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. 420king
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    RMWCT:

    Martinez (Forster)
    Robertson Chilwell Lamptey (Dallas Ferguson)
    Salah Son Rodriguez Zaha Grealish
    Kane DCL (Brewster)
    0.0 ITB

    Thinking about downgrading Robertson to upgrade Zaha to Pulisic and Ferguson to a starter. Thoughts?

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Many are struggling with keeping Robbo and not affording Pulisic

      Zahas groin thrown a spanner in the works too.

      I just know selling Robbo is daaaaaaangerous.

      Toss a coin tbh

      1. 420king
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah, specially for me since I missed some price rises on the likes of DCL and Rodriguez. Zaha looks like more of a long term pick with some decent matches on the horizon, but he's the only one I'm not sure of. Thanks.

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Absolutely beautiful. But if with Brewster in the mix, it can mean benching headaches..

      1. 420king
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks! I agree, but it could also be a positive thing during these covid times.

      2. PapaWengzz
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I would just leave brewster as 1st bench permanently. Very resassuring that you have that solid backup, and if you never planned to start him you wouldn't feel as bad.

  2. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Alright then, WC locked.

    Martinez - Forster
    Robbo - Castagne - Chilwell
    Salah (VC) - Son - J. Rod - Grealish
    Kane (C) - DCL - Maupay

    (Forster) - (Dallas - Mitchell - Bissouma)
    0.0 ITB

    Any final suggestions? Is the bench order gtg? Thanks all, and GL! 😀

    1. Vlekz
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Mitchell to 3.9 maybe? I don't think he is playing long term. And this week you don't need him

        1. JonSnow
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I was thinking the same but looking into it they seem to think pretty highly of him

        2. Ibralicious
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Hmm interesting, will think abt that. Cheers!

      • Winners900
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Same team just Reguilon instead of Castagne. 3.9 for Mitchell and Stephens for Bissouma. Nice team

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

          Cheers, and likewise. Good luck!

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Captain who?

      a. Salah
      b. Son
      c. Vardy

      Cheers all.

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

        Leaning B now, i asked something similar but its a tricky one. Just go with instinct

      2. Balls of Steel
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Son

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

      Butland joined Palace? Surely won’t dislodge Guaita?

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Nah, Guaita is too good to bench. I guess Hennessy's injury is serious, that's why.

      2. Vlekz
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Butland is backup

      3. shiraz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        With kdb injured, i have decidedto do a wc. How is it?

        Ryan (McCarthy)
        Robbo, PVA, Saiss (Lamptey, Dunne)
        Salah, Son, JRod, Grealish ( Anguissa)
        DCL, Jim, Ings

        1. Stupendous
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Wouldn't want Jimi or Ings on WC right now.

          Kane or Aguero or Maupay or even Wilson for me atm on a WC with DCL

          1. shiraz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I know what you mean, i am in a dilemma with ings and jim. I did not touch on my front 3, but have been thinking of getting maupay in

        2. JonSnow
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I like the pva pick, its making me want to swap reguillon

      4. MaRooney 5
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Any worth a hit:

        McCarthy, Steer
        Aylin, Bellerin, Mitchell, TAA, Vinagre
        J Rod, KDB, Mahrez, Salah, Trossard
        Adams, Timo, Brewster?

        2.9m ITB

        Thanks in advance!

        1. JonSnow
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Kdb out so maybe kdb->son

          1. MaRooney 5
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            already did, for free.
            Any besides that?

            1. JonSnow
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Probably Not for a hit but Adams needs to go and maybe tross to grealish next gw

      5. Ibralicious
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Is Dunne more nailed on than Mitchell atm?

        1. Vlekz
            3 years, 5 months ago

            None of the cheap ones are

          • JonSnow
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I went mitchell over dunne

        2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          RMT, what to do here?

          Already took a hit, should I take another to take out KDB for Sterling or just play Mitchell?

          McCarthy (Steer)
          TAA Saiss Justin (KWP)(Mitchell)
          Salah KDB Son(C) Rodriguez (Bissouma)
          Ings Maupay Wilson

        3. WorldCup82
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Current team:

          Ryan, Walton
          TAA, Doherty, Davies, Walker-Peters, Mitchell
          Sterling, Mahrez, Willian, Saint-Maximin, Bissouma
          Werner, Ings, Calvert-Lewin

          Looking to wildcard to this team:

          Ryan, Walton
          TAA, Saiss, Ayling, Ferguson, Mitchell
          Salah, Fernandes, Son, Foden, Podence
          Jimenez, Calvert-Lewin, McGoldrick

          Thoughts or suggestions??? Thanks!

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

          Captain:
          A) Salah
          B) Son
          C) Grealish

          Thanks

          1. Balls of Steel
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Salah

          2. SalahFingers
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Leaning Son at the moment

        5. Kane5
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          WC team with 1.2 ITB.

          Any help much appreciated as feel it is not good enough. Cheers

          Ryan (Martinez)
          TAA Chilly Justin (Dallas, Saiss)
          Salah Son Grealish Podence (Bissouma)
          Kane DCL Bamford

        6. RyanMK
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Sheffield United Fans, how likely is Brewster going to be a starter going forward?

        7. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          RMWCT:

          Ryan (Button)
          Semedo Chilwell Reguilon (Justin Mitchell)
          Salah Son Rodriguez Pulisic Grealish
          Kane DCL (Brewster)

          Still thinking about Grealish/Zaha and who to captain..

          1. Stupendous
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I'll raise you Robbo over Sem and Reg.

            I'd rather the nailed on Robbo and attacking potential he always brings.

            Definitely weighed up Sem and Reg though for now.

        8. Stupendous
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Ok ok ok!!! Done! Thoughts?

          Martinez
          Robbo Chilwell Mitchell
          Salah Son Rodriguez Grealish Pulisic
          Kane (c) DCL

          Martin Brewster KWP Douglas

          .1m itb and OF COURSE eye on Mitchell coming up

          1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            We have a very similar mindset mate.

            Is Martinez in your opinion a much better option than Ryan?

            1. Stupendous
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Think he gets more save points and is a better keeper in a better team. Easy for me.

              1. Stupendous
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Better team who give up chances haha.

                I just think Martinez is my pick of those two.

                1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  I am thinking about downgrading one of my defenders like Reguilon to get Martinez right away to not spend points on him after. I think Aurier is a punty pick that can return massivley. What do you think on that?

        9. Drogba Legend
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Not sure what to do anymore - RMWCT:

          Ryan
          Robbo - Chill - Saiss
          Salah - Son - Grealish - Pulisic
          Kane - DCL - Maupay

          Steer - Stephens - Dallas - Douglas*

          A) could do Saiss + Puli > Hamez + Semedo and upgrade Douglass > Mitchell
          B) thoughts?

          1. ZAWAd25
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Very nice team! I like the Pulisic pick, if it doesn’t work out easy switch to Hamez

            1. Drogba Legend
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Cheers

        10. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Would you go:

          A) Ryan, Reguilon
          B) Martinez, Aurier

          1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            C) Ryan, PVA

            1. Stupendous
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Ryan Pva

        11. WorldCup82
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          WORLDCUP82 Fantasy Football Scout Member8 Years5 mins ago
          Current team:

          Ryan, Walton
          TAA, Doherty, Davies, Walker-Peters, Mitchell
          Sterling, Mahrez, Willian, Saint-Maximin, Bissouma
          Werner, Ings, Calvert-Lewin

          Looking to wildcard to this team:

          Ryan, Walton
          TAA, Saiss, Ayling, Ferguson, Mitchell
          Salah, Fernandes, Son, Foden, Podence
          Jimenez, Calvert-Lewin, McGoldrick

          Thoughts or suggestions?? Thanks!

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

            Wouldnt want Bruno, Foden, Jiminez, McGoldrick, and Mitchell on my wildcard team.

            Players i would want are Kane, Chelsea Mid, Grealish, James R, Chilwell, Lamptey, Brewster

        12. ZAWAd25
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Play one:

          A) Justin
          B) Mitchell

          1. SalahFingers
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I went Mitchell, but I already am playing Castagne and didn't want to double up.

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

          Rmwct

          McCarthy.
          Dallas. Lamptey. Chilwell. Trent
          Salah. Son. Havertz
          Brewster. Kane c. Dcl

          Forster. Rodriguez. Soucek. Kwp

          1. Stupendous
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            You play Rodriguez over Brewster 100% imo

            Brewster is a luxury who happens to have a nice fixture off your bench.

            Rodriguez could haul, Brewster could get 1

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

              Ok thanks. Apart from that all good?

              1. Stupendous
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Yea decent

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

                  Do you think having soucek / Brewster too weak?

                  My thinking is usually you could play one but also have five viable defenders meaning could easily bench both?

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

          A) Mahrez > Pulisic

          B) Mahrez / Jimmy > Son(c) / Watkins (-4)

          1. Lazaretti
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            A

          2. Balls of Steel
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            A

        15. The Count of Monte Cristo
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Apologies - AWOL for 2 weeks and really not sure what to do. Is KDB + Bruno + Werner --> J.Rodriguez + Pulisic + Kane (-4) too much?

          McCarthy
          TAA -- Justin -- C.Taylor
          Salah -- KDB * -- B. Fernandes -- Soucek
          Werner -- Mitrovic -- C.Wilson

          4.0 -- B.Davies -- Bissouma -- Mitchell [2FT + 0.3m ITB]

        16. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Who will score most points this gw and in general long term?

          A) Reguilon
          B) PVA
          C) Aurier

          1. The Count of Monte Cristo
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            A imo

          2. JonSnow
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Tossing up between a & b. PVA more nailed and those fixtures look good

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

            A or B. Add Chilwell to that group and it is very difficult to pick one for your wc team

        17. trafalgarlaw
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Play 1

          A. VVD
          B. Digne
          C. Ayling

          1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            VVD

        18. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Son or Kane for captain?

          Does WH play with deep defence? Does it bother Son? Kane always scores against West Ham and is on penalties. Leaning on Harry rn

          1. Balls of Steel
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Harry

        19. lankdog
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          RMWCT?

          Gone for a strong bench to counteract covid/schedule risk and a tactic of rotating Brewster with whoever is my 5th mid. Barkley works well for this on mid term fixtures but is AVL double up with Grealish too much?

          Ryan Steele
          TAA Chilwell Semedo KWP Ayling
          Salah Son Jrod Grealish Barkley
          Kane Maupay Brewster

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

            Nice, only player missing out is dcl

          2. Joggers Nipple
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            3-5-2?
            Thats fine, bench isnt too strong
            Personally dont like Barkley

        20. Legohair
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Would you wc?

          McCarthy-Steer
          TAA-Justin-KWP-Mitchell-Saliba
          Salah-KDB-Son-Mahrez-Stephens
          Jimenez-DCL-Brewster

          1. SalahFingers
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            No

          2. Joggers Nipple
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            no

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

              Would you do - 8 then or just play KWP and leave KDB in the bench?

              1. Joggers Nipple
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                KDB to Pulisic/ Grealish for me

        21. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          A) Ryan, Reguilon, Mitchell
          B) Martinez, PVA/Aurier, Killman

          1. Joggers Nipple
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            can you get 3.9 plus Regulion and Martinez?

        22. klopp4kop
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Will PODENCE start for wolves this week?

        23. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Best option?

          A) Semedo
          B) James
          C) PVA

          1. Joggers Nipple
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Saiss and save cash?
            If not then A

            1. Pukki Party
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Cheers

        24. Live Lad
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          GTG? Play Adams over Mitchell right?

          McCarthy
          Castagne, TAA, Saiss
          Grealish, Mahrez, Salah(vc), Son (c)
          Adams, Kane, DCL

          Subs: Steer, Mitchell, Bissouma, Ferguson

          Might do Mahrez to Pulisic next week. Or Hamez and Maupay will come in for Mahrez and Adams.