Fantasy football scout tips gameweek 21: Marcos Alonso, Roberto Firmino, Jesse Lingard and more

How many of our picks are in your team?

Marcos Alonso

The game’s most expensive defender he may be, but two goals, one assist and three clean sheets in his last four games make Marcos Alonso worth his premium price.

The same caveats as ever apply to tipping the Chelsea defender: signing him means tying up significant money in defence and if he does not deliver it becomes difficult to justify such an outlay.

When he does though, you have a defender that almost plays as a striker. Struggling Stoke City are the visitors to Stamford Bridge this weekend and with a favourable run of fixtures in the long-term, Alonso’s excellent form looks set to continue.

Jesse Lingard

While much attention has been on Paul Pogba’s return to Manchester United’s midfield, the form of one of team-mates is becoming harder to ignore.

Jesse Lingard has returned double-digit figures in four of his last seven matches, most recently delivering 13 points as a second-half substitute with a Boxing Day brace against Burnley.

Though a perennial rotation risk, Lingard is simply one of Jose Mourinho’s few in-form players and in fantasy money, a snip at £6.1m. His low ownership (7.9 per cent) means those looking for a rankings boost could do worse than take a punt on him.

Jordan Pickford

Despite Sunderland’s slow march towards relegation last season, Jordan Pickford won himself a lot of admirers among fantasy circles for his busy displays in goal.

After Everton’s difficult start to the season, Boxing Day’s clean sheet against West Bromwich Albion was the £4.9m stopper’s fifth in seven games and brought a tidy 10-point haul.

Even with difficult meetings against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to come, Pickford’s tendency to rack up save points makes him an enticing option.

Roberto Firmino

Staying on Merseyside, Roberto Firmino’s recent form for Liverpool makes him the go-to player for our forward lines.

Consistent strikers have been hard to come by this season but Firmino has been firing over the festive period, scoring a total of 36 points over his last three games.

The Brazilian is capable of returning goals and assists from a fluid Liverpool frontline, who hit five past Swansea City and should enjoy themselves again when Leicester City visit Anfield on Saturday.

Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jorgensen

Defences are likely to be on top when Huddersfield Town meet Burnley at the John Smith’s on Saturday, meaning cheap points could be there for the taking.

With Sean Dyche’s side running into a sticky run of fixtures and away from home this weekend, we favour one of David Wagner’s backline.

Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jorgensen is priced at just £4.6m, carries a goal threat and has Leicester (A), West Ham United (H) and Stoke City (A) to come in the next three.

Richarlison

A fantasy favourite since the start of the season but one that has struggled to pick up points in recent weeks, Richarlison has a golden opportunity to return to form against bottom club Swansea City.

The Watford midfielder is still heavily involved and taking a lot of shots, so he should trouble Carlos Carvalhal’s defence, but with Marko Arnautovic scoring well for West Ham at a similar price point, our loyalty is being tested.

One more blank week and it may be time to say goodbye to the fantasy find of the season.