The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 32 – The Defence

With just one match remaining in Gameweek 31, we’re rolling out our latest Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations for the next four-to-six rounds of fixtures. Southampton’s defensive assets are on the rise ahead of a favourable looking run-in, while Everton’s upturn in resilience has brought Tim Howard and Leighton Baines firmly onto our radar.

GOALKEEPERS

Priced at just 4.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and with a kind upcoming schedule (HUL, sto, TOT, sun, lei, AVL), Kelvin Davis moves to the top of our goalkeeper rankings. The Saints have kept 14 clean sheets this season, more than any other side, and with a fully fit backline in front of him, Davis’ outstanding value makes him a great option for those hit by the injuries to Fraser Forster, Ben Foster and Hugo Lloris in recent weeks.

Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski rises in our latest refresh, although owners will have been disappointed in the Swans’ inability to register a clean sheet in the 3-1 victory over Hull. Garry Monk’s side have now failed to keep out their opponents in the last six home league encounters, so it may be on the road, where they have managed two shut-outs in their last three matches, which provide the best opportunity for points. Trips to Leicester and Newcastle in the next three, therefore, could prove profitable.

Simon Mignolet moves up a place by virtue of the Reds next four fixtures (NEW, hul, wba, QPR). The Liverpool rearguard did look vulnerable in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at the Emirates minus Martin Skrtel, who will also miss the home encounter with Newcastle due to suspension. Bearing in mind the Magpies have failed to score in their last three matches on the road, the Liverpool defence looks a decent bet for an eighth clean sheet in their last 12 league clashes, and should remain a strong option following the Slovakian’s return. It’s worth noting here that Liverpool’s Gameweek 33 trip to Hull would need to be rescheduled if they get the better of Blackburn in the cup tomorrow – a factor which prevents Mignolet from breaking into this week’s top two.

Since replacing Wojciech Szczesny between the posts back in January, David Ospina has provided a great option for Fantasy managers, priced at just 4.9 in FPL. The Colombian keeper has kept five clean sheets in his 11 appearances, and looks a solid pick for the upcoming period, with the Gunners’ fixtures (bur, blank, CHE, hul, SWA, mun/SUN) pretty favourable, although he does have a blank in Gameweek 33.

With seven fixtures (qpr, MUN, ars/lei, CPL, LIV, wba) in the next six Gameweeks, it may be something of a surprise not to see Thibaut Courtois slightly higher in our latest refresh. Having failed to keep clean sheets against Southampton, Hull and Stoke in recent weeks, our faith in the 5.9-rated keeper is waning somewhat, particularly given the uncharacteristic individual errors the Belgian has made.

With Leicester currently top of our Season Ticker for clean sheet potential over the next six Gameweeks, Kasper Schmeichel sees his stock rise this time around. The Foxes have only conceded three goals in their last five home matches, so their upcoming schedule (wba, SWA, bur/CHE, NEW, SOU, sun) should make the 4.4-valued Dane a viable option.

Back-to-back home shut-outs see Everton’s Tim Howard creep up our ladder this week. The 5.1-priced keeper has seen little Fantasy interest this season, but with the fixture list easing up (swa, BUR, MUN, avl, SUN, whm) over the coming weeks, the US international – who has conceded one goal in the last three – could warrant some interest.

West Ham’s Adrian remains in our thoughts with the Hammers’ upcoming fixtures (STO, mci, qpr, BUR, avl, EVE) giving hope they can improve on the mere single shut-out registered over the last six Gameweeks. The concern is that Sam Allardyce’s side have little to play for, comfortably sat in mid-table, but with the kind schedule, along with the Spaniard’s penchant for penalty saves (he’s made two in the last six matches), the 5.1-rated keeper is always a solid option.

Tim Krul makes a reappearance in our latest update, with Newcastle’s fixtures taking a favourable turn from Gameweek 34 onwards (SWA, lei, WBA, qpr). John Carver’s side have been decimated by injuries, particularly at the back, but with the Dutch international priced at just 4.4 in FPL, he provides another strong budget option, although the likes of Davis and Ospina look better prospects right now.

Following another failure to register a shut-out away from the Etihad, Joe Hart slides to the bottom of our goalkeeper rankings. City’s last clean sheet on their travels came in the 1-0 win at Leicester in Gameweek 16, so while home encounters against West Ham, Aston Villa and QPR in the next five should prove profitable, trips to Old Trafford and White Hart Lane mean there look to be far greater value options out there other than the 6.1-priced Hart.

DEFENCE

Despite drawing blanks in each of his last two appearances, Branislav Ivanovic keeps his place at the top of our defender rankings. The 7.6-priced Chelsea right-back remains 13 points clear of any defender in the FPL game and with a decent run of fixtures (qpr, MUN, ars/lei, CPL, LIV, wba), the Serbia international still offers huge potential at both end of the pitch, with Jose Mourinho’s side having kept 13 clean sheets so far this term.

Ryan Bertrand has been moving up the Watchlist over the last few weeks, and with Southampton’s schedule (HUL, sto, TOT, sun, lei, AVL) among the strongest over the coming period, the 5.8-rated defender looks a great option. Having scored twice and grabbed three assists over the course of the season, the former Chelsea defender is our preferred Saints defender ahead of Toby Alderweireld, who comes in at number four in our latest update. For those whose budget can’t stretch to Bertrand, the Belgian international, priced at just 4.8 in FPL, offers a cheaper route into Koeman’s backline, though with just one goal to his name by comparison, attacking returns are less likely.

Leicester’s Jeffrey Schlupp splits the Southampton duo, with the Ghana international still a viable Fantasy option despite Nigel Pearson’s decision to roll out a four-man backline resulting in Schlupp’s switch to left-back against West Ham last weekend. The 4.5-valued defender still has encouraging underlying stats, having registered two goal attempts and as many chances created in the last couple of Gameweeks. With the best upcoming schedule (wba, SWA, bur/CHE, NEW, SOU, sun) according to our Season Ticker, Schlupp offers greater potential than most in the budget price bracket.

Everton’s Leighton Baines in the big mover among the defenders this week, with form and fixtures in his favour. The England international has scored eight points in each of the Toffees’ last two home matches, and leads the way among defenders with eight chances created over the last three Gameweeks. With the aforementioned kind schedule (swa, BUR, MUN, avl, SUN, whm), Baines looks ripe for investment, although coming in at 7.0 in FPL, his price tag may be prohibitive to some, given he seems to have lost penalty duties to Romelu Lukaku.

Alberto Moreno is another riser this time around, with only the Gameweek 36 trip to Stamford Bridge looking unfavourable in the next six. Providing Brendan Rodgers sticks with the 3-4-2-1 system favoured in recent months, the 5.3-rated defender still offers plenty of attacking potential from his role as a wing-back, having created six chances over the last six. Martin Skrtel’s return from suspension in Gameweek 33 may influence matters – that is, of course, dependant on the Reds’ cup result against Blackburn. If Liverpool win at Ewood Park, we’d expect their trip to the KC to be switched to Gameweek 34 or 37.

After serving a timely reminder of his attacking potential last night, grabbing an assist in the 2-1 win against City, Scott Dann moves back up the ladder. The former Blackburn man has managed nine goal attempts over the last six Gameweeks, more than any other defender. Although Palace have only kept one clean sheet in 11 league matches since Alan Pardew took the reigns, the 4.9-valued Dann’s attacking prowess brings him firmly onto our radar ahead of a trip to the Stadium of Light and home encounters against West Brom and Hull.

Kyle Naughton’s season-ending injury means we turn to Ashley Williams as our Swansea defender of choice. Angel Rangel should step in as Naughton’s replacement at right-back, but with Jordi Amat another option for Monk and Neil Taylor hanging perilously on the Suspension Tightrope, we’ve opted for the security of Williams and his ability to secure bonus points, having bagged an impressive 15 so far this season. With their next four fixtures (EVE, lei, new, STO) pretty favourable, the Wales international is a solid option, although he does come into our rankings a lot lower than Naughton would have, due to his 5.3 price tag.

After earning just a single assist and two shut-outs in his last nine league outings, West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell drops in our latest update. In that period, he has only created seven chances and registered four goal attempts. The fixtures are in his favour (STO, mci, qpr, BUR, avl, EVE), but as mentioned with his team-mate Adrian, there is a sense the Hammers season could be petering out somewhat.

With concerns over the fitness of Laurent Koscielny and the risk of rotation hanging over Hector Bellerin, we’re opting for Nacho Monreal as our Arsenal defensive cover. The Spaniard himself is battling with Kieran Gibbs for the left-back berth, but having started the last three matches, looks to have become the first choice for the time being. Coming in at 4.8 in FPL, Monreal looks a viable budget option ahead of some decent fixtures (bur, blank, CHE, hul, SWA, mun/SUN).

After returning to the Stoke first XI alongside Ryan Shawcross in the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, Philipp Wollscheid takes over from Marc Wilson as our preferred Potters option. The Republic of Ireland international did start against the Blues at left-back, but will have to compete with Erik Pieters for a starting berth. With a pretty kind upcoming schedule (whm, SOT, SUN, swa, TOT, bur), those that hung onto the 4.4-priced defender whilst he was on the treatment table could be set to benefit in the coming weeks.

Two re-entries into this week’s rankings are Patrick van Aanholt and Kieran Trippier. The Dutchman has started both matches under compatriot Dick Advocaat, which has seen Sunderland concede just once. The 4.1-rated defender has also registered impressive underlying stats under the former Rangers manager, notching three goal attempts and creating two chances ahead of a reasonable run of fixtures (CPL, blank, sto, SOT, eve, LEI/ars). Likewise, Burnley’s marauding right-back gets the nod thanks to his attacking potential. Trippier has regularly topped the chart among defenders for crosses this season, and leads all defenders with 14 chances created over the last six Gameweeks. After gaining a second consecutive home shut-out against Tottenham, the Clarets welcome Arsenal to Turf Moor this weekend, but with the schedule easing up (eve, LEI, whm, hul, STO) thereafter, the 4.8-valued defender could be a handy differential with significant upside, with an ownership of just 1.9%.

Tottenham’s Danny Rose completes our defender rankings, having slid down our ladder despite the clean sheet against Burnley on Sunday. The 5.0-priced left-back has registered an impressive 5.4 points per appearance over his last five outings, but with tough looking fixtures against Southampton and City in the next four, his stock suffers a hit for now.