As excitement builds for the start of the new Fantasy Premier League season on Friday August 13th, TSZ highlights the best picks for each position as managers across the world assemble their initial squads. In this article, we focus on both goalkeepers and defenders.
Goalkeepers not only bring clean sheet points to the table, but also saves which makes it so important to select the right one. For the last two years, Man City stopper Ederson (£6.0m) has picked up the prestigious golden glove award having recorded the most shutouts in both seasons. Last campaign saw the Brazilian keep 19 clean sheets and accumulate 160 FPL points in total, the second highest in the game. He’s not the only asset from the reigning league champions worth considering, with central defender Ruben Dias (£6.0m) among the top five highest scoring defenders from an FPL perspective last season, not to mention England duo John Stones (£5.5m) and Kyle Walker (£5.5), who both pose a high attacking threat which bodes well when considering that Man City face off against newly promoted Norwich in Gameweek 2. The last encounter between these two sides saw City emerge 5-0 winners, although FPL managers eying up both Stones and Walker must keep tabs their availability following a long summer on international duty.
When it comes to selecting a defender for your FPL team, their attacking output is arguably more important than their clean sheet potential. With two enticing fixtures against Norwich (a) and Burnley (H) to start the season, Liverpool defensive assets should be rife in many FPL squads and for good reason! Full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) and Andy Robertson (£7.0m) are two of the most reliable high scoring fantasy assets to be found among defenders. Alexander-Arnold is the highest priced defender on the game, but has proven himself as worth the cost. A serial set piece taker for the Reds, Alexander-Arnold accumulated four goals, 15 assists and 19 clean sheets for Liverpool in the 2019/20 campaign, which led to a huge score of 210 FPL points and whilst injury saw him unable to hit those heights last season, the 22-year-old still racked up 160 FPL points. Robertson pipped him with 161 points and at £7.0m, is the cheaper option for those looking to reinvest precious funds elsewhere. The left-wing-back has accrued 32 assists across his last three Premier League seasons.
It’s been a long road back for Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) following a long-term injury suffered last season, but the talismanic Liverpool centre-back has seen plenty of pre-season minutes and looks set to start in Gameweek 1 for Jurgen Klopp’s side. When you take last year out of the equation, Van Dijk’s numbers from an FPL point of view are extraordinary. Five goals, two assists, 15 clean sheets and 178 points in 2019/20 was preceded by four goals, four assists, 20 clean sheets and 208 points in 2018/19. When fit and firing, there is arguably no better FPL asset among central defenders and Liverpool are expected to start the new season back to their best in defence. The presence of Van Dijk will also increase the numbers of both Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, with both not only guaranteed more clean sheet points, but should also be afforded more license to roam forward at will with Van Dijk’s ability at bringing the ball forward from the back.
Liverpool’s fierce rivals Man Utd have moved to strengthen their defence with the imminent arrival of Raphael Varane and his presence in defence alongside Harry Maguire (£5.5m) and Luke Shaw (£5.5m) will likely see an improvement on the 13 Premier League clean sheets recorded last season by the Red Devils. Both Maguire and Shaw picked up 124 FPL points in 2020/21, with left-back Shaw’s haul a far more impressive feat having played just under 400 minutes less than Maguire. Each come off the back of a memorable summer playing for England at EURO 2020, scoring one goal apiece across the tournament whilst Shaw also provided three assists. Man Utd boast a kind run of fixtures to start the season on paper, facing Leeds (H), Southampton (a), Wolves (a) and Newcastle (H) in their first four games and assuming both Maguire and Shaw are fully fit then either could establish themselves as ‘must own’ FPL assets.
Liverpool’s fierce rivals Man Utd have moved to strengthen their defence with the imminent arrival of Raphael Varane and his presence in defence alongside Harry Maguire (£5.5m) and Luke Shaw (£5.5m) will likely see an improvement on the 13 Premier League clean sheets recorded last season by the Red Devils. Both Maguire and Shaw picked up 124 FPL points in 2020/21, with left-back Shaw’s haul a far more impressive feat having played just under 400 minutes less than Maguire. Each come off the back of a memorable summer playing for England at EURO 2020, scoring one goal apiece across the tournament whilst Shaw also provided three assists. Man Utd boast a kind run of fixtures to start the season on paper, facing Leeds (H), Southampton (a), Wolves (a) and Newcastle (H) in their first four games and assuming both Maguire and Shaw are fully fit then either could establish themselves as ‘must own’ FPL assets.
It would also be remiss not to mention Man Utd goalkeeper Dean Henderson (£5.0m). The English stopper has reportedly been earmarked as the man to start the season for United between the sticks ahead of David de Gea (£5.0m) and with the defence including the likes of Maguire, Shaw and Varane infront of him, Henderson could prove the biggest bargain of any goalkeeper in FPL. The 2019-20 season saw the 24-year-old shine on loan at Sheffield Utd in the Premier League, securing 13 clean sheets, 97 saves and 160 FPL points, which would have been enough to see him finish with the joint second highest number of points among goalkeepers in 2020/21.
However, one goalkeeper who outshone the rest last season was Emiliano Martinez (£5.5m). Signed by Aston Villa from Arsenal last summer, the Argentinian international has been a revelation for Dean Smith side, not to mention his adoring FPL owners. After a wonder Premier League season that saw him accrue 15 clean sheets, a staggering 142 saves and 186 points, one point short of the all-time FPL points record secured by Brad Friedel in the 2002/03 season. Martinez has since gone on to secure international acclaim after his performances helped see Argentina lift the Copa America this summer and whilst his price has unsurprisingly risen head into the new season of FPL, there is no doubt that he is worth the cost and one of the best picks in his position when you take into account Aston Villa’s first three fixtures against Watford (a), Newcastle (H) and Brentford (H).