The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 4 – The Defence

With Gameweek 3 put to bed last night following the goalless draw between Arsenal and Liverpool, we’ve given our Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks, a refresh. With three favourable home fixtures in the next four, Liverpool’s in-form pair Simon Mignolet and Martin Skrtel are among the risers this week, while Bournemouth’s Simon Francis is another moving up by virtue of his impressive attacking statistics.

GOALKEEPERS

With only a trip to the Emirates in Gameweek 5 looking particularly troubling in Stoke’s next six (WBA, ars, LEI, BOU, avl, swa), Jack Butland retains his place on top of our ladder, despite having yet to keep a clean sheet. The 4.5-priced keeper did impress against Norwich on Saturday, registering six saves in the 1-1 draw, despite playing with a broken finger. With West Brom, who have failed to score in two of their three matches, visiting the Britannia on Saturday, the former Birmingham stopper looks a great option this week.

Having yet to concede a goal so far this season, and with three kind home fixtures in the next four (WHM, mun, NOR, AVL), Simon Mignolet moves up to second spot in our rankings. The Belgian international, who is available at 5.1 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), should be able to add to that tally of shut-outs in the coming weeks.

Another keeper who is able to boast a 100% clean sheet record is Manchester City’s Joe Hart. The England number one has four favourable home match-ups in the next six (WAT, cpl, WHM, tot, NEW, BOU), but with a tight squeeze on the three City slots allowed in FPL, and with the attacking potential of Aleksandar Kolarov and Vincent Kompany perhaps offering better ways of covering the City backline, the 5.6-valued keeper may struggle to attract any further investment.

The switch to a 3-4-1-2 formation by Ronald Koeman saw Southampton register their first clean sheet of the season at Watford on Sunday, and with four home fixtures (NOR, MUN, SWA, LEI) over the next six Gameweeks, Maarten Stekelenburg remains a decent option for Fantasy managers. Available for 5.0 in FPL, the Dutch international somewhat surprisingly only has an ownership of 1.8%.

Despite conceding five goals so far this season, Bournemouth’s Artur Boruc remains in our thoughts by virtue of the Cherries favourable upcoming schedule (LEI, nor, SUN, sto, WAT). The Poland international, who will set us back 4.5 in FPL, has yet to register a save point this term, however.

West Brom’s Boaz Myhill moves up a couple of places in our latest update, with the Baggies upcoming fixtures (sto, SOT, avl, EVE, cpl, SUN) pretty reasonable. The 4.5-priced keeper registered a ten-point haul in the goalless draw at Watford in Gameweek 2, and appears likely to add further defensive returns over the upcoming period, with Tony Pulis’ sides generally a reliable source for clean sheets.

Thibaut Courtois returns to the Watchlist this week after registering this season’s first penalty save, denying West Brom’s James Morrison on Sunday. Chelsea’s fixtures over the next few weeks (CPL, eve, ARS, new, SOT, AVL) are mixed, although they do play four times at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian international is the cheapest route into the Blues rearguard at just 5.4 in FPL, but Jose Mourinho’s side have conceded seven goals so far this term, the second-worst record behind Sunderland (eight).

With just two home matches in the next six (sot, BOU, liv, whm, LEI, new), Norwich’s John Ruddy slides down our ladder this time around. The 4.5-valued stopper has also failed to register a shut-out so far this term, so our confidence in the England international for the upcoming period is unsurprisingly on the wane.

Aston Villa’s Brad Guzan remains in contention, with Tim Sherwood’s men facing three favourable home clashes (SUN, WBA, STO) in the next six Gameweeks. The Villans have only conceded three times this season, so the 4.5-priced American still appears to be one of the better options available in the budget price bracket.

Although Swansea have four home fixtures in the next six (MUN, wat, EVE, sot, TOT, STO), Lukasz Fabianski drops a couple of spots this week. None of those match-ups at the Liberty Stadium look particularly straightforward, while the away trip to Southampton also appears tricky on paper. The Welsh outfit have only conceded three times so far this term, though, and have only allowed their opponents 11 shots from inside the box, the fewest among any side in the top flight.

DEFENDERS

With five goal attempts and seven chances created, both the highest among defenders so far this season, Aleksandar Kolarov replaces Vincent Kompany as our favoured City defensive option. The left-back, who now carries a price tag of 5.7 in FPL, has struck up a dangerous partnership with Raheem Sterling down the flank, and while Gael Clichy could steal the odd start, particularly when the Champions League recommences next month, the Serbian’s cheaper price tag and superior attacking threat earns him the nod over the 6.3-valued Belgian for now.

With the remodelled Liverpool backline looking so strong this term, we’re happy to place our faith in Martin Skrtel, particularly given the previously mentioned favourable home match-ups on the horizon. The 5.5-rated Slovakia international has only managed one goal attempt so far this term, though, which does increase the appeal of Reds left-back Joe Gomez, who comes in at a cheaper 4.7 in FPL, although the former Charlton youngster has been cautioned in all three matches this season.

Bournemouth’s Simon Francis picked up his first attacking returns in the Cherries 4-3 win at West Ham on Saturday, laying on the assist for Callum Wilson’s opener, and is joint-second among defenders for chances created (six) this season. The upcoming fixtures (LEI, nor, SUN, sto, WAT) are also in the 4.5-valued defender’s favour, making the right-back a great budget option for the upcoming period.

With Stoke second on the Season Ticker for the next six Gameweeks, Marc Muniesa keeps his place towards the top of our latest rankings. The former Barcelona man, available at 4.5 in FPL, has started all three of the Potters matches so far, and should be able to register his first defensive returns in the coming weeks, with West Brom, Leicester and Bournemouth all visiting the Britannia.

Having played as a wing-back in the 0-0 at Watford, the out-of-position potential of Cedric Soares sees him move up our ladder this week. It remains to be seen if Ronald Koeman continues with the 3-4-1-2 system at home to Norwich on Sunday, but with four goal attempts and six chances created so far this season, the former Sporting Lisbon defender clearly has plenty of attacking potential.

Although Man United have yet to concede, their tough upcoming schedule (swa, LIV, sot, SUN, ars, eve) sees Matteo Darmian fall a few places on our Watchlist. The 5.7-priced Italy international has impressed in his short time at Old Trafford, and with Louis van Gaal’s side looking strong at the back, further shut-outs can’t be discounted despite the tricky fixtures.

Aston Villa’s Micah Richards keeps his place around halfway up our ladder with those three favourable home match-ups (SUN, WBA, STO) over the coming weeks firmly in mind. The former City defender now has an ownership of 10.1% in FPL, and saw his price rise to 4.6 before the 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace last Saturday.

Craig Dawson is another who moves up a couple of spots this week, with West Brom’s fixtures (sto, SOT, avl, EVE, cpl, SUN) offering hope they can add to the clean sheet registered at Watford in Gameweek 2. The 5.0-rated defender is also a decent threat from set-pieces, having totalled three goal attempts so far this season, with two of those coming from inside the box.

After picking up his first assist of the season in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland, Swansea’s Kyle Naughton remains firmly in our thoughts. The former Tottenham defender has created seven chances this season, the joint highest among defenders along with Kolarov, and has collected four bonus point so far. The upcoming schedule (MUN, wat, EVE, sot, TOT, STO), however, is mixed for Garry Monk’s men.

While Russell Martin has scored in his last two outings, the 4.5-priced Scotland international does face some difficult fixtures (sot, BOU, liv, whm, LEI, new) over the next six Gameweeks. The Canaries stalwart still only has an ownership of 1.5% in FPL, but having scored from two of his three goal attempts, he’s unlikely to maintain that amazing strike rate. The fact that Alex Neil’s side have yet to register a clean sheet also dampens his prospects.

With the 6.9-rated Branislav Ivanovic averaging the same number of goal attempts (0.3) and chances created (0.3) as the cheaper Cesar Azpilicueta, available at 6.0 in FPL, so far this season, we’re opting for the latter in our latest rankings. The Spaniard has notched a goal and assist in his three appearances, and while Chelsea defenders don’t hold the greatest appeal at the moment given their struggles at the back, the former Marseille defender, who’s significantly kinder on the budget, looks the one to target.

Tottenham’s Kyle Walker is, in truth, another who is struggling to justify his price tag, which stands at 5.0 in FPL, having yet to produce defensive or attacking returns. Spurs do face four home fixtures in the next six (EVE, CPL, MCI, LIV), albeit against some tough opposition, but the England full-back does carry an attacking threat, having created three chances this season.

Although Per Mertesacker missed the goalless draw against Liverpool last night due to illness, the 5.5-valued centre-back is expected to return for Arsenal’s trip to St James’ Park on Saturday. The Gunners upcoming schedule (new, STO, che, lei, MUN, wat) is fairly mixed, though, with just two matches in front of their own fans.

A new face on this week’s ladder is Watford’s Allan Nyom, who has sneaked ahead of Sebastian Prodl as our preferred Hornets option at the back. Despite standing at 6ft 4in, Prodl has yet to register a goal attempt this season, although having scored three goals in 22 outings for Werder Bremen last season, the Austrian should offer a decent threat from set-pieces. Right-back Nyom has managed two goal attempts, one from inside the box, and earned maximum bonus in the weekend goalless draw with Southampton. Both will set us back 4.5 in FPL, and with Quique Sanchez Flores’ side registering two shut-outs already this season, offer decent budget options, although they do face City and Arsenal in their next six matches (mci, SWA, new, CPL, bou, ARS).