal
    B) Raph > Gray
    C) Toney > Armstrong
    D) Roll transfer over

    1. tibollom
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      roll

      1. Redranger
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        That’s what I was leaning towards too. None of these others are very exciting

  3. Footieboot
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I swear I am not a bad person but Raphinha being indeed injured would solve all my troubles for this GW.

  4. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Rumours of Raphinha being an injury doubt and Harrison having Covid circulating Twitter atm. Take it with a pinch of salt but there might be more news

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Just post this on every page and it will happen

    2. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Source?

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Atbarah?

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      We won’t know for sure until 6/7pm so just take it easy and meditate until then

  5. Salarrivederci
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    After the Harrison/Raph stuff how is this for a WC? 0.1 ITB

    Schmeichel
    TAA - R. James - Semedo - Tierney
    Salah - D. James - Gray
    Ronaldo - Lukaku - Pukki

    (Ward, Gallagher, Sissoko, Livramento)

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Why don’t you post a source before saying after the ‘stuff’?

      1. Salarrivederci
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Don't have a source - that is why I wrote 'stuff' - because 'stuff' indicates that it is fugayzi, fugazi. It's a whazy. It's a woozie. It's fairy dust. 😉

        Nonetheless being on WC makes me somewhat want to bring in D.James if there is some truth in it.

    2. Khark
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Have you ripped up your wildcard team because of a few random twitter accounts?

      1. Salarrivederci
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Nah not at all.
        Gone from Krul, Gunn and Raphinha to Schmeichel, Ward and D. James

        1. Khark
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Fair enough. Raphinha is with the squad, comment further down this page says so!

          1. Salarrivederci
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 6 months ago

            Aight thanks! 🙂
            But if Harrison is not, then D. James and Schmeichel could outdo Krul + Raph

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

              Very short term thinking this.

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

    was looking at city defender on wildcard but might just leave it til gw8
    apparently both stones and laporte are out this week
    check City xtra tweet

  7. owenread
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    thoughts on my WC lads? (0.3m itb)

    Sanchez
    TAA, Semedo, Marcal
    Salah, Jota, Raph, A Traore, Gray
    Ronaldo, Lukaku

    Steele, Duffy, Livra, Scarlett

    cheers

    1. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Raph apparently injured

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

        Doubt* and no real source yet.

      1. Amartey Partey
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Is this Bielsa’s WhatsApp?

    1. Will Kane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Dead link

    2. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Screenshot from an Australian phone so unless it’s a screenshot of a screenshot not sure how good the source is. Then again it’s pretty specific to just be a rumor

    3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Deleted

  8. Devos
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Noone responded, so another try.

    Who should I captain?

    a) TAA
    b) Jota
    c) Fernandes
    d) Lukaku
    e) Bamford

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

      Salah

    2. Firmino
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      A or D

  9. A Team Of James McCleans
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Best DCL replacement?

    1. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Jim

  10. zizoo10
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I was planning to WC GW8 for free, but can achieve this for free by then

    Sanchez
    TAA • James • Cancelo
    Salah • Torres • Mount • Raphinha • Benny
    Lukaku • Antonio

    Bench: white only cover

    Would u still WC this?

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Yep, need Ronaldo 😉

      1. zizoo10
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Touché but Naaahhhh - GW15 WC he’s back

    2. pjacobsson
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Damn its a pretty team.
      Myself is aiming for
      Sanches, +4.0
      TAA, James, Cancelo, (B Williams, Tierney)
      Salah, Jota, Graelish, Greenwood, gilly
      Lukaku, Jiminez, +4.5

      That is, I'm rotating Tierney with b Williams

      1. zizoo10
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Interesting, I may save WC until GW15 then

  11. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    A) play Toney
    B) Toney + Brownhill to Dennis + Raphinha (play Raph with Dennis first sub if he is out) for -4

  12. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Raphinha with the squad, no Harrison https://twitter.com/l__1919/status/1438834338263621638?s=21

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      The levels of FPL these days is mind-blowing

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

        Excellent eh?

    2. Khark
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Decent!

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I do not see Raphina in that photo.

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

        Other clubs have a team coach. Leeds have a team AND coach.

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

      Thank you for posting.

    5. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Hope it's just bulls**t regarding Raphinha. We owners form (GW 1) deserve something from him today

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

        I've had him AND Harrison from GW1. Just added Bamford today 🙁

        1. Ross Geller
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Just unlucky mate. You can still get rewarded tonight if both Bamford and Raphinha starts.

    6. Walter White (WW)
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I can’t see Raphinha there tho

      1. Khark
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        You can't make everyone out in the photo, the twitter caption says hes there so im gonna believe it

        1. Bavarian
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          in front of Bam I suppose

  13. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Imagine Raphina is out lol

    Oh well, will just have to rely on Bissouma coming off the bench.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      He’s been seen in Newcastle on the above link

  14. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    1 FT, 2.5 ITB - Help appreciated

    Sanchez (Gunn)
    TAA, Digne, Cancelo, White (Livramento)
    Salah, Raphinha, Benrahma, Gray, Buendia
    Ronaldo, (António, Perica)

    A) Buendia --- Torres/Grealish
    B) Go for Lukaku next week (transfer out Digne, Buendia, António)
    C) Digne --- Chelsea defender

  15. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Klopp says he will make changes to the lineup

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

      Obviously Elliott is out, but I fancy Kounate to start.

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Usually means defence and midfield

    3. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Tsimikas to start

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

        One of Jota or Salah benched.

        1. Khark
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          scenes if this happens.

    4. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Harvey out Virg in, boom

  16. FPLMarc
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Wildcarder here.

    For the next few GWs I can only have two of Jota, Bamford, Antonio.

    Which two?

    1. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Jota-Antonio

  17. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Leeds being decimated with injuries is bad news for new Bamford owners too

    1. Khark
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      It's not that bad if Raphinha plays. Dan James can come in for Harrison easily

  18. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Current Team:

    Sanchez
    TAA, Shaw, Ayling
    Salah, Mahrez, Benrahma, Raphinha, Sissoko
    Ronaldo, Toney

    Foster | Veltman, Tsimikas, Antonio*

    £0.3m ITB 1FT

    A) Hold
    B) Antonio —> Bamford
    C) Toney —> ASM
    D) Mahrez —> Torres/Jota/Gray
    E) Mahrez + Toney —> Gray/Torres + Bamford (-4)

    Or any other suggestions??

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Hold

    2. Kalix
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      F) Shaw to James (CHE)

      ?

  19. Khark
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    IF these Harrison out with covid rumours are true, and although not highly owned - for me it does heighten the fact that a strong first sub this season with covid still looming is a decent strategy to have.

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

      Yup. Unfortunately, he's covering Antonio. I'm down to Bissouma.

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      100%

    3. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Liveramento and Coady are decenet imo

  20. jimmyharte
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Cant decide who to bring in when i already got Bamford.

    Sarr, Gray or Raphinha?

    1. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I will take a punt on Sarr for the next two GW's

    2. Ross Geller
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Raphinha if you get conformation he's ok for tonight's game

  21. Kalix
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on these two options:

    - Play Veltman (BHA, at home against LEI)
    - Take a -4 to do DCL->Bamford, and play Bamford

  22. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    How is tielemans for a punt?

  23. WHUFCSmith23
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    With Seb Wassells excellent analysis the other day. Maybe Harrison out is a good thing. It might push Rodrigo out wide if James isn't ready to start. Which means Klich comes in and unleashes the attacking Leeds we all crave.

  24. kip kop
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Who would you start this GW:
    a) Traore(BRE)
    b) Kovacic(TOT)

  25. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Any comments on Son from Nuno yesterday? Thanks

  26. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    legit q, would you NOT bring in Raphinha on wildcard based on the lovely world of twitter?
    got 1 hour max to finalise team. Aussie based and need some sleep

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Your choice, if you really want him and have bench cover get him, if not then don't

    2. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Bench 1 of:

      Toney
      Tierney
      Ayling

      1. JollyGoodYellows
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Toney by a long way.

    3. konrad.sygula95
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Hi, would you wildcard this team? or just Barnes/Antonio to Raphinha/Bamford?

      Sanchez
      Shaw Regilon TAA Coufal
      Salah (c) Benhrama Barnes Jota
      Ronaldo Toney

      Bench Foster Gilmour Amartey Antonio

    4. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Bachmann
      TAA Shaw Ayling Veltman
      Salah Bruno Jota Raphinha Benrahma
      Toney

      Foster; Livramento, Scarlett, Antonio*

      2ft and 2.5itb. After the rumors about Raphinha I'm completely lost... Any ideas on what to do?