Not as early as usual thanks to deadline distractions, we’ve put together our Scout Picks ‘bus team’ for Gameweek 25 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
The upcoming Scout Squad nominations, pre-match press conferences and midweek EFL Cup action will help shape our final Scout Picks on Friday.
But this first draft at least offers insight into the players and teams that will be considered.
There are, as always, certain limitations for our team:
- A budget of £83.0 million for our starting XI
- A total selection cap of £100.0 million
- No more than three players per team
GAME WEEK 25 PROGRAM
Gameweek 25 matches sorted by difficulty on our Season ticker.
THE PROBABLY BOYS
After impressive clean sheets in the league and cup in recent days, you can bet we’ll have at least one representative of the Arsenal backline in our Scout Picks. Maybe even two.
Sunderland have been a difficult customer this season, but away from home they have scored no fewer than six goals in twelve games. Only Wolverhampton Wanderers have a worse record.
Gabriel Magalhaes (£7.0m), averaging more points per start (7.5) than any other FPL asset, is a bull’s eye. Jurriën Hout (£6.3m), the top defender for expected goals involvement (xGI), could also join him, although there’s always boring old David Raya (£5.9 million) as an alternative.
There will probably be a Chelsea pick or three too. The Blues will face bottom-of-the-table Wolves, who have admittedly picked up their performances of late. They certainly brought Bournemouth close on Saturday. But in a week where Liverpool and Manchester City face off and there are few high-profile games in between, no caveat is likely to stop the Scouts from focusing on this match.
It’s more a question of ‘who’, after the midweek efforts in the Emirates. Could be Cole Palmer (£10.4m) may get a Scout Picks look-in after Liam Rosenior kept it in North London? And with Trevo Chalobah (£5.7m) at the start of the last two games (and Rosenior showing more willingness to rotate him, albeit in the Champions League), is Robert Sanchez (£4.9m) the safer route to the Blues backline?
That will be the hope João Pedro (£7.4 million) got its breather last weekend. Liam Delap (£6.2m) has also just started twice in quick succession. Pedro has plundered five returns in the last three Gameweeks, so he leads the pack in attack this week.
Enzo Fernandez‘s (£6.8m) uninterrupted stint in the starting XI meanwhile continues. There have now been seven starts in all competitions, with Rosenior praising his “rare athleticism” on Monday. That said, the Chelsea boss will Finally take the opportunity to rest his star midfielder, with another match to follow just over 72 hours later? One to think about later in the week.
No worries about the near-namesake Bruno Fernandes (£9.5 million). Averaging 8.0 points per game since returning from injury, he is captain material again this week. It is also not outside the possibility that we opt for a second attacker from United.
IN CONTENT
Arsenal’s attackers are not as attractive as their defenders, given Sunderland’s defensive prowess.
Bukayo Saka (£10.0 million) has probably been ignored, even though we can really rely on it Call Maduyke (£6.8m) yet? Mikel Arteta could very easily come along Gabriel Martinelli (£6.8m) on the right, as he has done in the closing stages of the last two games. It may come down to safety first and foremost Declan Rice (£7.5m) that is, and in any case the midfielder’s creativity figures suggest he needs an assist. However, the DefCons have dried up lately.
Who knows what Burnley will turn up against West Ham United? The Hammers have looked better since the arrival of their new striker, who seems to be getting the best out of himself Crysencio Summerville (£5.5 million) in particular. Either he or Jarrod Bowen (£7.6m) is likely to make the cut this week – and there’s not much to it in terms of stats:
BOWEN V SUMMERVILLE: LAST FOUR GAME WEEKS
Maybe taking punishments will change this.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m) could look at home at Nottingham Forest, although the Tricky Trees’ defensive numbers have been good since Sean Dyche took over. The same goes for Everton, who are given the task of destruction Harry Wilson (£6.1m) – one who is never far from Scout Picks consideration.
In fact, the Toffees have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven away games, as have one of the four centre-backs – we’ve gone with the DefCon monster James Tarkowski (£5.8m) here – get the nod to Wilson instead?
Above: Everton ranks second for fewest goals conceded (GC) and clean sheets (CS) in away games
There’s a similar ‘who do you fancy more’ dilemma at Vitality Stadium.
We’ll do it back Morgan Rogers (£7.7m) or pay attention to Bournemouth’s quietly impressive defensive figures on home soil? In Mark Senesi (£4.8m) and James Hill (£3.9m), they also have the chance of DefCon points coming in.
Above: Bournemouth are second in terms of lowest expected goals conceded (xGC) in home games
THE LONGER SHOTS
Newcastle United against Brentford is difficult to call. The Magpies are generally better at home, while Brentford are erratic away from home.
But how much will Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final take out of Newcastle? In addition, Eddie Howe is making regular substitutions as his side navigate the busiest schedule of any Premier League side over the next month. Igor Thiago (£7.1m) could even creep in, if we imagine a second half like we saw at Anfield.
Finally Liverpool vs Manchester City. Traditionally, this is a match where some FPL managers avoid choices from either side, waiting for some sort of ‘cancellation’. But neither team is totally convincing defensively (one clean sheet in five each), so in-form assets Antoine Semenyo (£7.8 million), Hugo Ekitike (£8.8m) and Florian Wirtz (£8.3m) could bring more joy than the ticker would have us believe. Considering the cost and shape, Erling Haaland (£15.0 million), however, may have to sit this one out.
GAME WEEK 25 EARLY SCOUT PICKS
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