Fantasy Football Defenders Tips – Premium Defensive Choices to Consider

Having already covered the true premium assets of this year’s Fantasy Premier League, we move onto the ‘premium’ goalkeepers and defenders. In truth, these players are significantly cheaper than the high-end midfielders and attackers but are still costly nonetheless.

The following article will rattle through every £6.0m+ goalkeeper and defender currently available in the FPL including the star of last season Trent Alexander-Arnold and new Tottenham signing Matt Docherty. Which of these players will feature in your gameweek 1 FPL starting 11?

 

Goalkeepers

FPL goalkeepers are often overlooked but you are usually guaranteed points from the premium options such as Ederson and Alisson. However, 6.0m is taking a lot out of your 100m budget so is it worth having expensive goalkeepers or is the money better spend elsewhere?

 

Ederson (6.0m) – Manchester City

Despite being priced as the joint-most expensive keeper in the game, eight cheaper options outscored him last season, including Brighton’s Mat Ryan (4.5m). Ederson may have won the golden glove but he finished 37 points behind Nick Pope’s total. There are surely better ways to spend your money.

 

Alisson (6.0m) – Liverpool

It’s a very similar story for fellow Brazilian, Alisson. Liverpool’s no.1 only ranked 11^th in last season’s goalkeeper points chart. Much like with Ederson, there are better ways to spend £6.0m and better options to fill your Liverpool spots with.

 

Defenders

Nowadays, it is not just clean sheets that defenders are picking up points for. Last season, Trent was an FPL must with his assists, also chipping in with a few goals. He has proved the worth from a Fantasy Football defenders viewpoint but it remains to be seen if he is the best value option with his 7.5m price tag.

 

Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.5m) – Liverpool

Speaking of filling your Liverpool spots, Trent-alexander Arnold is owned by over 50% of managers at the time of writing. Despite being the most expensive defender in the game, Alexander-Arnold is arguably underpriced.

TAA has scored five, assisted 28 (!), and kept 30 clean sheets over the last two campaigns. Leighton Baines was once priced at £8.0m after a 178-point season, Alexander-Arnold scored 185 followed by 210 points. Make of that what you will.

 

Andrew Robertson (7.0m) – Liverpool

The second-most expensive defender spot goes to another Liverpool fullback. Andrew Robertson has also racked up the assists over the last two campaigns. He has managed 12 in each and finished as last season’s second-highest scoring defender.

An increased goal and assist threat from set-pieces gives TAA the edge but that is reflected in the price difference.

 

Virgil van Dijk (6.5m) – Liverpool

Another premium defender, another Liverpool player. Virgil van Dijk can’t compete with the fullbacks in terms of assists but 9 goals over the last two seasons make him an appealing option. Harry Maguire was the only defender to have more efforts on goals last season.

VVD’s biggest con is having so many valuable teammates. With only three spaces for the likes of Salah, Mané, Alexander-Arnold, and Robertson, it might be hard to find a spot for him. Nevertheless, he is owned by just under 1 in 4 manages at the time of writing.

Read More: The best value FPL players for this season.

 

Cesar Azpilicueta (6.0m) – Chelsea

Moving on from Liverpool, we have Chelsea captain, Cesar Azpilicueta. £6.0m seems a little bit high given the Blues defensive returns last season. Azpilicueta managed at least 15 clean sheets in each of his three previous seasons before securing just eight last year.

His minutes may be managed more this year with Reece James’ emergence and Ben Chilwell signing at left-back. Still, there might be value here at some stage, particularly with Azpilicueta’s consistent assist record.

 

Marcos Alonso (6.0m) – Chelsea

The one-time FPL cult hero will almost certainly have to settle for a spot on the bench for much of the season. Ben Chilwell’s arrival will likely block Alonso’s path into the starting XI but there may be occasions when the Spaniard becomes a viable short-term option. His attacking returns would more than justify the price if he can a) get a run in the team, and b) keep a few more clean sheets.

 

Lucas Digne (6.0m) – Everton

Undoubtedly one of Everton’s star players, Lucas Digne could be an interesting choice this season. Selected by under 7% of managers at the time of writing, Digne is capable of providing plenty of value.

The French fullback scored four and assisted five in his debut campaign. He followed that up with no goals but eight assists last time around and could be a useful option should Everton improve on their clean sheet tally.

 

Ricardo Pereira (6.0m) – Leicester

Currently injured and set to miss the first month of the season, Ricardo Pereira could come into consideration towards the end of 2020. The attacking right-back is a nailed-on starter when fit and could be a useful differential during a strong run of fixtures for Leicester.

 

Aymeric Laporte (6.0m) – Manchester City

Aymeric Laporte is easily the most reliable starter in the Manchester City defence. An injury-ravaged campaign stopped him from getting anywhere near the heights of his previous season. In 2018/19 Laporte scored three, assisted three, and kept 18 clean sheets on his way to a 177-point haul.

City’s defence should improve this season, despite recording the most clean sheets last time around. If Laporte can stay fit, £6.0m may prove to be a fraction too low.

Read More: What is the FanTeam bonus code to play FPL for cash?

 

Kyle Walker (6.0m) – Manchester City

Another Manchester City defender up next. Kyle Walker isn’t quite as secure as Laporte when it comes to a starting spot. The threat of Joao Cancelo and Pep Guardiola’s love of rotation make Walker less desirable.

His attacking numbers over the last two seasons are satisfactory, if uninspiring, managing two goals and five assists in total. There are likely better options at this price point and similarly good choices for less.

 

Benjamin Mendy (6.0m) – Manchester City

Rounding off the trio of £6.0m Man City defenders is Benjamin Mendy. The French left-back has shown flashes of brilliance, particularly in 2018/19 when he assisted six goals from just 900 minutes on the pitch.

However, a succession of injuries since joining the club three years ago has curtailed his City career and his viability as an FPL option. If he can put together a run of games and show some of the form of old, £6.0m is an excellent price, until then, avoid.

 

Matt Doherty (6.0m) – Tottenham

A great option in the Wolves backline, but will he offer the same value at Spurs? Doherty’s recent move could go either way. The Irish international is expected to get plenty of game time in his favoured right-wing back role and looks set to start whenever fit.

Wolves kept more clean sheets than Tottenham last season but Spurs have improved at the back under Mourinho. If that continues, Doherty will likely be the pick of the £6.0m defenders.

 

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