The Perfect Defense and Keeper Picks for FPL Managers to Consider

In this series, I will give the main motive for picking certain players in each position, starting with the top goalkeeper and defender selections for your FPL team.

I will take into account their potential to gain points and what Price points should you target when signing a player and how to select the optimal squad through it with a budget of 100m.

Goalkeepers 

Usually, the best price to go for a keeper is between 4.5m to 5.0m, as most keepers usually finish 10-15 points apart from each other – so it’s best to go cheap in this position.

Goalkeepers get 2 points for 60+ minutes played like all the other players. They also get 4 points per clean sheet and 1 extra point for every 3 saves they make in a game.

My Top 3 picks for the Goalkeeper position would be…

1. Illan Meslier Leeds United – £5.0m

Leeds get off to a tricky start but Meslier has proved last season he can rack up those save points very easily, which is a huge boost in the long run.

2. Robert Sánchez Brigton – £4.5m

Brighton last year performed very well in terms of xGC (Expected goals conceded) and were a top-3 defense in the whole league. Robert Sánchez’s fixtures to start the season are also really good. The only problem for him is he doesn’t get enough save points.

3. Daniel Bachmann Watford – £4.5m

The second best 4.5 option, Bachman, most likely won’t keep many clean sheets but he would make up a lot of saves and that helps a lot in accumulating bonus points.

Defenders 

Just like the goalkeeper position defenders also get 4 points for clean sheets; they also get 3 points per assist and 6 points for every goal scored by them. That is why it is preferable to go for attack-minded fullbacks even tho they are a bit expensive.

The optimal price points of a defensive backline should be as follows a 4.0mil bench fodder, 4.5mil rotating option, 4.5mil rotating option, 6mil+ premium defender, 5.0mil+ mid-priced defender.

My Top 5 picks for defenders at each price point are…

1. Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool – £7.5m

All English Premier League

Last season was Trent’s worst season since he became a first-team regular for Liverpool and he still was the third-highest scoring defender on freekicks and corners. He was also the main creative threat for Liverpool and he has very nice fixtures to start the season. A must-own!

2. Luke Shaw Manchester United – £5.5m

Man United’s fixtures at the start are also really kind. Just like Trent, Shaw is on all set-pieces and the club’s main creative outlet. Last season the problem for Shaw was they were not getting enough clean sheets but with the signing of Varane, this will improve.

3. Luke Ayling Leeds United – £4.5m

The 4.5 enabler Luke Ayling had the highest xA (Expected assists) of any defender priced @ 4.5 or below. He was very unlucky not to have any attacking return last year and I am sure it will change this year.

4. Ben White Arsenal – £4.5m

Ben White moves to an Arsenal defense that was the 5th best in the League last year (in terms of xGC) and he will surely improve them. White is also good with bonus point accumulation, which is really good for his points haul.

5. Benjamin Chilwell Chelsea – £6.0m

Chelsea last year was the best defense in the league after Tuchel took over. When Tuchel took over Marcos Alonso was the first choice left-back but Chilwell has since cemented his place and I expect him to score 160 plus points this season as he is a very attacking wingback in Tuchel’s system.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far, the midfielder and forwards articles will be out soon.