The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 12 – The Defence

Alberto Moreno is the big riser among the Watchlist defenders this week, as Liverpool’s schedule begins to ease. Meanwhile, having started each of the last five Gameweeks, Wayne Hennessey moves towards the top of our goalkeepers ladder due to Palace’s upcoming run of fixtures.

GOALKEEPERS

On the back of three successive clean sheets, and with the most favourable fixtures (WBA, wat, lei, WHM, bou, NOR) over the next six Gameweeks according to our Season Ticker, Man United’s David de Gea sits comfortably on top of our rankings. The Spain international, who sets us back 5.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), offers the best way to cover the Red Devils backline which has kept seven shut-outs this season, and somewhat surprisingly only has an ownership of 11.0%.

Another in-form goalkeeper is Watford’s Heurelho Gomes, who has kept clean sheets in his last two appearances. The Hornets stopper is still available at a bargain price tag of 4.6 in FPL, and with a reasonably favourable fixture list (lei, MUN, avl, NOR, sun, LIV) coming up, is one of the strongest budget options available to Fantasy managers. The Brazilian has chalked up 59 points so far the season, more than any other keeper.

With three clean sheets in five appearances since taking over as the first-choice keeper at Selhurst Park, Wayne Hennessey is now emerging as a viable option between the sticks. The Wales international has seen his price rise to 4.0 in FPL this week on the back of over 9,000 transfers in, and with a favourable upcoming schedule (liv, SUN, NEW, eve, SOT, sto), he looks a great option for those wildcarding over the next few weeks to free up funds elsewhere. The threat from Julian Speroni still lingers, although given the Eagles recent defensive form, it would appear unlikely that Hennessey will lose his start, barring any calamities over the next few outings.

Arsenal’s Petr Cech is a non-mover in our latest update, with the Gunners backline continuing to impress after keeping out Swansea last weekend. The 5.6-priced Czech Republic international has managed six clean sheets this season, and with the fixtures over the next month or so (TOT, wba, nor, SUN, avl, MCI) still very friendly, Cech remains one of the most reliable options available in goal.

With the malaise at Stamford Bridge showing few signs of abating, Chelsea’s Asmir Begovic (5.0) continues to slide down our ladder. The champions have conceded 10 goals in their last five league matches, and while their fixtures over the next six Gameweeks (sto, NOR, tot, BOU, lei, SUN) are favourable, particularly at home, it’s difficult to back any Blues player with much confidence at the moment.

After registering a first clean sheet since Gameweek 5 in the 2-0 win against Bournemouth on Sunday, Southampton’s Maarten Stekelenburg remains around halfway up our ladder. The Dutch international has some strong short-term fixtures (sun, STO, mci, AVL, cpl, TOT) coming up and offers solid value at 5.0 in FPL.

Tim Howard moves up a couple of places this week due to Everton’s kind schedule (whm, AVL, bou, CPL, nor, LEI). There are, however, concerns over the Toffees rearguard because of the absence of captain Phil Jagielka, and if the evidence of the performance against Sunderland is anything to go by, there are probably better options available than the 5.1-valued USA international right now.

No goalkeeper has registered more saves than Stoke’s Jack Butland (46) this season, and while the Potters fixtures over the next six Gameweeks (CHE, sot, sun, MCI, whm, CPL) are very unfavourable, his 9% owners will be tempted to hold. The England international brought in a spectacular 11-point haul against Newcastle last time out, and coming in at 4.6 in FPL, offers reasonable value given his current form.

With Liverpool’s fixture list (CPL, mci, SWA, new, WBA, wat) beginning to ease, we’ve reinstated Simon Mignolet towards the bottom of our rankings. The Reds have looked a much-improved defensive unit in the early weeks of Jurgen Klopp’s reign at Anfield, and, setting us back just 5.0 in FPL, the Belgian keeper offers decent value, although Alberto Moreno does look the primary option from the Liverpool backline right now.

With Man City’s upcoming fixtures (avl, LIV, SOT, sto, SWA, ars) somewhat mixed over the coming weeks, Joe Hart slides down the ladder in our latest refresh. The 5.7-rated England international only has one clean sheet from his last five outings, and has collected just two save points all season.

DEFENDERS

On the back of another clean sheet in the 3-0 win at Swansea, Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin remains at the summit of the defender rankings. The young Spaniard will miss tonight’s Champions League encounter against Bayern Munich because of a slight groin problem, but is likely to line up against Tottenham on Sunday. As already mentioned, the Gunners upcoming fixtures are pretty favourable, and while Laurent Koscielny (5.9) is pushing Bellerin as our preferred Arsenal defender due to his set-piece threat, the 6.0-priced right-back is still our pick for the time being.

Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk is hot on the heels of Bellerin, with the Dutch centre-back having already demonstrated his ability to register points at either end of the pitch. The 5.6-valued defender has scored twice in his seven appearances so far this season, and with clean sheets a distinct possibility in home matches against Stoke and Aston Villa over the next month, expect to see further investment in the former Celtic man.

Having created seven chances over the last four Gameweeks, joint-second among defenders, Alberto Moreno is the big mover this week. With Joe Gomez out with a long-term knee injury, the former Sevilla defender looks nailed on for the Reds, and is clearly being encouraged to bomb forward from his left-back position by Klopp. Available at just 4.8 in FPL, his 3.1% ownership looks certain to keep increasing over the next few weeks.

With Man United’s defence among the most impressive in the Premier League this season, Chris Smalling (6.5) looks a stand-out candidate for our five-man backlines. It’s true that de Gea offers stronger value at 5.5 in FPL, but with mid-price players such as Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Odion Ighalo proving so successful this season, our budgets could perhaps stretch to the England international, who also offers a reasonable threat from set-plays.

While he was restored at left-back in Leicester’s 3-2 win at West Brom, we’re still championing the prospects of Jeffrey Schlupp. The Ghanaian has racked up seven goal attempts over the last four Gameweeks, more than any other defender, and with the possibility of him returning to a more advanced role should Christian Fuchs recover from a minor knock, he looks worthy of consideration at just 5.0 in FPL. The Foxes fixtures (WAT, new, MUN, swa, CHE, eve), particularly in the short-term, are favourable.

Given he registered an assist in Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool, and with some plum home fixtures (NOR, BOU, SUN) to come over the next six Gameweeks, we’re not totally giving up on Cesar Azpilicueta. The Spain international has dropped to 5.9 in FPL on the back of the champions’ underwhelming performances, but the schedule may persuade his 14% ownership to hold for now.

Everton’s Seamus Coleman keeps his place around halfway up our ladder, having registered a reasonable four goal attempts in his last three outings, with two of those from inside the box. He has only created two chances over the same period, though, so while Everton’s fixtures (whm, AVL, bou, CPL, nor, LEI) are very kind, the already mentioned absence of Jagielka means Coleman’s hefty price tag of 5.9 looks a tad high, with defensive returns appearing less likely.

With Gael Clichy back on the bench for Man City against Sevilla last night, concerns over rotation for Aleksandar Kolarov mean the Serbian falls in our latest update. The Citizens also face some mixed fixtures, so the 6.2-rated left-back perhaps looks dispensable following Sunday’s trip to Villa Park as we look to reshuffle over five-man backlines.

Eric Dier remains in our thoughts, given his out-of-potential prospects in Tottenham’s double-pivot. The England U21 international is available at 5.2 in FPL and, having already scored twice this season, offers a reasonable attacking threat. Spurs’ only have two favourable fixtures in their next six though (ars, WHM, CHE, wba, NEW sot), so the former Sporting Lisbon defender will probably be some way down most FPL bosses’ shopping lists.

Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann creeps up a few places with Alan Pardew’s men facing a good run of fixtures over the next six Gameweeks. The 5.1-priced centre-back has racked up three shots from inside the box in his last four outings, and offers a strong set-piece threat, along with a handy habit of picking up bonus points whenever the Eagles manage to keep a clean sheet, having accrued seven already this season.

With strong home fixtures (EVE, tot, WBA, mun, STO, swa) over the next six Gameweeks, West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell remains on our radar. The former Ipswich left-back has created five chances in his last four appearances, and while he’s struggling to deliver great value given his 5.6 price tag in FPL, he can be relied upon for attacking points over a longer period of time.

After being substituted in the goalless draw against Stoke with a slight knee problem, Newcastle’s Daryl Janmaat falls all the way to the bottom of our rankings. The Dutch international is expected to be fit to face Bournemouth on Saturday, though, while the Magpies upcoming fixtures (bou, LEI, cpl, LIV, tot, AVL) remain pretty reasonable. The 4.9-valued right-back could be worth sticking with, then, given he’s created 10 chances over the last six Gameweeks, ranking him fourth among defenders.

*Edit* Hector Bellerin was later removed from the Watchlist and replaced by Laurent Koscielny following Arsene Wenger’s comments on the Spaniard’s likely availability for the encounter with Tottenham on 8/11. Koscielny is also a minor doubt for that fixture after being rested to the bench in Wednesday’s tie with Bayern, following a hip problem.