The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 30 – The Defence

With Gameweek 29 put to bed following Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Swansea, we’re rolling out our latest Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks. Liverpool defensive assets are on the rise after gaining a seventh clean sheet in their last nine matches, while Sunderland’s calamitous 4-0 home defeat to Aston Villa sees Costel Pantilimon tumble as Ben Foster’s injury potentially forcing sum into an unwanted change between the sticks.

GOALKEEPERS

Simon Mignolet makes a dramatic return to our latest rankings, jumping all the way to top spot thanks to an improving schedule following the next two matches against Man United and Arsenal. The Reds then face four favourable fixtures (NEW, hul, wba, QPR), and with Brendan Rodgers’ side looking so strong at the back following the change in formation to a 3-4-2-1 system, confidence in the Liverpool defence is growing by the minute.

Southampton’s Fraser Forster leaps up the ladder following a strong showing at Stamford Bridge and with five favourable fixtures (BUR, eve, HUL, sto, sun) in the next six. The England international was in fine form as the Saints held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw, and with three shut-outs in their last six Premier League matches, Ronald Koeman’s rearguard look ripe for investment in the upcoming period.

Despite only registering two clean sheets in their last 11 Premier League clashes, Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski is a non-mover with the Welsh side facing the most favourable schedule (avl, HUL, EVE, lei, new, STO) over the next six Gameweeks, according to our Season Ticker.

Ben Foster’s injury introduces Boaz Myhill as an option as the cheapest active keeper on offer at just 4.0 in the FPL. The Baggies stand-in will likely be a short-term candidate, although reports today suggested that Foster would be sidelined for at least four weeks, ensuring that Myhill will be handed starts in home matches against the current bottom two – QPR and Leicester – which follows the weekend visit to the Etihad. West Brom’s resilience at the Hawthorns has seen them keep six clean sheets in seven in all competitions under Pulis, suggesting that Myhill will deliver returns whilst on the team sheet.

With a double Gameweek on the horizon, Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois is back on the radar. The 5.9-priced keeper has been a victim of rotation in recent months, having found himself relegated to the substitutes’ bench for three of Chelsea’s last eight Premier League encounters as Jose Mourinho juggles Champions League and Capital One Cup commitments. But with only the league campaign to concentrate on now, Courtois should start on a regular basis ahead of a very strong run of fixtures (hul, STO, qpr, MUN, ars & lei, CPL).

Joe Hart is a non-mover this week despite failing to keep a clean sheet on the road again at Burnley last weekend. City haven’t managed a shut-out on their travels since the 1-0 win at Leicester in Gameweek 16, but with three favourable home fixtures (WBA, WHM, AVL) in the next six, and having registered shut-outs in their last two matches at the Etihad, it’s only home comforts that help us keep some faith in Hart at the moment.

Having found himself near the top of our goalkeeper rankings for a number of weeks, Sunderland’s Costel Pantilimon suffers a significant drop following a tough few days at the Stadium of Light. Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa led to the sacking of Gus Poyet yesterday, and while the Black Cats upcoming schedule (whm, NEW, CPL, sto, SOT) still looks fairly favourable, it’s hard to back the Romanian with any confidence unless there is a dramatic upturn under new boss Dick Advocaat.

Arsenal’s David Ospina falls this week by virtue of a tricky run of fixtures. The Gunners last three shut-outs have all come at home, but with Liverpool and Chelsea visiting the Emirates in the next six, clean sheets may be harder to come by. Away clashes at Burnley and Hull are favourable, but with the home encounter against Sunderland originally scheduled for Gameweek 33 yet to be rearranged, the Colombian’s stock has to drop in the meantime.

DEFENCE

Averaging 6.8 points per appearance over the last eight matches and with a double Gameweek on the horizon, there is no shifting Branislav Ivanovic from the summit in our defender rankings. The Serbian keeps on delivering attacking returns, and with favourable matches against Hull and Stoke up next, he has the potential to provide double-digit hauls if the Blues rearguard can keep their opponents scoreless.

Craig Dawson is another non-mover after West Brom registered a fourth clean sheet in their last five matches in the 1-0 win against Stoke. After this weekend’s trip to the Etihad, the Baggies face home encounters with QPR and Leicester, and having enjoyed shut-outs against Hull, Swansea, Southampton and Stoke at the Hawthorns since Tony Pulis’ arrival, those two fixtures look very favourable. The 4.5-priced defender remains the best avenue into the West Brom defence, with Boaz Myhill perhaps only a short-term option following the news on Ben Foster.

Leicester’s Jeffrey Schlupp rises this week following the Foxes shut-out against Hull, their first clean sheet since Gameweek 21. The one downside was the fact Schlupp lined up at left full-back after playing in midfield or even as part of a front three. But coming in at 4.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the Ghana international still has a kind upcoming schedule after the trip to White Hart Lane this weekend (WHM, wba, SWA, bur/CHE, NEW), though those who brought Schlupp in last week will hope he reverts back to a more advanced role in the coming weeks.

With an eye-catching schedule over the next six Gameweeks, Swansea’s Kyle Naughton remains one of the strongest budget options on show. The 4.3-priced defender has started every match since his arrival from Tottenham in January and looks a more than viable candidate for the next few weeks with a good run of fixtures (avl, HUL, EVE, lei, new, STO).

Martin Skrtel is the big riser this week after picking up a clean sheet and full bonus points in last night’s 1-0 victory at Swansea. The Slovakia international has now netted 22 bonus points this season, more than the likes of City pair Sergio Aguero and David Silva. With seven shut-outs in the Reds last nine matches, along with a pretty kind schedule (MUN, ars, NEW, hul, wba, QPR), the 6.0-valued defender looks ripe for investment.

After finding himself among the substitutes on Saturday, Hector Bellerin has to drop in this week’s rankings. The threat of Calum Chambers has been hanging over the Spaniard’s playing time for a number of weeks now, and with tonight’s Champions League trip to Monaco clearly in Arsene Wenger’s mind, owners missed out on a potential six pointer. Bellerin still offers great value coming in at 4.6 in FPL, but the risk of rotation is an issue, although an exit from Europe this evening may lessen those chances.

While West Ham have conceded nine goals in their last four league matches, a turn in their schedule moves Aaron Cresswell up the Watchlist. With the trip to the Etihad in Gameweek 33 their only unfavourable fixture in the next six (SUN, lei, STO, qpr, BUR), the former Ipswich defender offers potential returns at both ends, having scored once and created four goals this season.

Southampton duo Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld both look viable options for the forthcoming period. If money is no object, the former Chelsea defender still looks the strongest candidate, offering the greater potential for attacking returns. But Alderweireld, now priced at just 4.7 in FPL, looks a steal having returned to the starting XI in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea. With a promising run of fixtures (BUR, eve, HUL, sto, TOT, sun), the option to double up on the Saints defence, which has kept a joint-league high 13 clean sheets this season, looks enticing.

Tottenham’s Danny Rose drops a couple of places this week, with the schedule turning nasty from Gameweek 33. Before then, home matches against Leicester and Aston Villa look favourable, with the left-back having grabbed a goal and an assist in his last two outings at White Hart Lane, but with double Gameweeks for others looming, his owners may want to look for an exit route.

Leighton Baines moves up a few places this week after picking up an eight-point haul against Newcastle. His Fantasy prospects are dented somewhat with Romelu Lukaku now seemingly ahead of the England international in terms of penalty takers, but with a decent upcoming schedule (qpr, SOT, swa, BUR, MUN, avl), Baines remains a consideration as we head towards the end of the season.

With just one shut-out since Alan Pardew’s arrival at Selhurst Park, Scott Dann finds himself sliding down our table. The former Blackburn defender’s aerial presence continues to threaten from set-pieces, registering two headed goal attempts against QPR on Saturday. But with clashes against City and Chelsea in the next six, there are better alternatives than the 4.9-priced defender right now.

Stoke’s Marc Wilson is another faller this week, with the Potters finding themselves towards the bottom of our Season Ticker. Only home encounters against Crystal Palace and Sunderland look favourable in the next six, and although the Republic of Ireland international has started the last four league matches, should Phillip Wollscheid and Erik Pieters prove their fitness ahead of the weekend, his place in the first XI could be in doubt.

Newcastle’s Daryl Janmaat sneaks back into our rankings thanks to favourable matches against Sunderland, Swansea and Leicester in the next six. The Dutch right-back reminded us of his explosive potential with a 12-point return against Aston Villa in Gameweek 27, and with a goal and seven assists to his name this season, is a key component in Newcastle’s attacking ploys.