Pre-Season

Premium goalkeepers boosted by defender price hikes

Cost increases for defenders at Liverpool and Manchester City have boosted the potential for goalkeepers at the Premier League’s top clubs.

Alisson and Ederson will both begin the 2019/20 campaign as the most expensive shot-stoppers in the game (£6.0m) but do offer something to Fantasy managers.

The Liverpool man undercuts both Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) by £1.0m and could offer a saving of £0.5m compared to centre-back Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m).

While Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip are all at £5.5m, it is unclear at this point which of them will hold down a regular place in the side.

In fact, it is possible that neither of them will, considering how often the trio came in and out of the back-line last season.

That’s why Alisson offers a healthy middle ground, undercutting the very expensive Liverpool defensive options while proving more likely to start than the cheaper ones.

The Brazilian may have increased in price for the 2019/20 but examining points per million spent (PPM) using his 2018/19 score in combination with the new price, his has changed the least compared to his colleagues.


Points per matchPoints per million spent (18/19)Points per million spent (19/20)
Alisson 4.6 29.8 29.3
van Dijk  5.5 31.0 32
Robertson 5.9 31.8 30.4
Alexander-Arnold 6.4 31.9 26.4

As you can see from the table above, both Robertson and Alexander-Arnold’s PPM of last season’s points have dropped on account of huge price rises to £7.0m.

Van Dijk’s actually increased considering he finished 2018/19 at £6.7m but begins the new season £0.2m cheaper.

Alisson, meanwhile, sees his PPM remain relatively stable, dropping only 0.5.

Obviously, there are limitations to using PPM in isolation, especially as Alexander-Arnold missed a portion of the 2018/19 campaign with injury, but in the case of Alisson, it shows that the price hikes of the summer have increased his value against that of his colleagues to some extent.

Ederson continues to be one of just a few nailed-on Man City defensive assets

As one of only a few regular starters in the Manchester City defence, Ederson continues to offer something.

Like Alisson, his completely nailed-on status means that he continues to best his defensive colleagues on PPM even when we apply 2019/20’s prices to 2018/19’s scores.


Points per matchPoints per million spent (18/19)Points per million spent (19/20)
Ederson 4.4 29.6 28.2
Laporte 5.1 28.1 27.2
Walker 4.5 23.4 25.0

However, we must point out that in both the case of Alisson and Ederson, they offer little more than the clean sheet potential.

In both Liverpool and Manchester City’s squads, there are defensive options who are capable of delivering attacking returns with astonishing regularity compared to their goalkeepers – as we assessed HERE.

The £5.5m options

It was not a good year for de Gea in 2018/19

Those looking for slightly cheaper set-and-forget options can find them at Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Everton this year – although very few of them appeal.

After keeping just seven clean sheets last season, David de Gea (£5.5m) understandably drops out of the £6.0m bracket.

That poor defensive record, which hardly improved under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, should see Fantasy managers avoid the Spaniard at the start of the season.

Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m) remains at the same price point after keeping 14 clean sheets in 2018/19.

Despite offering a cheaper option compared to the likes of Marcos Alonso (£6.5m) and Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m), the Spaniard is unlikely to be of use in the first six Gameweeks as Chelsea’s fixtures rank towards the lower end of the Season Ticker.

Furthermore, there’s a chance that Andreas Christensen (£5.0m) could start matches regularly in the place of the injured Antonio Rüdiger (£6.0m) during that period anyway.

Jordan Pickford has been pushed up into the £5.5m category

Those looking at Everton’s defensive set-up for the start of 2019/20, especially with their favourable early fixtures, will certainly be a little bit disappointed to see Jordan Pickford join the £5.5m club when some hoped he might remain at £5.0m.

It will certainly cause Fantasy managers to ask themselves how much they want to commit to the Toffees’ backline at the start of the campaign.

Pickford might have the ability to compete at this level, though.

In 2018/19, the England international finished third overall for clean sheets, his total of 14 behind on Alisson and Ederson.

Eight of those came in the last 11 matches of the season as Everton finished the campaign in fantastic defensive form, even keeping Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool out at Goodison Park.

However, Pickford finished the season with just 97 saves, ranking him 11th among all goalkeepers.

It does seem unlikely that Pickford will have the chance to be an option who delivers these types of additionals on a regular basis, especially if Everton continue their defensive performances from the end of last season.

During the last 11 matches of the campaign, the Toffees ranked third best for shots conceded, efforts allowed in the box or shots on target conceded, thoroughly reducing Pickford’s chances of accumulating saves.

Where Pickford was able to make up for the lack of saves from open play to finish as the third highest-scoring goalkeeper was penalties.

Nobody stopped more than him in 2018/19 and with Video Assistant Referee coming to the Premier League this season, he might actually have more opportunities to follow that feat up in 2019/20.

Hugo Lloris could prove the better of the £5.5m options in 2019/20

Potentially the most likely to offer some appeal in this price bracket is Hugo Lloris (£5.5m).

Despite registering his lowest clean sheet tally since 2014/15 last season (12), the Spurs shot-stopper actually recorded his highest ever FPL points tally (145).

That came from 100 saves, the second highest of any option priced over £5.0m in 2018/19.

Only de Gea managed more than that (125) in the premium category but his clean sheet potential was considerably lower than Lloris’.

With Spurs offering an appealing run of home games between now and the end of the calendar year, maybe Lloris could be the best set-and-forget premium option.

Coupled with those favourable home fixtures are some tough initial clashes with Manchester City and Arsenal in the first four Gameweeks, which might put some off.

However, those taking a long-term view for their team might be interested in holding him from the outset with his save potential against those top-six sides quite high, and his chances of clean sheets around them also good.

Priced out

Fabianski heads up a selection of previously £4.5m goalkeepers to join the £5.0m group

There are a number of options who have risen from £4.5m to £5.0m, which significantly damages their appeal for 2019/20.

The £5.0m price bracket among goalkeepers is often considered to be something of a no man’s land, and those who have joined it this season seem to only confirm that theory.

Having finished inside the top three for saves in each of the last five seasons, Lukasz Fabianski has finally been taken away as a £4.5m option.

That’s despite the West Ham shot-stopper scoring 14 fewer points in 2018/19 compared to 2017/18 and registering two fewer clean sheets as well.

The Hammers are certainly the sort of side that can help Fabianski accumulate saves, given how often they conceded shots last season, but it’s their inability to keep clean sheets that is the problem.

Even at £4.5m, Fabianski caused his owners serious frustration in his first campaign at the London Stadium. West Ham kept just two clean sheets at home against sides outside the top six.

In the last 11 Gameweeks of the season, only Watford conceded more big chances than the Hammers and only Fulham allowed more efforts inside the box.

If that continues into 2019/20, with the inflated cost, then Fabianski’s days as a Fantasy asset are probably over until his price drops again.

The same goes for Ben Foster (£5.0m) who has also gone up from his previous £4.5m price point.

The Watford man finished third for saves in 2018/19 but kept just seven clean sheets. Looking at the defensive returns in insolation already puts us off spending £5.0m on him.

Add on Watford’s really poor underlying statistics and it’s clear their defensive assets should probably be avoided in 2019/20.

During the final 11 Gameweeks of last season, no team conceded more big chances than the Hornets.

Rui Patrício has also risen to £5.0m

Also keeping a poor number of clean sheets and still receiving a price hike is Wolves man Rui Patrício (£5.0m).

He and his defensive colleagues recorded just eight shutouts in 2018/19, but he didn’t really touch the upper echelons when it came to saves either.

The Portuguese international recorded just 97 stops, seven goalkeepers securing more than that last season.

Admittedly, Patrício’s save statistics came from the fact that Wolves did not concede too many chances last season – which could hint at an improvement to their clean sheet count this time around.

During the whole 2018/19 campaign, the only teams to concede fewer big chances than Wolves were Manchester City and Liverpool – although that didn’t help them match those teams for clean sheets.

There are also still plenty of unknowns about Nuno Espirito Santo’s men ahead of the new campaign.

Their competitive campaign has already begun in the Europa League and with a squad that is still relatively small by Premier League standards, it will be hard to predict how they cope with this additional commitment.

Therefore, if Patrício was an unreliable asset at £4.5m, very few managers will be interested in him at £5.0m.

Fantasy managers won’t be able to get hold of Guaita for £4.2m anymore

Vicente Guaita (£5.0m) might stand a better chance of justifying his new price tag.

Crystal Palace kept 12 clean sheets in 2018/19, with the former Valencia and Getafe shot-stopper securing the FPL points for seven of those in his 20 starts.

With just 1,754 minutes under his belt, it should be no surprise that Guaita only amassed a total of 64 saves.

However, he ranked a little better when it came to minutes per save. Of those who made more than 20 starts, Guaita’s save every 27.4 minutes was the joint sixth-best in 2018/19.

Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) holds on to his £5.0m price tag from last season.

1,137 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    What are everyone's genuine views on Ayoze Perez? Rafa's gone, their fixtures are dire, yes. Sometimes things can be so literal they can block us from actually isolating information and looking at individuals. I realise Newcastle are up in the air in general. But Perez is focal to everything they do and he's very talented. Are any of you considering him?

    1. Sterling Malory
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Not sure how focal he is, be interesting to see how they replace Rondon and how Perez game adapts to his new striker. Could be a good punt.

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Yes, but not to start the season as those early fixtures are dire.

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        I'm trying to think beyond fixtures this season and look at individual players. Essentially that is all the game revolves around anyway. The idea of Perez scoring against Arsenal is hardly beyond belief anyway.

    3. Marty McFly
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Fixtures are putting me off but he’s a more attractive proposition with the reclassification to a midfielder. Just tonnes of alternatives at that price point!

    4. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I tried to fit him in but the 6.5 seems better spent on King, or if you can squeeze out .5 more for Mili that seems a lot safer. Could be a nice punt though. Nice differential

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        It really depends on your team, but you make a very interesting response. For me, I'm looking for a £6.5m mid because I'm settled otherwise. My alternatives are Gross, Redmond and Brooks. But I need to see evidence for each of them to sway me otherwise.

    5. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Could be gold reclassified as a Mid.

      Adding 1 point for each of his 12 goals, and 1 point per CS (11), he wouldve scored more than the likes of Eriksen, Sane, Bilva, Son, and Zaha

    6. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Gotta admit Perez looks like a permanent part of my draft .... Will be interesting to see how preseason pans out though ....

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        He's a decent player. 12 goals for a £6.5. Only a fool would ignore it. His underlying stats aren't bad either.

        1. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          I like Perez & Zaha (if he stays and performs as well as last season) & Giroud at the lofty price of 7.0

    7. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I think there’ll almost certainly be a time & a place for him this season - the midfield classification if nothing else should see to that

      I’m just not sure it’s GW1

      But for a draft game yeah he could be a nice pick from the off

    8. Markus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I think perez will do best alongside a decent target man. He will struggle otherwise as doesn't have the strength.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Naaaah

  2. MGMT
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    First Draft 🙂

    Ryan

    Robertson - TAA - Mendy

    Zaha - Sigurdsson - Salah - KDB

    King - Vardy - Deulofeu

    Subs: Button - Kelly - Dendocker - Stearman

    Any suggestions??

    1. sirmorbach
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Maybe KDB-BSilva, upgrade bench? I'd worry having no coverage for Mendy

  3. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Rate this draft?

    Lloris
    Ake / TAA / Robbo / Coleman
    Salah / Fraser / Siggy
    Jota / Kane / Wilson

    Button / Kelly / dendoncker / Hayden

  4. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Pickford

    TAA / VVD / Mendy

    Salah / Siggy / Zaha / Maddie

    King, Vardy

    Completing XI, with a Brooks/Coleman rotation (4-4-2, 3-5-2).

    Good?

    1. BoomXhakaLaca1
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Personal would pick between maddison and vardy, wouldn't go with both

  5. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    How’s this for a first draft.? thoughts appreciated...

    Heaton
    TAA VVD Laporte Balbuena
    Salah KDB Fraser Fornals
    Kane Arnie

    Button Kelly Hayden Nketiah

    1. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Just A Dodgy Bench .

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Dodgy benches will be frequent. That's fine. The first wildcard is the remedy of that, but I think the lack of City is the biggest concern. Also, who the feck is Fornals?

        1. Hits from the Bong
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          I have Laporte and De Bruyne. KDB instead of Sterling allows Kane.

          Fornals is West Ham’s new £25m attacking midfielder, playing up front for Spain U21s tonight.

    2. The Royal Robin
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      You're lacking a City attacker. Sterling will haunt you.

  6. Greek Flair
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Head me out here because this will sound crazy, buying Danny Drinkwater is my sleeper pick for 5th mid at 4.5m

    If he gets his long awaited transfer out of Chelsea to a team where he starts, use to get the odd stat or too back in the Leciester days

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      People wouldnt sleep on him if he changed clubs.

  7. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Considering price, pick 2 of these 4:

    A) Fraser
    B) Maddison
    C) Siggy
    D) Zaha

    Thanks

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Or better still, rank them 1-4

    2. Robin Cook
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      A & C

      1. Robin Cook
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        C - A - B - D

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Thank you

    3. MFPL
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      C B A D

    4. The Royal Robin
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      B&C

  8. MFPL
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on this draft?

    Ryan
    TAA - Robertson - Digne - Ake
    Salah - KDB - Sigurdsson - Townsend
    Kane - King

    Subs are all cheap and won't be used for rotation

  9. New Article
  10. Boxwoods
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Trent or Robbo?

    1. The Royal Robin
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Both

  11. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Liverpool fixtures:

    CS - 4/8
    GW1 - 9/8
    Super Cup - 14/8
    GW2- 17/8

    Their GW2 fixture will be delayed a day or 2 right?

  12. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    hows this for a draft team?

    ryan
    vvd, mendy, digne, kelly
    sterling, mane, siggy, zaha
    king, kane
    subs- button, hayden, reid, nkeitah

    options to downgrade digne to coleman and make room for vvd to robbo/taa or upgrade 4 mill defender to 4.5

  13. Rash
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Think the pricing of the keepers this year is a bit extreme imo..

    Heaton the best cheap option? Maybe travers if he is confirmed no.1

    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah probably. He should start, and Burnley should start better than last year

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Ryan Button combo
        Fire and Forget

  14. TheythinkHITSallover
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Ederson
    Ake, Digne, Coleman, TAA, Robo
    Sterling, Salah(c), Zaha
    King, Wilson

    Button, Gendouzi, Hayden, Nketiah

    Is double Bournmouth crazy, was considering Jiminez over Wilson but SU such an appealing 1st fixture

    Also 5 at the back, some advice on this would be good, can see no one does it but does seem to be some good value at the back

    1. SH
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      How about Wilson>Jimmy and Ake>City/Utd/Spurs def?

  15. SH
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    First Draft

    Ederson (Button)
    TAA Robbo Coleman Trippier (Kelly)
    Salah Bilva Zaha Eriksen (Donck)
    Vardy King (Greenwood)

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Don't get it why so love for Ederson. I don't want to be without triple City attackers option

      1. SH
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Nailed on City defense

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Hi lads,

    Please RMT

    Ryan Button
    TAA Robbo VVD Digne Kelly
    Zaha Sterling (perma C) KDB Fraser
    Giroud
    1m it
    Bench Kelly fodder fodder

    Thanks

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      1m ITB