Pro Pundits - Mark

Why I’m refusing to waver on Klopp’s defensive double-up

Mark Sutherns explains why he’s sticking to his guns amid the Liverpool defensive firesale.


I remain defiant when it comes to Liverpool’s full-backs. An avalanche of goals is flushing funds from Fantasy Premier League defences and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) and Andy Robertson (£7.0m) are rapidly being classified as disposable. But I’m not having it.

I’m not denying the logic. Liverpool have kept just four clean sheets in 13 matches since the restart and the injury to Alisson (£6.0m), a crucial component in Jurgen Klopp’s defensive jigsaw, nudges a hapless Adrian (£4.5m) into the firing line.

That worrying scenario provides a sub-plot to a season that, so far, has seen 144 goals scored, a rate of 3.79 goals per game. That’s a ridiculous figure: the record for a Premier League season was set in 1992/93 when we witnessed a rate of 2.65 goals per game.

So FPL managers are reassessing their team structure and flooding to the major benefactors of the goal rush, notably Spurs’ Harry Kane (£10.6m) and Son Heung-min (£9.1m).

Expensive defenders are being sacrificed and, should Alexander-Arnold and Robertson fail to return in Saturday’s Merseyside derby, the evacuation will only gather pace.

But the recent explosion from the Spurs pair isn’t enough to convince me to give up on my two defensive investments. I may well move funds from Lucas Digne (£6.1m) and Reece James (£5.1m) and replace them with £4.5m options, but I’m remaining steadfast on the Liverpool full-backs.

At this stage, FPL managers normally start to seek out trends and patterns vital to drive our decisions – our transfers, our early-season Wildcards.

But we’ve never experienced a start to the season like this. We’re in the midst of something extreme that, to my mind, makes it impossible to find the comforting foothold of reliable data and form.

So with just this small and extraordinary sample of matches as my reference, I’m refusing to write off a player who, prior to Gameweek 1, was the first name on almost every FPL teamsheet.

At the time of writing, over almost 240,000 managers have sold Alexander-Arnold heading into Saturday’s deadline.

Admittedly, his performances have contributed to that trend. He has been short of his best by some margin and has been strangely peripheral to Liverpool’s play. However, Alexander-Arnold’s numbers remain impressive: only West Ham’s Ryan Fredericks (£4.4m) and Aaron Cresswell (£4.9m) have created more chances among players in his Fantasy position, and with seven efforts on goal, no defender has bettered his direct threat. If you are brave enough to use data given the bizarre four Gameweeks we’ve had, there’s little in the numbers to drive you to sell.

Alexander-Arnold is a player that has provided 28 assists and five goals in his previous two campaigns, with his points tally improving from 185 points to 210. Since the start of the 2019/20 campaign, only Kevin De Bruyne (£11.6m) and Jack Grealish (£7.1m) have created more chances and on Boxing Day last year, the right-back coupled that creativity with an eye for goal to haul of 24-points, a record for a defender in the history of FPL.

Is this really an asset we can reject on the basis of four bizarre Gameweeks?

On Liverpool’s opposite flank, Robertson appears to be reaching new levels as an attacking outlet. He’s overshadowed Alexander-Arnold since the restart, creating more chances (22 vs 20) and more big chances (six versus three), while he’s surely passed the eye test.

The Scot is pouring forward on the left flank, overlapping Mane time and time again. He already has a first goal to his name and there should be more to come.

Fabinho bolsters Liverpool defence as Werner shows promise ahead of West Brom

Liverpool will be backed to be second only to Manchester City for goals scored again this season and, collectively, their full-backs have provided 34% of the assists since the start of the 2018/19 season.

So while the chances of clean sheets in the short-term may be diminished by Adrian’s tenure, Klopp’s side will have to score more goals to win matches and that will surely benefit their primary source of creativity.

And I’m not giving up on defensive returns, either.

We have to expect Klopp to react to the Villa Park mauling. He will surely focus on shutting down the gaps that were exploited in that defeat. The return of Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) and Sadio Mane (£11.9m) – both vital to Liverpool’s pressing game that denies opponents the time to exploit a high line – must also be factored in.

That aforementioned record of four clean sheets from 13 outings includes eight matches when the title was almost in the bag. But Liverpool cannot show any complacency now. Pep Guardiola will demand that his City side match Liverpool’s own relentless consistency, so Klopp will know that he has to quickly find a solution to their defensive frailties.

The fixture list convinces me that I can give him time.

Liverpool face just a Gameweek 8 trip to the Etihad and a home clash with Spurs in Gameweek 13 as major tests before the deadline for the first Wildcard.

So for this FPL manager, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson remain at the status they held before the madness ensued: unique assets who can present outstanding value.

They are investments worthy of that extra five million, particularly when I can compensate for that spend by investigating mid-price assets in attacking areas. We’ve already seen that Grealish, James Rodriguez (£7.6m), Dominic Calvert Lewin (£7.6m) and Michail Antonio (£6.3m) are options that offer the potential of returns that keep pace or even better the top tier players.

It’s going to take a Jose Mourinho team to go on scoring five and six goals a game to convince me otherwise. At that point, the madness shifts to a whole new level.


Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

3,031 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Who should I start?

    a) Soucek

    b) Brewster

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Soucek - looks good and close to scoring. Not sure how Brewster will play since he hasn't played a game yet in the EPL

    2. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. Gianluca Busio's Hair …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      a

    4. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Brewster, Spurs are a lot better defensively than Fulham

  2. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB to Grealish -4 or play Bissouma?

    0.8itb 0ft
    McCarthy
    Robbo TAA Taylor Ayling
    KDB* Salah Son Podence
    DCL Jimenez
    (Peacock Bissouma Justin Vassilev)

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Anyone?

    2. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Take the hit as KDB likely to be out for a little while. Grealish great long-term option.

    3. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Go for Grealish.

  3. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best 4.0 keeper to get with Martinez?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      The villa backup Steer

      1. Runaway
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Villa assets can be great enablers if they continue like this so you may not want to use 2 Villa spots on the goal.

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Very good point. Forgot about that especially when I would pick Martinez, Grealish and Watkins

    2. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I am going with Forster, I believe he is the likeliest 4.0 to take down the main guy without an injury.

  4. Aubamewho
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Repost,
    Thoughts pls, current WC draft:

    Mccarthy | Martin
    Chilwell | Justin | KWP | Mitchell | kilman
    Salah | KDB | Zaha | Son | JRod
    Maupay | Kane | Brewster

    A) KDB > Grealish, Justin > Lampty
    B) KDB > Grealish, Justin > Reguilon
    C) KDB > Sterling or Mahrez

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A Samedo

  5. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    For -4, KDB to:
    a) Zaha
    b) Grealish

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Grealish

    2. Gianluca Busio's Hair …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      def b.

  6. ZTF
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Rival this week in draft has a utd defender as his last, so which defence would you start?

    A) Utd
    B) Wolves
    C) Brighton

  7. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Kdb to? (-4)

    A) sterling
    B) mane

    1. yanky
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      sterling if you have salah, im in a similar spot below

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mane

    3. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      b

  8. yanky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    a) KDB > Grealish -4pt
    b) KDB > Pulisic -4pt (have werner already)
    c) KDB > Sterling -4pt
    d) Keep KDB and play Lamptey or Justin

    1. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      2

    2. sozopol
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      very similar dilemma to mine, except for me it would be KDB > Salah (-4). With yours, I'd do either b) or d)

  9. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would you start Coleman or Targett?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Targett

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        cheers

  10. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Son or Salah for the armband?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salah

    2. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salah cap son VC

    3. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salah

    4. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      The last 3 PL meetings were 0-0 at Goodison. Son for me.

  11. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB to son or sterling for -4? Already used FT..

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Son

    2. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Son.

    3. sozopol
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      yep, Son

    4. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Son

    5. Eastman
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Think I'm benching him

    6. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks all

    7. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Son by a mile.

  12. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Mark and I are streaming live to discuss my last minute panic wildcard if anyone is interested
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuvH5L5A2Ng

    1. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'll give it a whirl

    2. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Will have a look. Already burned my WC. On -12, if KdB have to go. OR 3.2m. What a season.

    3. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Blackbox 2 days ago.

      "Wildcards being played to bring in Spurs players, lets just all chill out a little bit" hmmm

      ill give it a watch 🙂

  13. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This article pops up hours before TAA is set to possibly drop

    Mucho suspiciouso

    1. AlternativeB
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      TAA not playing? Have him in on my WC..

      1. Seanigula
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        drop in value

      2. Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        He's playing surely

  14. ZTF
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Did Wilder ever actually say that Brewster can only play for 60 mins?

    1. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He'll either get 60 or 30/15

      1. ZTF
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        According to who though? I know he said he’s not 100% but he could still get 75 or so

        1. Clintymints
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Wilder comments sound promising for him. Seems like minutes will be either way

  15. sozopol
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    KDB --> Salah worth a -4?

    1. GE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Guess so

      1. sozopol
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        not exactly brimming with confidence haha

        I hate hits so otherwise I'll probably use a sub-- Bissouma, Justin, or Mitchell

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

    3. Gianluca Busio's Hair …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      yep

  16. GE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Dillemmas in 3-4-3 at WC:

    1) Chilwell and Castagne with no defence cover (Mitchell and Douglas)
    2) Chilwell and Saiss (Dallas/Lamptey and Mitchell on bench)
    3) Castagne and Saiss (Dallas/Lamptey and Mitchell on bench)

    1. AlternativeB
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'm on nr 3. atm

      1. GE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        With who on the bench?

        1. AlternativeB
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Lamptey Mitchell (+TAA)

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

          Had Chilwell a while (on WC now), but Castagne has looked good in every game. Chilwell not sure of yet

          1. GE
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Very hard to drop one so maybe take the risk of no Bench cover? 😉 I’m on WC also

    2. Super John McGinn-
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      2

  17. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Pulisic or Rashford? Have Werner and greenwood

  18. Squires FC
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Where is the captain sensible article?

  19. Super John McGinn-
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Semedo or Regulion?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Reg

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Samedo

  20. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Team news on this site predicting no Pulisic?

  21. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best 4.5m defs on a wildcard?

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Brewster, Spurs are a lot better defensively than Fulham

      1. Dexters Laboratory
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Ignore XD Lamptey,Dallas,KWP,Ayling

  22. FPL_Devil
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Dallas or KWP to rotate with Lamptey? Cheers!

    1. Gomolon
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Think Leeds rotate better right?

  23. Gianluca Busio's Hair …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    start Davies or Taylor?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Taylor

      1. Gianluca Busio's Hair …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        cheers

  24. Sewell36
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Will Sterling start tomorrow?

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      should do yea

  25. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Evening all - last check on which to go with please?

    McCarthy
    Davies - TAA - Justin
    KDB - Hamez - Salah - Podence
    Ings - Mitro - Jimenez

    (Martin) - Lewis - Johnson - Stephens

    A) KDB > Son
    B) KDB > Sterling
    C) KDB + Mitro > Sterling + DCL (-4)
    D) Davies + KDB > Saiss + Sterling (-4)
    D) Davies + KDB > Saiss + Son (-4)

    1. Gomolon
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

  26. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    First hit of the season done. Feeling ashamed. Lol.

  27. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Davies will not start, right?

    1. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      (Ben Davies)

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        doubt it

  28. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Start Brewster or Podence?

  29. FPL Doctor
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Should I take a -4 hit for Podence or Mitro out?

    4.7 ITB

    Ryan
    Saiss Justin Digne
    Salah Son Grealish Podence
    Werner Mitro Jimi

    McCarthy Bissouma KWP Ferg

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No

  30. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Have already taken a -4... is this worth a WC?

    McCarthy
    TAA Chilwell Justin
    Salah Son Prodence KDB*
    Kane Wilson Brewster

    Nyland*; Shaw KWP Bissouma

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No play Bissouma

      1. boroie
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Bit worried that all of Nyland, KDB, Brewster, Prodence, Chilwell may not start...