Fantasy football scout tips gameweek 31: Sadio Mane, Callum Wilson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and more

The FA Cup quarter-finals mean this weekend's Premier League schedule is truncated, with just five fixtures to be played.

Those managers who have planned for the eventuality will not need to take points hits to field 11 players.

Those who haven't can either take those hits or use the Free Hit chip, to change their entire team for one week only.

Whether you are using your Free Hit or relying on plain old transfers, there are a number of key players target from this week's shallow talent pool.

Of the 10 teams in action this weekend, Liverpool are by the far the most attractive fantasy prospect and will feature heavily in many Free Hit teams.

Sadio Mané is their man in form, with eight goals in his last eight league games, and he comes up against the top-flight's worst defence in Fulham.

If possible, a Liverpool triple-up with Mané, Mohamed Salah and one defender is likely to be key to success in gameweek 31.

When it comes to that one Liverpool defender, fantasy managers have a choice to make.

Many already own Andy Robertson, who is the top-scoring defender this year and also the most expensive, priced at £6.9m.

His team-mate Virgil van Dijk is the second-highest scoring and - you guessed it - the second-most expensive defender, costing £6.6m.

Our preference is for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who carries largely the same attacking threat as Robertson but is owned by almost half as many managers and is £1.3m cheaper.

There was a point earlier this season when Callum Wilson was the mid-range forward option of choice and his time may come again before the end of the season.

Wilson returned from injury last weekend, completing his first league 90 minutes since December, and he produced a goal and assist.

Bournemouth have scored more times at home than Tottenham Hotspur this season and host Newcastle United at the Vitality on Saturday, with Ryan Fraser and David Brooks expected to load the bullets for Wilson.

Though not necessarily a long-term pick, those on a Free Hit would be unwise to go without Eden Hazard alongside Mané and Salah in their midfield.

Hazard scored in his last outing against Wolverhampton Wanderers and this weekend Chelsea travel to Goodison Park, where Everton have a fairly poor defensive record.

The Belgian has a significant ownership - around 30 per cent - and it makes sense to cover his potential points in a week where there are few options around.

Some well prepared managers may only need to bring in a goalkeeper ahead of this weekend's blank fixtures.

The pick of the bunch appears to be West Ham's Lukasz Fabianski, who comes up against a struggling Huddersfield.

Jan Siewert's side have scored just eight times on the road this season and though Fabianski only has one clean sheet in eight, a second is likely on Saturday.

Honourable mentions: Artur Boruc, Declan Rice, David Luiz, James Maddison, Jamie Vardy.