The Scout Squad crew have submitted the best pool of players for Gameweek 18 of Fantasy Premier League.

It’s an important weekend of action coming up as it’s the first before Christmas Day and the cluster of games between now and the end of the year.

The panel expands on their notable selections and omissions in the article below.

Paul Joe Az Peter GK Lukasz Fabianski Bernd Leno Lukasz Fabianski Martin Dubravka Martin Dubravka Lukasz Fabianski Martin Dubravka Bernd Leno Alex McCarthy Martin Dubravka Alex McCarthy Lukasz Fabianski DF Sead Kolasinac Aymeric Laporte Sead Kolasinac Aymeric Laporte Marcos Alonso Marcos Alonso David Luiz Jamaal Lascelles Andrew Robertson Andrew Robertson Aymeric Laporte Andrew Robertson Matt Targett Sead Kolasinac Andrew Robertson David Luiz Ciaran Clark Diogo Dalot Lucas Digne Lucas Digne MF Raheem Sterling Raheem Sterling Raheem Sterling Raheem Sterling Leroy Sane Leroy Sané Leroy Sané Leroy Sané Eden Hazard Eden Hazard Eden Hazard Eden Hazard Felipe Anderson Felipe Anderson Mohamed Salah Felipe Anderson Christian Atsu Ryan Fraser Ryan Fraser Roberto Pereyra FW Gabriel Jesus PE Aubameyang PE Aubameyang PE Aubameyang PE Aubameyang Roberto Firmino Gabriel Jesus Callum Wilson Javier Hernandez Marcus Rashford Javier Hernandez Salomón Rondón Callum Wilson Danny Ings Harry Kane Marcus Rashford Marcus Rashford Javier Hernandez Danny Ings Danny Ings

Most popular picks: Lukasz Fabianski, Martin Dubravka, Andrew Robertson, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sané, Eden Hazard, PE Aubameyang (four); Sead Kolasinac, Aymeric Laporte, Felipe Anderson, Javier Hernandez, Danny Ings (three).

Paul said…

“Kind home matches for Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea means that Mohamed Salah faces a tough task to secure a place in our Gameweek 18 Scout Picks.

“I fancy the Egyptian to do well at Wolves but the competition for premium midfield places is rife this weekend.

“In terms of differentials, I’ll be keeping an eye on Marcus Rashford’s minutes – and role – under Ole Gunner Solskjaer this weekend.

“Man United have one of the kindest upcoming schedules and the Norwegian will be looking to go on the attack, potentially offering us an option or two over the winter.

“The United frontman has one goal and four assists in the last four Gameweeks.

“Indeed, Rashford ranks joint-top with Newcastle’s Christian Atsu for shots on target in that period, firing seven apiece.

“Costing £5.1m, Atsu has started each of the last three league matches and a visit from Fulham looks the ideal opportunity to get among the points.

“In defence, Matt Targett (£4.2m) is a standout budget pick as Southampton visit a Huddersfield side that struggle for goals at home.

“No player has produced more key passes than the left-back’s seven over the last two Gameweeks. Targett’s creativity proved vital last time out, supplying the assist for Danny Ings’ first goal in the Saints’ 3-2 win over Arsenal.”

Joe said…

“Gameweek 18’s fixtures further strengthen the growing case for moving funds from attack into midfield.

“This week there is an abundance of value to be found up top, with Danny Ings brace against Arsenal putting him firmly on the radar. Next up for the 5.4 priced Southampton striker is an enticing trip to a Huddersfield side that has just one clean sheet in their last six home matches.

“Marcus Rashford looks another strong option as the post-Mourinho era for Manchester United starts with a visit to Cardiff. Over the last four fixtures he is the Red Devils form player, firing off more shots and creating more chances than any of his team-mates.

“Returns in three of his last four starts should ensure Javier Hernandez is considered for West Ham’s hosting of a Watford outfit with only one shut out in their last six roadtrips.

“I’ve only included one premium attacker this week, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang just edging out Harry Kane due to his more favourable home encounter with Burnley.

“Despite impressing at the back against Spurs last time out Sean Dyche’s troops are still the league’s worst defensive outfit, conceding the most shots and close range efforts over the last four Gameweeks.

“Meanwhile, in midfield there is an abundance of choice across all price points.

“This means I’ve had to make a tough call and leave Mohamed Salah out. Instead I’ve opted for his far cheaper team mate Roberto Firmino, who is top among Red assets for goal attempts over their last quartet of matches.

“Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane both earn my vote for Palace’s trip to the Etihad, given they were omitted from the starting line up against Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Between them they have amassed five goals and six assists in their last four home matches.

“Eden Hazard’s consistency, with returns in his last quartet of runs outs, earns him a spot, while West Ham’s Felipe Anderson and Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser continue to offer excellent value.

“The former has four double-digit returns this season, while corner and free kick taker Fraser looks an ideal pick for a home clash with Brighton. Away from home no side has conceded more attempts from set plays than the Seagulls.”

Az said…

“Happy Christmas all! I’m bouncing from Gameweek to Gameweek, but strong options are emerging and barring any festive rotation, there seems a lot of potential hauls this week, across a number of different teams.

“The standout fixture for me this week is Manchester City up against Palace, who are a really odd team. They could put on a defensive masterclass, but I think it’s more likely that Man City will tear them a new one. Sterling up against Van Aanholt looks a mismatch, and it will be interesting to see how crowd favourite Wann-Bissaka gets on against Leroy Sane (providing Pep roulette doesn’t kick in!). I’ve also gone for Jesus as one of my top picks. Aguero started midweek, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jesus lead the line again after his two goals against Everton.

“Arsenal will also be keen to make amends for their surprising loss to Southampton, and go up against Burnley who did well defensively against Spurs, but eventually conceded a last minute goal. A clean sheet never really looks likely for Arsenal, but I can’t see a much better chance for them with Burnley likely to put 11 men behind the ball. Kolasanic trained and looks fine, and also missed out on the League Cup game while Nacho Monreal played.

“If he’s given a wing back berth again, I can’t see many better options than him this week. I’ve also backed Aubameyang to make good on his promising underlying statistics… I wonder if he will finally be paired with Lacazette again for 90 minutes, after the two were so successful earlier in the season.

“I’d also expect quite comfortable wins for Bournemouth against my side Brighton, and West Ham up against Watford. The Hammers in particular look a great source of value players – Fabianski and Chicharito look like steals for their price and Felipe Andersen narrowly misses out in my selections as I back Ryan Fraser to reward his loyal army of owners.

“You might also note that Kane features quite far down in my list. I really don’t think he’s going to do that well this week, and Everton will make it tough for Spurs who are battling an intense festive schedule and tiredness – as well as heavy rotation from Pochetino. After this week however, the sky’s the limit for Kane who has a great run of games and will surely be handed the captaincy by many.

“Lastly, you’ll notice I have no United players despite the smog being lifted with Jose’s sacking. I actually reckon Cardiff are going to nick this one.”

Peter said…

“It’s another week in which I’m struggling to predict clean sheets, spending heavily in midfield and finding value in attack.

“You’d be entitled to question the selections of Bernd Leno and Aymeric Laporte, with both Arsenal and Manchester City managing only one clean sheet in the last six games.

“However, only four teams have managed to keep their opponents out in at least three of their last six league fixtures and Liverpool are already represented by Andrew Robertson, whilst budget-friendly David Luiz comes in for Chelsea. Contrastingly, Chelsea’s visitors, Leicester, have managed only four goals in their last six matches, with only Burnley (three goals) taking a worse record with them as they visit the Emirates.

“I’ve even found myself doubling up defensively on Newcastle United in the form of Martin Dúbravka and Jamaal Lascelles. Visitors, Fulham, have troubled the scorers just once in their last four away fixtures, although I must acknowledge that the Magpies have only managed the same number of clean sheets in their last four home games.

“The real pleasures this week are mainly in the middle of the park for me. The “Raheem Sterling or Leroy Sané for captaincy” debate is a nice one for managers who own both (particularly those of us seeking to repair some of the damage caused by ditching Mo Salah just before the Bournemouth game) and the Citizens’ phenomenal home record of 33 goals in just nine matches speaks for itself.

“I also fancy goals at the London Stadium, with Watford and West Ham each leaking 25 goals so far this season, but scoring 23 and 25 respectively. Roberto Pereyra has been involved in seven of those goals and Felipe Anderson nine and both carried genuine attacking threat last time out.

“It’s an exaggeration to say that all eyes will be on the Cardiff City Stadium in Saturday’s evening kick off, but FPL managers will perhaps be curious to see whether Ole Gunnar Solskjær can provide the Red Devils with a new-manager bounce, against the Welsh team which he briefly (and unsuccessfully) managed. No team apart from Fulham has conceded more goals than the Bluebirds and I’m expecting Marcus Rashford to carry a stronger United threat this week than was apparent in José Mourinho’s final match at the helm.

“Finally, whilst P-E Aubameyang and Callum Wilson are my top picks in an otherwise frugal forward line it should be noted that those two selection pre-dated any insights which may have been gleaned from Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fixtures involving their sides.”

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