Fantasy Premier League managers could turn to Manchester City, Aston Villa or Crystal Palace to replace their Liverpool defenders for Gameweek 9.
Key members of the Redsโ back-line leave teams in their droves following the international break, so we have used this weekโs Differential column to identify three exciting replacements; all of whom we think have the ability to deliver points at both ends of the pitch over the forthcoming weeks.
As always, to qualify, the player must have an ownership of 5% or less at the time of writing.
Joรฃo Cancelo
- FPL ownership: 2.4%
- Price: ยฃ5.4m
- GW9-13 fixtures: tot | BUR | FUL | mun | WBA
Joรฃo Cancelo (ยฃ5.4m) endured a tough first season in England, but is now starting to shine.
Since making his first Premier League start of the campaign in Gameweek 5, the Portugal international has amassed 24 FPL points, averaging six per game. In that time, he has registered two clean sheets and, despite only providing one assist, has created more chances than any defender in the entire division.
Having performed as a right full-back in his first appearance against Arsenal, he has since been deployed on the left in Benjamin Mendyโs (ยฃ5.9m) absence. It remains to be seen what will happen when the Frenchman returns from injury, but given Canceloโs excellent form, it is hard to see an immediate route back into the team.
Since losing 5-2 to Leicester City back in September, Manchester City have conceded just four goals in nine games in all competitions, keeping five clean sheets. While many FPL managers will be looking at Gameweek 10 as the optimum time to invest in their backline, there could be value in going a week early, given Matt Dohertyโs (ยฃ5.8m) positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and the fact most of Tottenham Hotspurโs chances tend to be conceded from their right-side.
Manchester Cityโs left-back problem has been a theme throughout Pep Guardiolaโs time at the club, but the recent form of Cancelo has perhaps provided a solution. Consistency will now be the key to retaining his place, but if he can do that, itโs hard to envisage him being a differential too much longer.
Matt Targett
- FPL ownership: 2.4%
- Price: ยฃ4.5m
- GW9-13 fixtures: BHA | whu | NEW | wol | BUR
Matt Targett (ยฃ4.5m) has been a solid performer for Aston Villa since joining from Southampton in 2019, making the left-back spot his own.
A product of the Saints academy, he has played a key role in a defence that has already kept four clean sheets in seven attempts this season, and perhaps doesnโt get the praise his performances often deserve.
The Englishman is yet to miss a single minute of league action so far, and with Jack Grealish (ยฃ7.5m) regularly drifting infield in front of him, plenty of space often opens up for him to attack. Heโs got a good delivery too, which he showed in flashes against Arsenal last time out, when he provided the cross that was turned in by Bukayo Saka (ยฃ5.3m) for Villaโs first goal in their 3-0 win.
Interestingly, the 25-year-old scored his first goal for the club when he netted an injury time winner against this weekendโs opponents, Brighton and Hove Albion, back in October 2019.
This time, with Tariq Lamptey (ยฃ4.8m) likely to surge forward for Albion and support their attack, Targett could have his hands full defensively on Saturday, but at the same time, gaps could appear if space is left in behind. That has certainly been the case so far this season, with the Seagulls giving up 17 of their 42 chances down their right-flank, compared to just nine from the left.
Still priced at just ยฃ4.5m, Targett offers the cheapest route into Villaโs defence, and could be a solid set and forget option given their appealing fixtures.
Patrick van Aanholt
- FPL ownership: 0.7%
- Price: ยฃ5.4m
- GW9-13 fixtures: bur | NEW | wba | TOT | whu
Having just returned from a long-term injury, Patrick van Aanholt (ยฃ5.4m) looked back to his best against Leeds United before the international break.
The Dutchman supplied an assist and carried plenty of goal threat, registering three shots in the box. Determined to get forward at every opportunity, his attacking runs created space for Eberechi Eze (ยฃ5.8m) and Wilfried Zaha (ยฃ7.4m) to thrive and gave them a cutting edge which has been missing without him in the team.
In his absence, Tyrick Mitchell (ยฃ4.1m) has impressed, but it was evident against Leeds just how much theyโve missed the 30-year-olds attacking nature, which leads us to think heโll retain his place in the starting XI come Monday.
Despite often struggling in attack, Crystal Palace have had a bright start to the season. They sit eighth in the table, and looking at the run of games coming up, they have the potential to pick up points given the struggles of goal-shy Burnley and West Bromwich Albion, and to a slightly lesser extent Newcastle United.
In Gameweek 8 there were signs of progress. The expectation now is that results should pick up, and with the possibility of goals and clean sheets, at least in the short term, van Aanholt could be a nice pick-up for those in search of a differential currently owned by just 0.7% of FPL managers.
