Scout Picks – Gameweek 8

Earlier this week we listed the Scout Picks Squad selections in the frame for the upcoming round of fixtures. Next up this Friday evening, it’s time to reveal who made the cut.

With Gameweek 8 providing kind fixtures for both expensive attackers and clean sheet prospects, we’ve opted for a 4-3-3 defence.

Stoke City’s Lee Grant (4.0) has emerged as a bargain basement goalkeeper to help us squeeze some pricey forward options into our 83 million budget. The Potters stopper, who sits in just 0.6% of Fantasy Premier League teams, looks set to once again deputise for the injured Jack Butland after racking up eight saves in an impressive display away to Manchester United in Gameweek 7. His opponents Sunderland offer excellent clean sheet prospects, boasting the second-worst away goal attempt tally in the Premier League.

Dropping the fourth midfielder has allowed us to spend a little more in defence and tap into the strong points potential currently on offer at Arsenal and Tottenham.

Laurent Koscielny (6.2)’s 15-point FPL haul in Arsenal’s 1-0 away victory over Burnley last time out has attracted more than 96,000 new FPL owners over the international break. With Swansea visiting, the Gunners’ centre-back looks poised to once again offer the prospect of returns at both ends of the pitch.

Tottenham’s Kyle Walker (6.0) has gained more than 66,000 new owners over the last two weeks and, on 40 points, is second only to Koscielny in the FPL standings for defenders.

Away to West Brom, the Spurs full-back faces a side that has registered the second lowest amount of goal attempts on home turf, with only Middlesbrough shooting less. The Baggies have also only kept one clean sheet at home this term, which will give the 35.8% of FPL managers with the England international in their side confidence he may also add to his two assists.

Before Southampton’s fixtures stiffen they face a home clash with Burnley, the only Premier League side that has failed to register a goal on the road this season. This propels Virgil Van Dijk (5.4) into our thinking, as the 8.6% owned defender earned the maximum bonus in the Saints’ 0-0 draw away to Leicester last time out.

Our defensive quartet is completed by Bournemouth’s Adam Smith (4.6), who welcomes a Hull City side that has registered just 25 shots on the road, the third-worst in the league. The 10.2% owned defender also offers strong bonus potential, having the highest Bonus Point System tally of any Cherries player this season.

Alexis Sanchez may cost 11.3 but with Swansea at home and four goals as well as three assists this season he should be worth every penny.

The 22.8% owned Chilean was rested from the Arsenal starting line-up the last time he returned from international duty, but that was in part due to their tough Champions League tie the following Tuesday, against Paris Saint-Germain. A rest would seem unlikely this time around given Arsenal’s next Champions League game is on Wednesday and against Bulgarian side Ludogorets.

Two 7.2-priced options with strong fixtures take the last two midfield spots. With attacking returns in three of his last four fixtures, Southampton’s 2.7% owned Dusan Tadic faces Burnley at home in fine form.

While Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic may not have the form, the 1.2% owned midfielder certainly has the fixture, with Sunderland at home marking the first of several favourable matches for the Potters. Although their goal threat has been lacking over the first seven Gameweeks, with just five scored, the Austrian remains Stoke’s most potent attacking outlet for those who believe form follows fixtures.

For Sergio Aguero (13.1), Gameweek 8 has legendary status. The Manchester City striker has scored nine times in this fixture over the last two seasons and has the best minutes per attempt in the box rate in the Premier League this term. A word of caution, though, as the 44% owned forward will be welcoming an Everton side that has the second best defence record in the league, with just five goals conceded.

In sharp contrast, Diego Costa (10.1) faces the league’s worst away side at Stamford Bridge. Visitors Leicester have conceded on 10 occasions on their travels.

Christian Benteke (7.7) is another facing a travel sick club. The Crystal Palace striker takes on a West Ham outfit which has conceded nine goals on the road and warmed up for this one with a midweek hat-trick for Belgium. No other player can beat the 7.7% owned striker’s 11 goal attempts over the last two Gameweeks.

On the bench, we’ve opted for another potent source of points from Southampton’s ranks. With Shane Long an injury doubt, 5.1% owned Charlie Austin (6.3) looks a certain starter against Burnley and will be keen to add to his two goals from just three starts.

A 9.4 pricetag has forced us to reluctantly bench Dimitri Payet. The West Ham set-piece specialist visits Crystal Palace in impressive form with a goal and four assists in his last four league matches. A goal and assist while on international duty for France raises the 13.3% midfielder’s stock.

Our final bench place goes to George Friend (4.5) of Middlesbrough. While the left back’s form has been less than impressive, with no clean sheets and just one assist this season, we believe the 3.1% owned defender could emerge with points when Watford pay visit.

The Community Champion

The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season. The current champion to beat is VS10_, who had a 32-point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 6.

This week’s champion is Slamdog Mignolet who has opted for a 3-4-3 formation: Hugo Lloris; Danny Rose, Virgil Van Dijk, Jose Fonte; Theo Walcott, Dusan Tadic, Marko Arnautovic, Dimitri Payet; Diego Costa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Christian Benteke.