Scout Picks – Gameweek 7

Our Friday continues with the announcement of those players who make the cut from our midweek Scout Squad article to earn a place in the Gameweek 7 Scout Picks.

Injury worries have forced us to rethink our original plans regarding Manchester United defensive cover for the visit of Crystal Palace to Old Trafford on Saturday.

With Jose Mourinho revealing that Scout Picks stalwart Phil Jones remains a major doubt, we have instead turned to the next cheapest assured starter among the Red Devils’ rearguard, David De Gea (5.6).

Given that the Eagles have yet to score this season and United have only conceded in one fixture, away to Stoke City in Gameweek 4, we are optimistic that the Spaniard will serve up another shutout.

For the third week in a row we have opted for a cost-effective four-man backline to free up cash for key premium striker targets.

This week’s defensive quartet features players with a price tag of less than 6.0 who all offer the possibility of points at both ends of the pitch.

No defender has created more chances than Spurs’ Ben Davies (5.7), who has also racked up two double-digit returns this season on the back of a pair of assists and a goal. A visit to a Huddersfield Town side that has conceded in two of their last three matches and only scored once over that period earns the Welsh wing-back his berth.

Second to Davies in terms of chance creation among defenders is West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell (5.0) who joins our XI for an enticing home clash with a Swansea side that has failed to find the net on four occasions this term.

Although Paul Clement’s troops have yet to concede on their travels, they have the second worst record in terms of conceding penalty area shots on the road. This further strengthens Cresswell’s case for inclusion, given that he is the top defender for both crosses and successful crosses since taking up a wing-back role in Gameweek 4.

Hector Bellerin (5.9) is currently Arsenal’s most creative defender, with seven key passes. His two bonus points earned from Monday’s home clash with West Brom also enhances his case for inclusion ahead of Brighton’s visit.

A very strong chance of a clean sheet also drives the Spaniard’s selection with the Seagulls without their only fit centre-forward Tomer Hemed; he sits out the first of a three-match ban.

West Brom’s Craig Dawson (5.0) takes our final defensive spot ahead of a visit from Watford. The Hornets may have scored six on the road but their hosts have been resilient at The Hawthorns, conceding only once in three fixtures and the fewest big chances in the league. With four successful strikes in each of his previous two campaigns, Dawson also offers us the outside chance of a goal.

Picks regular Mohamed Salah (9.2), who is the top-rated midfielder for goal attempts, close range efforts and shots on target, remains in our favour. The Liverpool winger – who has scored four goals already – drops by St James’ Park to take on a Newcastle United side that has conceded in two of their three home matches.

Dele Alli (9.5) is another goal scoring midfielder who looks impossible to omit, having recorded two goals and as many assists ahead of a trip to Huddersfield for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

Ideally, we would have included Alexandre Lacazette (10.3) as our Arsenal attacking coverage for Brighton’s visit, as the Frenchman has scored four on home turf in the league.

But that lofty price is too much of a stretch for our 83 million budget, so we have instead opted for his midfield team-mate Aaron Ramsey (7.0). The Welshman has produced points in all three of his Emirates outings and has registered 13 shots, one more than his French colleague.

Stoke’s Eric Choupo-Moting (5.6) comes into our thinking as a budget option. Since cementing a starting berth in Gameweek 2 he has emerged as the top midfielder for aerial efforts on goal and hosts a Southampton side that has conceded more headers than any other team. Only Salah boasts more penalty area shots this season among midfielders.

Harry Kane’s (12.5) recent away form demands our attention, with the Spurs talisman scoring an incredible 19 times in his last nine road trips for club and country. Huddersfield may have kept four clean sheets this term, but they have yet to face the force of nature that is Kane.

Another shoo-in is Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku (11.7) who sits at the summit of our Captain Poll ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit for good reason. The Eagles have given up an average of 17 shots away from home this season, while the Belgian marksman has scored nine times in all competitions since joining the Red Devils in the summer.

Our first bench spot is handed to Leicester defender Harry Maguire (5.1), who is one of the top five defenders in terms of earning baseline bonus points per minute. He travels to a Bournemouth side that has the second-worst goal attempt tally this campaign, with only Swansea mustering fewer efforts.

Liverpool’s dire defensive performances this season earn Newcastle’s set-piece specialist Matt Ritchie (6.0) a place on the bench ahead of the Reds’ visit on Sunday. We are confident he can add to his four assists as Jurgen Klopp’s troops have shipped ten on the road, the joint worst record along with West Ham.

Our final substitute is Andy Carroll (5.9). The Hammers switch to a wing-back system should supply him with plenty of crosses against Paul Clement’s side. But it’s Carroll’s record against the Swans that really appeals – in eight Premier League outings against the Welsh club, Carroll has scored five goals and assisted three more.

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.

This week’s champion is Ringwraith, who has opted for a 3-4-3 line up of: Hart; Kolasinac, Alonso, Monreal; Eriksen, Mkhitaryan, Sigurdsson, Redmond; Calvert-Lewin, Lukaku, Lacazette.