Scout Picks – Gameweek 31

This weekend’s limited set of fixtures means a host of differential prospects are offered a rare chance to impress in the Scout Picks.

Among the low-owned gems to make the cut for the four-match Gameweek is Stoke City’s Jack Butland (5.0), who more than merits his selection on current form.

In his last seven run-outs, the 3.3%-owned stopper has earned three clean sheets, nine bonus points and the same tally of save points. It is also worth mentioning that, over the season, he has the best save rate of any goalkeeper – one every 22.5 minutes – and a league-leading 22 save points to his name over the last 16 Gameweeks.

He takes on an Everton attack that has struggled on the road, scoring just three times and firing in a record low 12 shots across their last six away days.

West Brom’s attack has also disappointed on their travels, with one goal and the third worst tally (nine) of on-target efforts in their last four road trips. Next up for the Baggies is a visit to Bournemouth, which sees us hand a place to Cherries defender Adam Smith (4.8). Crucially, the right-back has been used in a midfield berth over his last two run-outs.

With a goal and assist in his last three matches, coupled with his out of position role, we feel that the 0.9%-owned Smith has the edge over team-mate Nathan Ake, who is highlighted as a strong prospect in Prokoptas’ Members article on the best Gameweek 31 players.

Christopher Schindler’s (4.7) ability to win bonus points when the Huddersfield Town defence earn a clean sheet ensures that he grabs another of our defender spots. The German centre-back has won extra points on six occasions, with all but one coinciding with a shut-out for the Terriers.

He squares up to a Crystal Palace attack that has scored just 10 goals on the road, the third worst away record behind West Brom and Brighton.

The return of left-back Leighton Baines (5.6) to the Everton line-up following a lengthy injury lay-off might just help cure his side’s travel sickness. He completes our backline trio, having registered two goals (both penalties) and a pair of assists in his last four league outings.

The veteran defender could be back on spot-kicks, with manager Sam Allardyce confirming that Wayne Rooney has been stripped of the role following his miss against Brighton last Saturday. Meanwhile, the absence Gylfi Sigurdsson opens up the possibility that Baines will be handed the bulk of the set-piece duties.

Baines is joined by fellow Toffee Theo Walcott (7.1), who replaces Xherdan Shaqiri in our line-up due to doubts over the Stoke playmaker’s fitness. Since joining up at Goodison, Walcott has fired more goal attempts (13), shots in the box (ten) and efforts on target (six) than any team-mate.

Another midfielder to score twice in his last four starts is Bournemouth winger Junior Stanislas (5.9). He earns our backing having fired more shots (16) than any other player taking to the field this weekend. He has also out-shot all midfielders over the last six Gameweeks, recording 22 in total.

West Brom’s defensive frailties build the case for his inclusion. Over their last six matches, Alan Pardew’s troops have conceded a record number of goals (16) and only the Cherries themselves, with 99, have allowed opponents more shots than West Brom (97).

A favourable home clash against Watford sees us triple up on Liverpool attackers.

The runaway leader of our captain poll, Mohammed Salah (10.6), demands a place, particularly as he notched a goal and assist in his side’s 3-3 draw with the Hornets at the start of the season.

He has been deadly at home, supplying either a goal or an assist in 12 of his 14 Anfield starts, and has the added motivation of stealing a march on Golden Boot rival Harry Kane. The pair are level on 24 goals, but the Spurs man looks set to fall behind while on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

Sadio Mane (9.4) joins Salah in our selection on the back of a strong run of form, with two goals and an assist in his last three league matches, as well as a hat-trick against Porto in the Champions League last month. He has also matched Salah for shots (14) and chances created (eight) over the past four Gameweeks.

Roberto Firmino (9.5) scored and earned an assist in the first Watford fixture this season and completes our Liverpool trio. The Brazilian has four goals and three assists in his last eight run-outs and has fired more shots on target (six) than any Gameweek 31 player over the last four rounds of fixtures.

Firmino has produced two goals and as many assists from his last four home matches and, with more than 218,000 new owners, is the most popular player in FPL’s market this week.

Only Salah has had more shots in the box over their last four games than another of our forward selections, Huddersfield’s Steve Mounie (5.8). The Benin striker’s two goals over that spell prove that he is more than capable of converting promise into tangible returns.

Also in Mounie’s favour is Crystal Palace’s poor recent away form, with no clean sheet on the road since Gameweek 18.

With two goals in his last three starts, Josh King was due to seal the final slot for the visit of West Brom. As the Norwegian heads into tomorrow’s match as a doubt, we’re opting instead for his team-mate Callum Wilson (5.9).

Up against a defence with a single clean sheet in their last 14 away matches, Wilson will be hoping that home comforts can end a five-match scoring drought.

In front of his own fans, the Cherries’ frontman is top for goal involvement, playing a part in 43% of their efforts at the Vitality Stadium when on the pitch. Meanwhile, two of Wilson’s three double-digit hauls have arrived on home turf.

Crystal Palace full-back Patrick Van Aanholt (5.1) takes a bench spot, due more to his attacking threat rather than clean sheet potential. The Dutchman has found the net in consecutive matches and registered four shots on target in his last four – a record among defenders. Only Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso has fired in more shots (15 to 14) than Van Aanholt since his return to the teamsheet in Gameweek 21.

Rajiv van la Parra gets the nod as our reserve midfielder against a Palace defence that has conceded more goal attempts (69) than any side over the last four Gameweeks. During that stretch, the Huddersfield winger has matched Stanislas for both shots in the box (seven) and efforts on target (five) and has also found the net twice.

Christian Benteke (7.6) narrowly misses out on a starting berth amid concerns he may have limited pitch-time as he was substituted at half-time against Chelsea last weekend. But should he start or get minutes, the target man has the recent form to reward his 3.5% ownership. His encounter with Antonio Conte’s side was only the second time since Gameweek 22 that he has failed to score or assist.

The Community Champion

Representing the community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 30 is FantasianPL, who has opted for a 3-5-2 formation of: Butland; Baines, Ake, A.Smith; Salah, Mane, Stanislas, Shaqiri, Townsend; Firmino, Benteke.

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.