Scout Squad

The Scout Squad’s best FPL players for Gameweek 6

The best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players for Gameweek 6 are debated by Fantasy Football Scout contributors Az, Sam, Neale and Tom.

For those new to this feature, it’s a weekly piece that always takes the form of a ‘Free Hit’-type selection for the upcoming Gameweek.

All of our panelists have put forward an 18-man long-list of Fantasy assets and will explain their notable inclusions and omissions below.

It also serves as a precursor to the Scout Picks, as the players listed will then be narrowed down to a squad of 15 (with the starting XI not exceeding a total cost of £83.0m) for final our weekly selection.

Each writer must meet the following requirements:

  • At least one goalkeeper costing £5.0m or less
  • At least one sub-£5.0m defender
  • At least one midfielder listed at £6.5m or below
  • At least one forward priced at £7.0m or lower
  • No more than three players from the same club

SCOUT SQUAD PICKS

AzSamTomNeale
GKAsmir BegovicBen FosterKasper SchmeichelAlex McCarthy
Ben FosterRobert SanchezAsmir BegovicVicente Guaita
Robert SanchezKasper SchmeichelRobert SanchezEdouard Mendy
DEFTrent Alexander-ArnoldTrent Alexander-ArnoldTrent Alexander-ArnoldTrent Alexander-Arnold
Nelson SemedoLuke ShawLuke ShawJannik Vestergaard
Shane DuffyNelson SemedoKurt ZoumaLucas Digne
Marcus AlonsoShane DuffyTino LivramentoKieran Tierney
Ricardo PereiraLucas DigneDanny RoseKurt Zouma
MIDMohamed SalahMohamed SalahMohamed SalahIsmaila Sarr
Ismaila SarrSadio ManeIsmaila SarrMohamed Salah
Said BenrahmaSon Heung-MinDiogo JotaAndros Townsend
Demarai GrayIsmalia SarrJarrod BowenTomas Soucek
RaphinhaMason GreenwoodAndros TownsendAdemola Lookman
FWDMichail AntonioMichail AntonioCristiano RonaldoMichail Antonio
Cristiano RonaldoCristiano RonaldoJamie VardyJamie Vardy
Allan Saint-MaximinTeemu PukkiMichail AntonioCristiano Ronaldo
Jamie VardyAllan Saint-MaximinAdam ArmstrongAllan Saint-Maximin
Raul JiménezJoshua KingSalomon RondonJoshua King


Most popular picks: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ismaila Sarr, Mohamed Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michail Antonio (four), Robert Sanchez, Allan Saint-Maximin, Jamie Vardy (three)

AZ SAID

There are some great matches this week and I’m expecting plenty of goals, namely at West Ham v Leeds, where I’ve selected three attacking players; I wouldn’t be surprised to see this game ending up as a 4-4 thriller. Said Benrahma was a bit fortuitous to get his deflected goal on Sunday but I think him and Raphinha could be in for returns in what looks like to be the most entertaining game of the weekend.

There are a couple of games that I think could be quite tight, however, and these are where I’ve focused my defensive picks. I would back Wolves and Chelsea to be two teams with a good chance of keeping their opponents out and both Nelson Semedo and Marcos Alonso have outstanding attacking appeal on their day – although Alonso does tend to actually deliver points, unlike the Portuguese wing-back.

In midfield, it’s a reflection on the season that four of my five midfield picks are all under £6.5m. I’m very confident in Ismaila Sarr‘s prospects at home to Newcastle: he ran the show against Norwich and has hopefully turned a corner after some less-than-impressive displays in Watford’s previous fixtures. Demarai Gray also features in arguably the best-looking tie at home to Norwich, although the Toffees’ injury woes mean that I won’t be rushing to grab Everton assets for my own team.

Up front, the top two picks were easy and don’t need any explaining. I’ve been so impressed with Allan Saint-Maximin, however, and do wonder if he could become a factor in our seasons if Newcastle can pick up a bit of form and he can stay injury-free. Jamie Vardy and Raul Jimenez both have good games and those who have invested in the Mexican must surely be thinking that returns are round the corner.

SAM SAID

With Daniel Bachmann reportedly nursing a knee injury, now could be a good time for Ben Foster to become more than just a good enabler. Whilst Watford haven’t been solid defensively so far they face a Newcastle team without star man Calum Wilson and so it could be an ideal opportunity for the budget shot-stopper to nail down a start.

Having missed Gameweek 5 through illness, I’m expecting Trent Alexander-Arnold to be straight back in the Liverpool team this weekend. Whilst Lucas Digne had a Gameweek to forget last week, he wiped the memory of his own-goal by finding the net at the right end of the pitch in the cup in midweek. If fit, he should be one of the favourites for a clean sheet this weekend and the underlying attacking threat stats are always there.

No-one in the FPL community is really talking about Sadio Mane but the Senegalese has returned in each of the last four Gameweeks and if he hadn’t wasted so many opportunities against Leeds in particular, he could have been leading the FPL midfielder points table by now. He has a decent recent against newly-promoted sides, too, averaging 5.89 points per game.

I’d also expect Son Heung-min to return to scoring ways against Arsenal with the South Korean having found the target in three of the last four Premier League north London derbies.

If Luke Ayling misses out for Leeds this weekend, Michail Antonio goes from being a good pick to an exceptional one with regards to the captaincy conversation. He had a flawless start to the season until Gameweek 4 and I’m expecting him to bounce straight back from his red card this week.

Whilst Newcastle have started the season badly, if anyone is going to drag them out of the situation that they find themselves in it will be Allan Saint-Maximin; he could be a really nice differential this weekend.

TOM SAID…

With Chelsea and Manchester City squaring off in one of Saturday’s early kick-offs, I’ve overlooked both sides in favour of those who have ‘easier’ fixtures, at least on paper.

Everton fall into that category, with opponents Norwich City losing all five of their opening matches, scoring just two goals and conceding 14 in the process. There will understandably be reservations about investing in Rafa Benitez’s side after their heavy loss at Villa Park on Saturday, but I do think that it was a more even contest than the scoreline maybe suggested. With Jordan Pickford set to miss out, Asmir Begovic is a solid £4.0m starter who will also help free up some budget, while I’m also backing Andros Townsend and Salomon Rondon further forward.

Elsewhere, I’ve included a Liverpool triple-up via Trent Alexander-ArnoldMohamed Salah and Diogo Jota. Brentford have impressed so far this season, especially defensively, conceding just five big chances and 3.92 expected goals. However, they haven’t yet faced a team as dominant as the Reds. Jota hasn’t quite been at it in recent matches, failing to put away his chances, but he is still taking a high volume of shots which interestingly are coming from a zone the Bees do look a little more vulnerable in.

Ahead of Watford’s trip to Carrow Road in Gameweek 5, Xisco Munoz’s side had lost their last three Premier League games without scoring a goal. They ended the match with a 3-1 win, having racked up six big chances and 2.46 xG, which is a reminder – if we ever needed it – of the importance of fixtures and how they often dictate form. With another shaky defence up next, I see no reason why Ismaila Sarr can’t add another goal to his tally, while Danny Rose was excellent against Norwich and should get another start having been rested in midweek.

With Leeds United in the midst of an injury crisis at the back, West Ham United’s attacking players will fancy their chances this weekend. Jarrod Bowen is an intriguing pick, given that the Whites often struggle against direct runners, while corner-taking duties also hands him another route to points. Kurt Zouma will test them aerially from those set-piece situations, while the return of Michail Antonio will also give them a boost through the middle. It’s also worth noting that Marcelo Bielsa’s side have given up more chances from the centre of the pitch than any other side so far this season.

NEALE SAID

Five Gameweeks in and some familiar patterns are starting to form, with City, Liverpool and Chelsea comfortingly solid at the back and Newcastle, Leeds and Norwich anything but. Ismaila Sarr has the pleasure of facing all of the latter three teams from Gameweeks 5-7 and he showed just how an obliging defence can kickstart a campaign last Saturday, with a brace and a whopping four big chances against Norwich; a Newcastle side who have allowed exactly the same number of these Opta-defined gilt-edged opportunities as the porous Canaries are up next for Watford’s Senegalese winger.

Joshua King, creator of seven chances in just 233 minutes of pitch-time, and the line-leading Allan Saint-Maximin also get nominations in the battle of two teams who have yet to keep a clean sheet between them.

Leeds are also without a shut-out to their name and could be four centre-halves down by the time West Ham come calling, with Luke Ayling now a doubt. The Whites are fairly dismal at defending set plays even with a full complement of stoppers; three of the four goals that the Hammers scored against Marcelo Bielsa’s side last season were headers from dead-ball situations, the other being a penalty. The aerial danger posed by Tomas Soucek and Kurt Zouma, scorer of a combined nine set-piece goals in 2020/21, could be telling, then.

Burnley are, like the three much-maligned defences above, similarly without a clean sheet in 2021/22. They’ve also conceded more headed opportunities and set-piece chances than any other club, so towering stopper Jannik Vestergaard gets the nod alongside the in-form Jamie Vardy. Ademola Lookman is a bit of a punt based on what his manager described as an “outstanding” cameo against Brighton, with the winger racking up an eye-catching eight penalty box touches, two shots and a brace of key passes in just 45 minutes of pitch-time.

There’s a quartet of budget midfield picks alongside Mohamed Salah, indeed, and I’ve opted for Andros Townsend over Demarai Gray given the opportunities and goal-creating chances being allowed down Norwich’s left flank this season.

As for the goalkeepers, Alex McCarthy and Southampton come into a clash with Wolves, who have the worst shot-to-goal conversion rate in the league, off the back of two straight clean sheets. Vicente Guaita has back-to-back shut-outs at Selhurst Park and is second among shot-stoppers for baseline bonus thanks to his manager’s play-out-from-the-back approach, while Edouard Mendy – if fit – is my sole representative from the lunchtime kick-off at Stamford Bridge. The division’s two best defences lock horns in west London in a fixture that Chelsea have thrice edged since Thomas Tuchel took charge, and I think at least one of the goalkeepers on show could rack up a tidy score.

272 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Farteta
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Best move here, 1 FT, 0.9 ITB and no WC

    Bachmann (steele)
    TAA - Regulion - Semedo - Duffy - Livramento
    Salah - Benrahma - Torres - Greenwood - Gilmour
    Antonio - Lukaku - Bamford

    a. Torres or Greenwood --> Gray
    b. Change GK to a playing goalkeeper
    c. Bamford --> Dennis
    d. Regulion out

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

      Why get rid of Bamford?
      Does he miss the West Ham game?

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Upvote for username.
      B

      1. Kay317
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        I second that.
        Also, B.

    3. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Not C (yet)
      Replacement for D?
      A will have to happen at some point
      I'd do A (Torres) or B, or even both

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

    Sarr or Gallagher?

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

    Nacho goal

  4. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Noble and yarmolenko sitters

  5. Kay317
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone got any idea if Bamford and Raphina will be fit for the weekend?

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

      I'm feeling optimistic but gotta wait to hear from Bielsa.

      1. Kay317
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers

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

    Pick one for this GW only :

    A) Shaw and Gallagher

    B) Livramento and Greenwood

    1. Lemongrab
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      A

  7. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Have United been trying?? Ole should be trying to win this because he won’t win anything else

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

      Maybe Europa league?

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

        Will Ronaldo's ego let him play in the EL?

        1. Garth Marenghi
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          In the championship game. Maybe.

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

    Two quick questions:

    A. Play Sanchez or Begovic?
    B. Play one of White, Livramento and Semedo

    Thanks

  9. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Greenwood has looked lively since coming on

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

    Any ideas guys with 2FT and 0.9 itb? (lets say Leeds boys are fit)

    Sanchez
    TAA, Shaw, White
    Salah, Jota, Greenwood, Benrahma, Raphinha
    Ronaldo, Antonio

    Foster, Ayling, Omobamidele, Obafemi

    1. Joey Barton and Friends
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Maybe down/Upgrade Ayling. Leeds don’t look like keeping cleanies

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

        but who to get? cant afford City/Chel def sadly

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Livramento good attacking option who rotates well with White.

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

            yeah, was thinking him too. cheers

        2. Dexters Laboratory
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Semedo

  11. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Ole out

  12. Thanos
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Now where will Ole hide after this performance?? 🙄

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

      Behind Ronaldo

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

      Who cares really.
      Ronaldo decides the starting XI's even when he rest himself. He decides which tactics they train and use, what formations, who is on set-pieces etc.
      He'll probably do the PC's if he is in the mood.

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

        Lol 😆

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

          They would need to sign Sir Alex or Pep or someone like that. Otherwise the new coach would just be a new puppet for Cristiano 'Puppe7eer' Ronaldo

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

            Don't forget the pills darling

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

    A tired Kane playing Arsenal. Hope Tierney is fully fit. Could get a CS, an attacking return and 3 BPS!

    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldn't count on it

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

        Kane being tired or Tierney hauling? 😀

        1. Flaming Flamingo
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Tierney hauling, Kane always looks tired

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

            Aight 😀
            Need to bench one of Tierney, Semedo or Pukki.
            Just know that the one on my bench will return big, and the two starting will blank big time 😀
            Trying to justify playing Tierney due to Kane and Spurs in overtime tonight 😀

            1. Flaming Flamingo
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 6 months ago

              That's a tough call. I think I'd bench Semedo fwiw, but certainly not an easy choice

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

    Quick a, b or c peeps if you'd be so kind....

    A. Semedo, Sarr, Benrahma
    B. Alonso, Smith Rowe, Benrahma
    C. Alonso, Smith Rowe, Sarr

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

      For this week A - otherwise C

    2. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      A

    3. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      C long term

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

    Curious if any United fans actually think they'll get higher than 4th this season.

    1. 2001: A Space Origi
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      😀

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

      Not if Martial plays up front.

  16. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Despite the loss, United actually played well.

    1. 2001: A Space Origi
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      errrrr! I watched every minute and had a draw in my Acca at 40-1, they let me down!! arrrghhhh!!!!

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

      Don't matter at all. With the talent we now have in the squad, he should be finishing off teams like West Ham.

      The ambition is to win the PL or a major trophy. Can't get through to it if clubs and us fans keep accepting such abysmal results.

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Better concentrate on the FA cup now then!

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

          The way things are progressing, I won't be surprised if we are ousted from that as well.

    3. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Not so sure. West Ham should have finished them off with the chances they had.

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

    ashley young misses pen

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

    Who's commentating on the penalties???

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

      Andy cole?

  19. Dexters Laboratory
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Sanchez Steele
    TAA Shaw White Ayling Tsmikas
    Salah Greenwood Sarr Benrahma Brownhill
    Ronaldo Toney Antonio

    A) GW6 Toney to Bamford, GW7 Salah to Son, GW8 WC
    B) Save FT, GW7 Salah/Toney to Lukaku/Raphina, GW8 WC

  20. AnyoneButLiverpool
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    What the hell is Steer doing? Lmao

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

    Chilwell missed pen

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

      Just saw that. Oopsie...

  22. AnyoneButLiverpool
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Jed Steer is surely matchfixing

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

      What happened?

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

    Spurs and Chelsea win on pens.

    Reece James scores the winner.

  24. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Stick with Greenwood or transfer to Sarr? Greenwood looked lively when he came on, but United looked rubbish & he's hardly had a sniff last few games since Ronaldo arrives

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Not really worth a transfer unless you're already on 2 ft or wildcard.

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

      Stick

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

    Well done James. Played well tonight.

    That penalty miss wont help Chilli's confidence.

    Also KEPA

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

      Turns out Kepa with a proper organized defense isnt poo

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

        His confidence was shot before. Defence didn't help. He's looked so much more assured under Tuchel. Man-managed him so well.

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

      James set for another benching now this weekend ya reckon?

  26. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Veltman
    Salah Greenwood Raphinha Benrahma
    Ronaldo Bamford Antonio

    Steele Tsimikas Ayling Brownhill

    1FT, 0.4 itb

    1. Benrahma >> Sarr
    2. Ayling >> Semedo / Livramento
    3. Save FT

    Thanks

  27. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    R James going to be benched again isn’t he?

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

      Likely

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

      Wasn’t great.

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

        He was one of the better players on the pitch(?)

        Still do expect him benched for City.

        1. Chilli Heatwave
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          One of the better Chelsea defenders, but still personally don’t think he had a great game, but nor did many to be honest minus a few youngsters.

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

        Did he make any mistakes?

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Yep

    4. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Yup

  28. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Jon Moss. Awful referee.

  29. Chilli Heatwave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Villa have such exciting youngsters coming through, Archer, Chuckwemenka look the pick of the bunch. Outplaying Chelsea and relying on youth is very impressive.

  30. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    What do we make of Antonio's omission from the squad? Little to nothing?

    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Most likely