Opinion

Why I’m considering a Liverpool defensive double-up

The festive period is always an exciting time of the season for FPL managers but boy was it hectic.

It feels good to return to normality now with more time to mull over our transfer decisions each week.

Time to double up on the Liverpool defence?

The Reds have been rock solid defensively this season with Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m) keeping everything under control and Alisson (£5.9m) performing much better than his predecessors.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have conceded just ten goals in their opening twenty-one matches and they face just one of the current top six in the next ten Gameweeks (Manchester United away in Gameweek 27).

A defenesive double up looks good on paper with any combination of Andrew Robertson (£6.6m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.2m), van Dijk or Alisson likely to bring home the clean sheet points for managers between now and the next international break (yes there is another one).

Will Eden Hazard troll his owners again?

The Belgian has frustrated his backers in recent weeks with three blanks in his last four appearances against Leicester, Crystal Palace and Southampton.

Patience is required with Eden Hazard (£11.1m) as often has been the case. He’s an FPL asset that must be held long term to reap the benefits as his hauls are unpredictable. Watch him bag a brace this weekend to stick it to the sellers.

Despite three blanks in the last four, Hazard ranks first alongside Richarlison (£6.9m) among midfielders for shots in the box (10) over the same period as well as creating ten chances for his team mates. Some would say he’s due…

Why sell Richarlison before Bournemouth at home?

The Brazilian is the second most-transferred out player ahead of Gameweek 22 with more than 110,000 sales. Only his fellow countryman Felipe Anderson (£7.4m) has been shipped by more managers this week.

Selling Richarlison ahead of a plum home tie is risky business. The Cherries have conceded eighteen goals in the last six Gameweeks!

The Toffees looked jaded in the 1-0 defeat to Leicester back in Gameweek 21, but a rest for some of their first-team players in the FA Cup should see them looking much fresher in Sunday’s matchup at Goodison Park.

Raheem the dream differential?

Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) has eighteen attacking returns (nine goals, nine assists) in eighteen appearances in 2018/19, yet is owned by just 10.2% of managers ahead of Monday’s home tie against Wolves.

For those managers who are down the rankings or are chasing a lead in a mini-league, the Englishman could prove to be a devastating differential over the coming weeks.

Manchester City gave us a timely reminder of what they can do to teams with a 9-0 thrashing of Burton Albion in the EFL Cup midweek. Sterling was an unused substitute in that match which makes him even more appealing for Gameweek 22, maybe even as captain.

Is Marcus Rashford being overhyped?

The young striker has been excellent since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the reins at Old Trafford, scoring 31 FPL points, but is his place in the starting XI as secure as most people seem to think?

There’s a lot of competition for places at United. Romelu Lukaku (£10.7m) isn’t going to be content with a place on the bench and will be pushing for starts.

Will Solskjaer play them both up front together, or could we see Rashford moved back to the wing where he would be in competition with the likes of Anthony Martial (£7.3m), Alexis Sanchez (£10.0m), Jesse Lingard (£6.8m) and Juan Mata (£6.2m).

For now, Rashford looks to be Solskjaer’s number one striker but all it takes is a poor display or two and we could see some positional/personnel changes.

Aaron Wan-Don’t-Bench-Me-Bissaka

Arguably the greatest £4.0m FPL asset of all time has picked up three clean sheets in the last five Gameweeks.

Crystal Palace have looked a lot more stable defensively in recent weeks since Vicente Guaita (£4.2m) took over from Wayne Hennessey (£4.5m) between the sticks.

Five of the next six fixtures look good for  Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) to get starts in our teams rather than having to look at his points on the bench.

The FPL General has three top-500 finishes in the last four seasons. You can follow him on Twitter HERE.

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418 Comments Post a Comment
  1. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    AWB is such a good FPL asset. Only benched him twice when he has scored more than 2pts - last GW and GW13 when Palace drew 0-0 with Man Utd

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Utd should sign him, would sort their RB issue.

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I benched him for gw1 12 pointer.
      🙁

    3. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Had him all season and still no points from him.

  2. Tibbs
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What do you prefer:

    a) Aubu + Anderson>> Arnie + Salah
    b) Aubu + Anderson + Luiz>> Rashford + Salah + TAA (-4)

    I don't have enough to get Rashford in for free and Luiz will become TAA next week, thoughts?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Luiz @ home vs. newcastle vs. TAA away @ Brighton with Fabinho in one of the CB spots (Potential injury to VVD & Lovren).

      My reasoning for A.

      Can always do Luiz > TAA next week.

  3. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    thoughts on this team:

    Guaita (Button)
    TAA Pereira Digne (BEDNAREK Doherty)
    Salah Haz SANE Pogba (CHO)
    Kane RASHFORD Kamara

    worried about not owning Richarlison, next 3 fixtures are pretty nice...

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      will probably be a 442 if Kamara/CHO don't play often enough, here's the current team:

      TAA Pereira Digne (Holebas* Doherty)
      Salah Haz Son* Pogba Anderson*
      Kane Kamara (Quaner*)

      1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, will be 10 degrees and dry in Liverpool at 1430 Sunday. Think he'll have a solid first hour before the temperature drops below double figures.

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          😀

  4. Reckoner.
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Double up on Allison & Robertson from the start has probably been my best decision of the year.

    Shame I self destructed a great start!

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

    Transfer advice

    1FT + 1.6m ITB

    Fabianski Foster
    Luiz Digne Holebas Doherty AWB
    Hazard Son Pogba Snodgrass Deulofeu
    Kane Aubameyang Kamara

    1. mattyb09
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Holebas to a Liverpool defender

    2. ElChapo
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hold this week then do Son + Auba > Salah + Arnie

  6. Zebrahimović
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Son —> Sane this week for -4? Or wait til next week

    1. mattyb09
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Next week

    2. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wait

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wait

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wait.

  7. Wakanda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Choose 1
    Mane or Auba for next 5 fixtures

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba

    2. mattyb09
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba

    3. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba

    4. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba

    5. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba.

    6. Wakanda
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      thanks all. I guess i have no other choice

  8. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Have 2ft's and trying to work out where to use a transfer (so not to waste it).
    Who goes?
    A) Anderson (best fixtures possibly behind him, price will drop)
    B) Martial (had high hopes, but poor fixture and is he nailed?)
    C) Son (will sell next week if not, so could just jump now)

    Will downgrade for Salah cash to someone out of Bilva/Richarlison/Pereya/Fraser depending on the need for cash.

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      If nobody else to sell then reluctantly C

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        My only other options are...
        Digne to Bednarek/Cedric (big saving, have 4 playing defenders anyway).
        Fabianski to Guaita (saves 0.4 for me, have AWB already).

  9. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Eriksen/Richarlison

    Or

    Hazard/Redmond

  10. Trane84
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Who would you do without for the short-medium term (say next 5GWs)?

    Kane, Auba, Haz, Salah

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Haz

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba

    3. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Terrified by Fulham, but Kane

    4. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone but Haz

    5. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Haz.

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        😆

    6. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Kane for the next five, however Salah and Auba for the next seven is more appealing.

    7. Trane84
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks all... Sort of

  11. smix
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    A. Martial & Sane to Salah & 4.6 mid for a hit
    B. Martial to Siggy
    C. Hold

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      C

    2. Fantasydreamer
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

  12. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Balbuena out for 6-8 weeks. Rip Fabianski points

    1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Brought him in for Pereira. Gets injured conceding penalty.

      Apologies to all who owned him.

  13. Gamer18
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Going into Week 1 of Last Man Standing who should I pick? Comment below

  14. mattyb09
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Is it possible to get my GW1 team back?

    Alisson Hamer
    Robertson Shaw TAA AWB Mendy
    Salah Richarlison Fraser Jota Chalobah
    Auba Aguero Wilson

    1. mattyb09
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Holebas, not TAA

    2. Klein
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah. Press wc

  15. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Next week.potential move for free.
    Martial,Anderson > Sane,Redmond ?

    Will give me
    Salah,Sane,Pogba,Richarlison,Redmond
    Kane,Aubamayang,Kamara

  16. smix
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Richarlison or Siggy ?

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Rich

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Rich.

  17. Hargo
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Fabianski Button
    Robertson Luiz Shaw AWB Digne
    Salah Pogba Hazard Anderson Camarasa
    Auba Jimenez Ings

    2 FT 0.1 ITB

    Any suggestions?

    1. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Looks a great team.
      Maybe do somthing with Fab?
      Anderson to Rich maybe for fixtures

  18. leocarter27
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Start one?

    A) Puncheon (Cardiff A)
    B) Kamara (Burnley A)

    Thanks

    1. lugs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Kamara easily

  19. Ahmed Adam
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    How do you See this Wildcard team

    Etheridge /Button
    Digne Arnold Chilwel Bisaka Bednadek

    Salah Hazard Sane Deloufeo Maitland-niles

    Jemenez Kane Barnes

    1. Klein
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Dont like chilwell with fixtures turning. All else looks good

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Cheaper mids to maybe Redmond and Camarasa.. Maitland-Niles is a bad choice

  20. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    No Liverpool or Man City makes me think i need to use my wildcard.....Is there any way to salvage my team?

    1FT + 1.6m ITB

    Fabianski Foster
    Luiz Digne Holebas Doherty AWB
    Hazard Son Pogba Snodgrass Deulofeu
    Kane Aubameyang Kamara

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Save easy to work in those you want going forward. Other teams also get points

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        *players

  21. Gamer18
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Going into Week 1 of Last Man Standing who should I pick? Comment below.

  22. Whazza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Got 0.4 still on WC, do I bank it or any obvious improvements?

    Guaita
    VVD TAA AWB
    Salah Hazard Sane Richarlison
    Auba Arnie Jimenez

    Patricio-Puncheon-Doherty-Bednarek

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Arnie or Rashford is the only debate there I'd say.

      1. Whazza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Satisfying as it exactly 0.4, but actually set on Arnie as a differential in my ML.

        1. BOATIES FC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          He may well be gone this window though

  23. Mo Mané Mo Problems
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Next weeks transfers:

    Son, Anderson, Alonso to Salah, Hojberg, and TAA.

    Can take a 0.1 drop on Son, Anderson and Alonso before I lose value.

    Have 0.2ITB after those transfers. Salah is going to rise this week. Will TAA rise too? Will I have to pull the trigger early doors? Will any of the 3 going out double drop?

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Just get Hudson Odoi or Puncheon if you get priced out of Hojb

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        This, better to get creative with your cheap folders than be forced by price changes

      2. Mo Mané Mo Problems
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Fair point.

        Guess CHO or Punch have some scope for rises too, if they start somewhat regularly.

  24. janowsc
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Should I save the FT or do Kamara -> Barnes? This is my dilemma...Ings, Doherty, Kamara, Torreira... gotta play someone... cheers

  25. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Are people playing their Wolves players v City?

    1. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Just Jimenez. Benching Doherty

    2. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Would play Jiminez if I owned him.

    3. Sánchez
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Might have to play doherty as I have a few red flags

    4. Simmoo
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No but I don't know why people are so petrified about a 5-0, a close game seems far more likely.

      If I didn't have good alternatives I'd have no problem playing Doherty or Jimenez.

    5. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Looks likely Doherty will have to come on for me. Wilson doubtful

    6. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers - after that Spurs result it seems risky and I'd like a bit of MNF interest. May play Jimmy over Fraser or AWB.

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

      If I didn't have Mitro, I would start Jim. I probably should still start Jim.

    8. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      RMT has Doherty as Sub. 3. :). I’ll pass.

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Him v Sane will be a good watch...may get some joy...

  26. TLF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I think my benching headache will go down to the wire, i need to leave one of the following 3 out; WB, Digne or Camarasa.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      WB

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I’m benching Wan B, have all 3

  27. Jafalad
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    The General is behind the times. I doubled up on LIV d in week 15 on WC. TAA and VVD being the weapons of choice. Good differential too.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      General having a difficult season.

  28. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    My team:

    GKP: Foster (Fabianski)
    DEF: Alexander-Arnold, Wan-Bissaka, Digne, Robertson (Doherty)
    MID: Martial, Felipe Anderson, Hazard (V) (Schürrle) (Kenedy)
    FWD: Aubameyang (C), Rashford, Kane

    1FT, 1.1 IDB

    1. Do I need Salah this week? (can't get him w/o a hit)
    2. Who for cap? Haz or Auba?

    1. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      1. It's not imperative to own Salah this week.
      2. Auba

      1. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Thx

  29. Turns
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Happy Thursday all! How am I looking for this week?

    Patricio
    Robbo - TAA - Kola
    Haz(C) - Sane - Richy - Pereyra - Camarasa
    Kane - Firmino
    --------
    Hamer - AWB - Jimenez - Bennett