Gameweek 9 in the Premier League starts today with the fixture between Arsenal and Aston Villa. With the FPL deadline nearing closer, managers are getting ready with their teams and transfers. The template in FPL generally has been 1 or 2 premium defenders and other low-priced defenders to make way for the premiums in attack. However, this season we have seen many premium defenders being the first choice.
Let’s have a look at our top 5 defender picks for Gameweek 9:
1. Antonio Rudiger (£5.8m), Chelsea vs Norwich
Chelsea have been at their defensive best throughout the season and Rudiger has played an important part in it. The German defender has been reborn under Tuchel and has now become one of the first names on the team sheets. After an injury scare in the international back, Rudiger made his comeback in midweek’s Champions League win and now looks set to start against Norwich.
Norwich have been poor this season and the fixture against Blues is yet another difficult task for them. With the fixtures of Chelsea going in the easy way, Rudiger can be a great pick in the FPL team owing to the defensive abilities of him and Chelsea. Also, there is a chance of an odd goal, which was seen in the match against Spurs.
2. Joao Cancelo (£6.3m), Brighton vs Manchester City
Cancelo has been one of Pep’s key player in the Manchester City squad. The versatile full-back has played both at left-back and right-back this season to great effect. The Portuguese has played a part in 6 clean sheets in 8 games while also having 2 assists.
Brighton away will not be the easiest fixture but City are in good form and should expect to beat the Seagulls. Cancelo has the fixture for clean sheet to add to his attacking potential.
3. Marcos Alonso (£5.9m), Chelsea vs Norwich
With the form that Chelsea are in and the fixtures that they have in the next 3 gameweeks, a double-up on Chelsea defence looks ideal. Alonso, after being rested for the last 2 games, looks set to come back to the starting XI. The defender has accumulated 39 points so far which also includes a goal and an assist.
Norwich at home should be a comfortable fixture for Chelsea and Alonso will look for a haul. The defender is selected by 21.8% of FPL managers and is one of the popular picks in defence.
4. Javier Manquillo (£4.0m), Crystal Palace vs Newcastle
Manquillo, a starting defender available at the lowest price in FPL, is a great asset for any FPL manager’s team. The defender has started in the last 5 games for Newcastle and has 2 goals and 1 assist to show for it. Although Newcastle have been poor defensively, at 4m he could be a great enabler with occasional goals and assists.
Crystal Palace will not be the toughest of fixtures and Manquillo could be a great option in defence for this gameweek. At 9.4% ownership, he could be a great differential.
5. Tino Livramento (£4.3m), Southampton vs Burnley
Livramento has been a great defensive option in the low-priced range. The defender has started all of Southampton’s games. Livramento, being the popular low-priced defender, has also seen a price rise of 0.3m. The fixtures of Southampton in the initial stages were difficult but now it becomes more likeable.
As seen in the previous fixture against Leeds, clean sheets will come for the Southampton side in their current fixture run-in. Burnley are not the best of sides when it comes to attack and Southampton can vie for yet another clean sheet. Livramento at his price should be one of the first picks in FPL teams.
