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. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Is there any confirmation on Raph being out or is it just scaremongering?

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

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/24143057

      That's all you need to know and all anyone has up to this point.

    2. drughi
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Twitter rumours but no smoke without fire

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Could be neither of those things

    4. Scoring freely
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Probably scaremongering, I notice a lot of these, 'rumours,' turn out to be false. Big money floating around in fantasy football now, some people have a vested interest in spreading misinformation, if that is what this turns out to be.

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

        Damn true

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      It wouldn’t be a Friday night kickoff without a late obscure “doubt” over some player who also happens to be the highest owned asset in the match

      You could set your watch by it

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        They need to be a bit more subtle & go for the second or third highest owned asset to at least try to disguise it

      2. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Spot on!

  2. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I'm going FERRAN TORRES captain!!

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

      Brave, like it

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

      High reward, if he plays

    3. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Hope your vice captain is good

  3. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    On WC and down to my last decision - preferred option?

    A) Torres & Gilmour
    B) Sarr & Gray/Doucoure

    1. luk46
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      A if you don’t have to play Gilmour and can go 343/442

    2. A Moon Shaped Pool
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      B my guy

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

    Which is better from these?

    A
    Sanchez
    TAA James Tierney Semedo
    Salah Greenwood Torres Gray
    Bamford Lukaku

    Steele Sissoko Livermento *Antonio*

    B
    Sanchez
    TAA James Tierney Semedo
    Salah Raphinha Torres Gray
    Ronaldo Lukaku

    Steele Sissoko Livramento Locadia

    1. luk46
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      B but there’s an argument for 343 with Antonio or Bamford imo

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

        Something like this better?

        Sanchez
        TAA Semedo Marcal
        Salah Raphinha Gray Gallagher
        Antonio Lukaku Ronaldo

        Foster Sissoko White Livramento

        1. luk46
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          I like it, but would still go with chels def.

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

    Why no love for Greenwood? Rested and surely starts. Returned every gw as well. I know rotation is coming, same could be said for Jota.

    1. mcginnntonic
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      short term jota better and then after GW7 wc utd have v poor fixtures

    2. FPL Hitman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      He did not seem to have the same level of threat he had in the earlier games, now with CR7 leading the line from what I saw in the last game. I have sold him on a WC

    3. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      But greenwood have rashford, martial, cavani, sancho and jota has firmino

    4. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Thanks for the responses.

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

      greenwood is in dont sell dont buy zone for a couple of GW imo...

  6. The Alli Way
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Which WC Team?

    A:
    Sa (Steer)
    TAA Dias Rudiger Semedo (Livramento)
    Salah Jota Raphinia Gray (Gallagher)
    Ronaldo Bamford (Scarlett)

    B:
    Sanchez (Steer)
    TAA Rudiger Semedo Williams (Livramento)
    Salah Jota Raphinia Gray (Mendy)
    Ronaldo Lukaku (Scarlett)

  7. No Kane No Gain
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    What’s the news on Raph?! Not seen anything but a few doubts on here!

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

      Literally read 6 comments up

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Scroll a bit, check different pages, you'll see the answers you're asking to be repeated here

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      At this point it can be traced back to a poster named “Hazz” who has been so kind as to share that he has “heard” Raphinha is a doubt from “a Leeds forum” and that “he’s just relaying information”

      😆

  8. M2.0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on selling Reguillon?

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

      Why did you buy him?

      Has that reason really changed mid or long term, or are you reacting to a game which had an early red?

      1. M2.0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Got him in on wildcard and my plan was to bench him this week but Antonio’s injury has forced me to play him. I doubt he’ll get a return this week (maybe not next either).

        It’s a very short term view i know, but with nothing else to do with my FT, why not?

    2. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Depends on your team, if he is priority transfer

      1. M2.0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        ————-Sanchez———————
        — Semedo - Reg - TAA - James -
        Salah - Jota - Raph - Torres - Sarr
        ————— Ronaldo —————-

        4.0, Livra, Antonio, 4.5

        1. Joey Tribbiani
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          If you have a free transfer, I think I would transfer him out

  9. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Raph+Ings >> Torres+ASM? (-4)

    Sanchez
    TAA. Shaw. White. Ayling
    Salah. Jota. Raph. Sarr
    Ronaldo. Ings
    (Foster, Gilmour, Livramento, Antonio*)

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

      Lol yes but no

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Crazy but could be fun! At the match tonight too

        1. Joey Tribbiani
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Cheering for you tonight

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 6 months ago

            Nice 🙂

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

          Very jealous, enjoy!

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

          Enjoy the game, hope St James’ is rocking tonight

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 6 months ago

            Cheers MS. Take the hit or just leave it alone?

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

    This is by far going to be the most interesting week so far.

    Trent, Salah, Lukaku and Ronaldo combo's UNITE!

    1. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I think you meant Doucoure, Gallagher, Sarr and Traore owners unite

    2. Brimble82
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I WC'd just to join this club!

  11. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I think we need to bombard that one poster on the Leeds forum and see where his source is from

    It's the only way

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

      Supposedly you have to go through a bizzarre initiation ceremony with wild animals to be allowed entry into the forum.

      1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        I'm willing to do what it takes

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          GOAT

  12. LiamK17
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Torres or Pepe (for next 3 games)?

    1. FPL Hitman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Torres. Pepe not nailed imo

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

      wouldnt go for torres with che liv after saints game

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

    Is Firmino fit to play?

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

      confirmed out, not even training

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

        Nice

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

        Not even training with the squad*

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      No

    3. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      good for jota owners i guess.

  14. RedJive79
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Already used a FT for Mahrez to Greenwood. 1.1 itb. Is there anything here worth a -4 or is it GTG? Thanks!

    Sanchez
    TAA / Shaw / Ayling
    Salah / Jota / Greenwood / Benrahma / Gilmour
    Ronaldo / Toney

    Foster / Livra / Amartey / Antonio

    1. luk46
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      could go Toney > Jimenez or Amartey > Semedo

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

    Oh. Dan Burn is back. Duffy clock ticking louder.

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

      Webster out though

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

        That's why I said it hasn't stopped ticking.

        They could still play Veltman RCB and someone like Gross at RWB again - but would imagine still far more likely to have Veltman RWB till a Webster back.

        Just a guess though.

  16. DIMITRIS
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Who would you pick as an alternative C this week out of these:

    A) Lukaku
    B) Ronaldo
    C) Bamford
    D) Jota

    1. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      B ofc Ronaldo can explode anywhere anytime

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

        Cheers

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

      b

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

        Cheers

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

    Harrison it seems is not with the squad in Newcastle so half of that Raphinha rumor looks correct.

  18. No Kane No Gain
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    If Raph has been spotted on the team bus or whatever with the squad, I guess you gotta let fate take its course. Can’t be doing any -4s or anything, just hope he plays!

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

    remember dcl was seen in training then missed game
    just cause raph is in the team photo doesn't mean he's all good...just saying
    often where there's smoke there's fire

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

    Marcal nailed?

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

      Not really

    2. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Nailed for at least next 2/3 games minimum

  21. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Someone selling Raph and then him knocking in a massive haul

    Top of my list on this Friday of “things I would love to see”

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

      Highly likely to happen

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

    Hi guys, 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

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I think it's WC time for us with Shaw, Reg, Coufal owners who have also other issues and poor bench. Nice time to sell Sanchez for Sa also.

  23. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Best to worst: Gallagher Gray Sarr Traore am I right?

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

      As players or for FPL?

      If for FPL, season long or the next few fixtures?

      1. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        On WC to keep for at least 5 gws

  24. Visionaries
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC.

    Sanchez
    TAA, Dias, Marcal, (Liv, Manq)
    Salah, Jota, Raph, Grey, (McArthur)
    Luk, Ron, 4.5

    1. FPL Hitman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Looks like u will have to play one of the 4.0 defenders every GW. The bracket should be on the 4.5 striker

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

        Well one of those or McArthur basically it is

  25. LiamK17
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Do you think it is worth using my 1FT for Benhrama —-> Sarr with an idea to WC GW7 (Still have Antonio for Lee/Bre)

  26. adam wigan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    I ended up doing a free hit this week in an effort to win my monthly cash league. My team is exactly the same as this but with Torres instead of Raphinha!

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

      ...

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

    Dont what anyone else thinks but personally I feel that Greenwood is quite in effective playing on that right hand side. He's not the type of player that can run past people and create chances. Rashford suits that role better.

    Greenwood's strength is finishing so his best position is a central striker. That obviously wont happen now with Ronaldo there. Greenwood has been a good FPL pick for me but I feel that his days are numbered in my FPL team.

    1. FPL Hitman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I concur. He did not look as effective in the game against Newcastle. I have sold him on my WC after having him from the start.

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

      I actually think Greenwood is a bigger threat when he cuts in from the right. However, with Ronaldo in the squad, United will need crosses and so perhaps for that reason Sancho and Rashford may be preferred to Greenwood in the future.

      Atm he isnt going anywhere though.

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        I'd like to see Sancho wide on the right, supplying crosses, and with Greenwood cutting in from the left.

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

      Then you obviously haven't watched him play. He is much better on the right side compared to striker. He is a brilliant finisher but he does not seem to be able to get the scrappy striker goals that a good striker gets and his movement shows that he is not particularly comfortable with the striker position. He is better driving with the ball as it is incredibly difficult for defenders to mark him as he can finish with both feet equally well.

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

    I think on WC, make a Raph team and make a non Raph team. Its possible we get late news before the kick off

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

      just posted. feels more important to have antonio next week than raph this week so might just do Sarr and keep 0.5m itb

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

    would you bench antonio on wildcard which means not bringing in Raph?
    I just couldn't take a double whammy
    IF he is indeed injured then it might not be a one week thing. Easy enough to bring in so maybe Sarr instead leaving 0.5m itb?

  30. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    A Cancelo and Raph
    Or
    B Marcal and Jota

    ???

    Thanks