Pre-Season

The Best Goalkeepers to Buy in FPL 2018/19

Now that the dust has settled following the launch of the Fantasy Premier League 2018/19 game, we can start to look at each position in a bit more detail. We’ll begin, as we often do, with goalkeepers.

David De Gea has been announced as the most expensive shot-stopper at £6.0m, which may deter some from investing in the Manchester United number one.

Meanwhile, Lukasz Fabianski looks set for high ownership given that he has held onto his £4.5m price tag.

Who are the best premium goalkeepers?

Ederson (£5.5m) looks to be the most viable premium goalkeeper option for the start of 2018/19. Not only do Manchester City have the best fixtures in the opening seven Gameweeks (playing all six of the most recently promoted clubs), their goalkeeper also benefits from being priced cheaper than some of his defensive colleagues: Nicolas Otamendi and Kyle Walker are both £6.5m, while Benjamin Mendy is £6.0m. John Stones, Vincent Kompany, Danilo, America Laporte and Fabian Delph – none of whom looked particularly “nailed” – are all £5.5m too.

Whilst goal and assist potential strengthens the case of Otamendi and co, rotation under Pep Guardiola could make Ederson the only member of the City backline who is assured of a start. After the Gameweek 1 fixture against Arsenal (a match City won 3-0 last season), City face Huddersfield (h), Wolves (a), Newcastle (h), Fulham (h), Cardiff (a) and Brighton (h) in their next six fixtures.

Thibaut Courtois (£5.5m) is another premium asset to consider, with Chelsea currently sat second for defence in our season ticker. In the first six Gameweeks the Blues have away fixtures at Huddersfield and Newcastle, as well as home matches against Bournemouth and Cardiff. Only De Gea and Ederson collected more clean sheets than Courtois last season and, like his Man City counterpart, the Belgian shot-stopper offers a slightly cheaper route than his defensive team-mates to potential shut-outs.

Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta have been handed £6.5m price tags, with Victor Moses and Antonio Rudiger marked up at £6.0m. Gary Cahill, David Luis, Andreas Christensen, Davide Zappacosta and Emerson all match Courtois’ price but, at this stage, are much less guaranteed a start.

Hugo Lloris completes the trio of £5.5m goalkeepers and has a strong case for inclusion in our squads too, considering that only one of his defensive colleagues will start the 2018/19 season at a cheaper price. All but Kyle Walker-Peters have come in at £6.0m, making Lloris the cheaper alternative for anyone looking at matches with Newcastle, Fulham, Watford and Brighton in the first six Gameweeks. Spurs do face Manchester United and Liverpool in that period, though.

Meanwhile, last season’s Golden Glove winner David De Gea has come in as the most expensive goalkeeper at £6.0m. As mentioned, his hike up from £5.5m is expected to cause some damage to his ownership figures. The United man kept more clean sheets than anyone else in 2017/18, but there are now more cost-effective options at Old Trafford.

Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Diogo Dalot are all priced at £5.5m, while the reclassified Ashley Young, who has been handed the same price as De Gea but offers the prospect of attacking returns, could prove to be a savvy investment. What we can be assured of with De Gea and no other United defender, however, is guaranteed starts.

Elsewhere in United’s squad, Antonio Valencia is £6.5m and Chris Smalling starts at £6.0m.

Who are the best mid-price goalkeepers?

Whichever of Nick Pope or Tom Heaton gets a starting berth at Burnley is worth considering this season. Both goalkeepers start at £5.0m after the Clarets kept 12 clean sheets in 2017/18. Pope had an impressive campaign, finishing as the fourth-highest scoring goalkeeper despite not making an appearance until Gameweek 4. The extra money might be worth paying given that Burnley shot-stoppers often do well for save and bonus points, while just three teams (Man City, Chelsea and Crystal Palace) rank higher for defence on our season ticker in the first six Gameweeks.

England’s World Cup penalty shootout hero, Jordan Pickford, remains at £5.0m and also has kind fixtures in the opening six weeks. Arsenal are the only side from last season’s top six who he will face in that period, a run of matches that includes home fixtures against Southampton, Huddersfield and West Ham and trips to Wolves and Bournemouth. However, with Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams both priced up at £4.5m, the veteran centre-backs may provide more cost-effective cover.

Pre-season should give us an indication as to which Arsenal goalkeeper – Petr Cech or Bernd Leno (both £5.0m) – will start the season as Unai Emery’s first choice. Leno has a reputation for saving spot-kicks: the German goalkeeper has stopped nine of the 39 penalties he has faced in the Bundesliga.

Fantasy managers should avoid Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka (£5.0m), as the Magpies currently sit bottom of our season ticker for defence. In their first six matches, the Magpies host Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal and travel to Manchester City, Cardiff and Crystal Palace. Only three goalkeepers (Loris Karius, Ederson and Lloris) kept more clean sheets than Dubravka after his debut in Gameweek 27. However, he ranked just 16th for saves made between then and Gameweek 38.

Who are the best budget goalkeepers?

Lukasz Fabianski (£4.5m) has made a swift return to the Premier League after former employers Swansea City were relegated. The Polish shot-stopper, who made more saves than any other goalkeeper last season, joins a side who had the joint-worst defensive record in the division in 2017/18.

West Ham face three of last season’s top six in the opening six Gameweeks, also playing Bournemouth (h), Wolves (h) and Everton (a) in that run of half-dozen matches.

The Hammers’ fixtures rotate perfectly with Southampton this season. A pair-up with Alex McCarthy/Fraser Forster (both £4.5m) should, in theory, give an unbroken run of home matches between now and the end of the season.

It’s hard to justify investment in Mathew Ryan (£4.5m) in the early stages of the season. Brighton face Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham in the first six weeks, with away trips to Watford and Southampton to come in Gameweeks 1 and 5; their only favourable match-up is a home fixture against Fulham in Gameweek 4.

The Seagulls’ home matches dovetail beautifully with Newcastle’s this season, but with Dubravka prohibitively priced at £5.0m, a £4.5m defensive double-up (e.g. Dunk/Lejeune) may be the better route to go when both sides’ fixtures ease off from Gameweek 8.

Our season ticker ranks Crystal Palace’ first nine fixtures as the most favourable from a defensive perspective, so Vicente Guaita/Wayne Hennessey (£4.5m) could prove to be an astute purchase.

Bournemouth’s opening fixtures are also particularly attractive, although Asmir Begovic (£4.5m) would surely lose out to a cut-price Charlie Daniels as many FPL bosses’ chosen Cherries pick in defence.

Palace and Bournemouth’s fixtures, coincidentally, intertwine exactly to give an unbroken run of home matches between now and Gameweek 38.

Cardiff and Huddersfield’s mixed starts would seem likely to deter investment in Alex Smithies and Jonas Lossl (both £4.5m), meanwhile.

World Cup Data

We’re delighted to offer World Cup data as an early addition to our regular season offering to help those playing Fantasy games over the summer.

We’ve secured Opta data, not only for the tournament itself, but also from the Qualifying Rounds for Europe and South America and for international friendlies involving the participating nations. This includes all the matches played right up to the tournament kick-off.

Just to stress, this World Cup offering comes packaged with the regular Fantasy Football Scout membership.

Check out this new trailer detailing the World Cup content below…

McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy

Join our McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy league ‘FantasyFootballScout’ using the code: HEWJPVYR

Fantasy iTeam

Fantasy Football Scout is supporting Fantasy iTeam, a free World Cup game available on a number of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch and Android. We have an official Fantasy Football Scout League open to UK users only, with a £1000 of Amazon vouchers to give out, split between the top three performers. There’s also the small matter of £10k worth of prizes available in the main competitions: Overall World Championship and Manager of the Gameround.

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1,265 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dr Funk
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    This should do for now...

    Pickford - Fabianski
    Coleman - Mendy - Daniels - Cedric - 4.0
    Salah - Sane - Mkhitaryan - Jota - Cairney
    Aguero - Tosun - Reid

    Although thinking of replacing the front 3 with...

    Firmino - Tosun - Zaha

    ...which gives me 1.5 to upgrade a DEF or MID.

    Thoughts?

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Prefer the 2nd Front 3

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Good side but would be worried about relying on a Marco Silva side for CS's

        1. Cabra
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          +1

    2. Crangers1860
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Sane or Mahrez?

  2. Mino Raiola
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Heyyy can u guys RMT?

    Ederson
    VVD, Jones, Valencia, Kolasinac, Alonso
    Sané, Mane, Pogba, KDB(C)
    Firmino

    Fabianski, 4,5 x 3

    0,5 itb

    1. Dr Funk
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Like it. Looking into a defence heavy team myself at the mo as there aren't any big priced strikers that Im keen on right now. Offers up some interesting options.

      Personally Id downgrade a defender and upgrade a striker to Reid or Jimenez just for a bit more flexibility.

      1. Mino Raiola
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        cool tnx!

  3. AubaKedavara™
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Hi fellas!
    I paid for the membership on this site for the very first time. Few questions:
    1. How do i join member's only league in FPL? Can't seem to find the code anywhere in member's area.
    2. How do i use the tools 😛 Too many tools and don't know where to start from. Anyone willing to give a crash course? 😛

      1. AubaKedavara™
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Great thanks.
        And can u also tell me how do i make most out of these tools?
        I mean i know there are videos out there which tell what each tool does, but i wanted to know what people mostly use in managing their FPL teams on daily basis.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Comparison tool, RMT, Members tables and plenty more.
          https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/scout-member-benefits/

          1. AubaKedavara™
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 8 months ago

            Great. Thanks again 🙂

  4. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    What do you think of Aguero Zaha Arno up front?

    1. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Hard to get Auba from gw 3 without losing Kun.

    2. Mino Raiola
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      could be gold! ofc zaha and arno have yet to deliver steady over long periods before, but if they start where they left of last season, its a keeper!

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      good, but have to see how Pellegrini lines up with WHU in pre-season.

    4. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Everytime I try this combo I get called back to reality by Firmino

      1. @fpl_phenom
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        a good bit cheaper and assuming you have Salah isnt it worth getting on these guys early?

        1. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          I do have Salah, but Firmino must have been one of the top picks last season. I will also gladly drop Kun for Auba in gw3 and stop worrying about rotation as I will have KdB and Dilva

      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        what about Mane instead of Bobby?

        1. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Must be Salah and Firmino double-up IMO but we will have to see...

  5. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Who's the Man Utd Defender of choice?

    Not sure any of them are even nailed.

    1. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      DDG if any.

    2. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Its tough, Im waiting for now but Ashley Young tempting in a few weeks

    3. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      DDG. Nailed and will get save points. Valencia isn’t worth 6.5 and I’m not sure any of the others are nailed.

    4. Cabra
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I'll be quite surprise if Bailly doesn't start. Clearly their best CB and he should have a good full pre-season, something you can't say for some of the other CB's at United.

  6. Blue&White85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    I see Kenedy is close to joining Newcastle on a 1 year loan. What price are we expecting on FPL? 5.5/6.0 maybe?

    1. Ghost Gooner
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      6/6.5

  7. Cabra
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    How is this coming along?

    Fab - 4.0

    Vvd - Monreal - Keane - Daniels - Tomkins

    Sane - Mane - Pogba - Dilva - Masuaku

    Aguero - Giroud - Tosun

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Love the Pogba pick - he is flying under the radar again this year

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        I like Pogba too

        Unfortunately Mhki and Ramsey are 0.5-1m cheaper...case closed 🙂

  8. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    How are this lot looking? Bit light on the bench allright, but hopefully wont matter for a few weeks. There's something very alluring about having a Salah/Firmino/KDB/Kun Quartet!

    Fabianksi,
    VVD, Alonso, Daniels, Cedric
    Salah(c), KDB, Milli,
    Kun, Firmino, Zaha
    (Hamer, AWB, Masuaku, Stephens)

    1. Areid13
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Maybe Tosun instead of Zaha? One to watch during ore season with Silva in charge now

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Why VVD over Robertson? Really just curious as I can't decide?

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        I just think VD is nailed & is focus of their attacking set pieces, RRobertson is class, but has Moreno for competition now

    3. Mr Wizard
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      you cant afford this. 0.5 short

  9. child of God
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone think city do a back 3 this season?

  10. Areid13
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    First draft, thoughts?

    Pickford
    TAA Ward Christensen
    Mane Sane Son Lingard
    Firmino Lukaku Tosun

    Speroni Neves Ream 4.0

    1. MattB
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      With clyne and gomez back fit TAA definitely a rotation risk

      1. Areid13
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Maybe later on but he was one of their breakout stars last season he’ll start I’m pretty sure

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Christensen will burn you once again

      1. Areid13
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah I’m unsure on him last season he only ever played when I dropped him so he’s a place holder for now

    3. child of God
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Speroni third choice keeper

      1. Areid13
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Do you know any other 4.0 keepers that could play?

  11. MattB
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Will Kane be playing GW1, or any of the other final 4 world cup teams players for that matter, whats the likelihood that they will get an extended break and miss the intial few games?

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      highly likely the players taking part in the remaining fixtures of the world cup wont be available for the inital 2 weeks

  12. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Any love for Burnleys Defense?

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I've got one in. Will ship once Europa League kicks in though

      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        ive gone for Mee atm.

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Ive got Mee

  13. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Just doing my 1st draft now. Atm my defense is looking like this -

    Ederson, Speroni.
    Coleman, Robertson, Cedric, Mee, Malone.

    HAven't planned anything else yet but I'm liking this so far. 😀

  14. @fpl_phenom
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    im liking the looka os this.. primarily 433 formation depending on fixtures

    Ederson (Hamed)
    Bailly Coleman Daniels Cedric (Tomkins)
    Salah Silva Jota (Deulofeu Cairney)
    Aguero Firmino Zaha

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Can see a lot of wildcards activated from GW3 onwards when world cup players return to full fitness / availability.

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      This I like! A lot!

    3. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Jota over Walcott?

      1. @fpl_phenom
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        hmmm I said never again but @ £6.5M with those fixtures I think you could be right on Walcott over Jota.....

  15. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Liking this..

    Fab/Bettinelli
    Mendy - Coleman - Robertson - PVA - Daniels
    Sane - Ramsey - Mahrez - Lennon - Stephens
    Firmino - Kun - Zaha

    Mahrez is just for 4 city for lols, otherwise he could be Mane.

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      not worried about no Salah ? do you think hes overpriced @£13M ?

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        I have an other draft with him but right now I like the more even spread of quality that we can have without him. Im trying to play more conservative than previous years and that means I need a strong bench so I can withstand the inevitable City rotation.

    2. barton fc
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      not a fan of lennon myself would probs go maguire over coleman as well looking good tho

  16. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    thoughts?
    DDG
    alonso Azpilicueta mendy maguire
    salah sane mhiki neves
    kaku zaha

    all bench fodder wildcard around GW5

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      will Lukaku start the season given his run in the WC?

      1. barton fc
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        carnt see jose playing anyone else

        1. @fpl_phenom
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Martial is well rested ... but ye I take your point...

  17. @fpl_phenom
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    what way do we think City will line-up in attack ?

    Im thinkning because KDB, Sterling and to a lesser extent Jesus will require an extended holiday it should be like this front 4 ?

    Mahrez Silva Sane
    Aguero

  18. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    not a lot of love for erikson ?

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I had him in my first draft but a few poited out to me the massive numbers of spurs players in the later stages of the world cup could be an issue for them early on in the season...

      1. barton fc
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        good point

  19. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    finished tinkering for the day.

    Bettinelli (fabianski)
    mendy bailly tark cedric (tomkins)
    salah D.silva mhiki (neves) (Stephens)
    aguero firmins zaha/tossin

    starting to like the look of this.
    thoughts?

    1. CoffeeBean
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Bailly and Mendy not sure of a starting spot. The rest looks good as of now

  20. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    No mention of Foster at Watford? (£4.5m) Could be worth a shout?

  21. Somar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    How much money are you guys spending on both of your goalkeepers? I currently have Ederson and Hamer for a combined 9.5m A bit too much you think?

  22. Crangers1860
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Struggling who to pick from city mid. Sane or Mahrez?

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Pep says Bilva

  23. viks1981
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Any thoughts on Joe Hart? Started yesterday in the EL, and Heaton not played an official game for years. Burnley good fixtures, and solid at the back. Hart seems a secure starter at least until he underperforms. Thoughts?

  24. asg7889@gmail.com
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    pickford-steke
    robertson-mendy-vanAanholt-bennett-bednarek
    salah-jota-bernardoSilva-moura-richarlison
    kamara-aguero-lacazette

    Vs

    ederson-patricio
    alonso-alexArnold-vanAanholt-bennett-bednarek
    salah-jota-bernardoSilva-moura-romeu
    kamara-aguero-aubameyang