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. ESilva23
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Considering a Wildcard this week (team listed below would be a -16 hit to do without Wildcard):

    Alisson, Guaita
    TAA, Doherty, Kolas, Digne, AWB
    Salah, Haz, Pogba, Siggy, Camarasa
    Auba, Rashford, Ings

    My thinking is that I may not need any drastic moves rest of season and just need to time the free hit and make judicious choices down the line..

    1. Greek Flair
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      You’ll regret it come week 32 when the two double gameweeks are locked in

      1. ESilva23
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I think I've talked myself back down haha (it is my first season playing so I tend to get carried away by some plans)

        Looking at taking a step with this -4 move of Fab, Lowe -> Alisson, TAA. This would make my team:

        Alisson, Foster,
        TAA, Doherty, Kolas, Digne, AWB
        Salah, Haz, Pogba, Siggy, Snodgrass
        Auba, Jimenez, Ings

        Would leave me with 1 mil itb

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

    Anyone think Augero will start the GW? Also Sane? Really want some city attacking players but f knows what’s going on with the squad selection.

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

      I think sane will start

      1. Chenku╰☆╮
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I think sane is 50:50..sterling Jesus more likely this week

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

          Aguero training yesterday at Man City wrapped up and bumble hat like everyone else. Surely if he was that bad with flu he would of been at home and not infecting the others. I think Sterling will start but either with Sane or Mahrez. Gut is saying Sane probably completely wrong.

  3. DIMITRIS
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    On a WC, what do you think? :

    Etheridge
    TAA Robertson Digne
    Salah Brooks Sterling Richarlison
    Rashford Arnautovic Aubameyang

    bench: Guaita, Camarasa, Jonny, Bednarek

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

      Looks great - keep an eye on the developing arnie story though

  4. Subzero (-4)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Any suggestions where I can find the 0.2 from this wildcard team. Really want auba instead of aguero for my big hitter striker. Ethridge Robbo taa digne Salah hazard pogba Richarlison Anderson Rashford aguero Button Doherty bednarek kamara. Kamara is 3rd on bench every week so contemplating downgrading to 4.3 but seems such a waste having a non playing player. Thank you

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

      Drop Anderson. Get Fraser.

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Find that enter line break button on your keyboard.

  5. J to the T
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Fab
    Luiz Shaw Holebas AWB
    Haz (c) Pog Rich Anderson
    Kane Auba (v)
    (Button. Jimi, Doherty, Gunnarson)
    1FT and £1.7 ITB
    Save FT and get Salah next week?

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

      I think Salah v. Brighton > Hazard v. Newcastle...

      1. J to the T
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Can do Haz & Fanderson -> Salah & Arnie for a -4

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

    Is it crazy to go Kane and Aguero? To afford this, I basically need a nonplaying keeper and mid. But the fixtures look tasty.

    Kepa (Hamer)

    TAA, Shaw, Digne, (AWB, Bennett)

    Richarlison, Salah, Fraser, Pereyra (Hudson-Odoi)

    Kane, Aguero, Rashford

    Or would you take Auba v. West Ham, and then upgrade to Kane once they're done with United and take on Fulham next?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba v hammers.

  7. Greek Flair
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    So many people seem to be wildcarding straight away this year. Whatever happened to holding to week 32

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I still intend to arse mine up later rather than sooner.

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

        When do arse have good fixtures

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

    :small_red_triangle: