The new season of the Premier League is rapidly approaching, and with it the new season of Fantasy Premier League.
Whether a new player or an FPL veteran, knowing just who to pick ahead of the first gameweek can be a stressful endeavour, with everybody having a different opinion about who holds the key to success this year.
Fortunately, we’ve taken the guesswork out for you, and found the 10 best options for your defence this season.
We have set up our own FPL league, which you can join using the code here: td0q7l
📰 Table Of Contents
- 1 10. Amari’i Bell (Luton Town): £4.0m
- 2 9. Gabriel (Arsenal): £5.0m
- 3 8. Jordan Beyer (Burnley): £4.0m
- 4 7. John Stones (Manchester City): £5.5m
- 5 6. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle): £6.5m
- 6 5. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool): £6.0m
- 7 4. Sven Botman (Newcastle): £4.5m
- 8 3. Luke Shaw (Manchester United): £5.5m
- 9 2. Pervis Estupinan (Brighton): £5.0m
- 10 1. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool): £8.0m
10. Amari’i Bell (Luton Town): £4.0m
A good £4.0m defender is the cornerstone to any successful Fantasy Premier League side, but they can be hard to come by.
We don’t expect newly-promoted Luton Town to keep many clean sheets next season (sorry Luton fans), but Amari’i Bell started 43 of their 46 Championship games last season on their run to promotion, and looks set to keep his place (at time of writing).
Amari’i Bell’s numbers last season earning his new deal. #LTFC #COYH
Looking forward to seeing you in TheOther14. @Other14The pic.twitter.com/khrcdzR9tq— TheOther14 (@Other14The) June 28, 2023
9. Gabriel (Arsenal): £5.0m
Want to squeeze an Arsenal defender into your side but struggling to find the right one? Gabriel could well prove a bargain.
Second only to Ben White (£5.5m) in price, the Gunners defender is the most likely to play every game, appearing in all 38 games last season.
He returned 146 points, helped by 3 goals, and should Arsenal continue to prove a threat at set-pieces he could be a shrewd pickup.
8. Jordan Beyer (Burnley): £4.0m
If you don’t fancy Luton’s chances of keeping the ball out of their own net, another option could be to go for Burnley defender Jordan Beyer.
Also priced at £4.0m, he played 30 times as Vincent Kompany’s side blitzed the Championship, only missing out through injury.
Burnley have already made the move permanent this summer, meaning we can expect him to play plenty next season, and he could be an excellent addition to your squad.
A new Clarets chapter 📜
Jordan Beyer couldn’t be happier to commit his future to Burnley 😄 pic.twitter.com/q1WVawSSTM
— Burnley FC 🏆 (@BurnleyOfficial) May 10, 2023
7. John Stones (Manchester City): £5.5m
Manchester City and England defender John Stones has been a man reborn since taking up his new role at the Etihad, and looks virtually undroppable for Pep Guardiola.
As any FPL veteran knows, finding someone immune to ‘pep roulette’ is a challenge, and while the defender is unlikely to pop up with too many goals and assists, he could well scoop up plenty of clean sheet and appearance points, which can’t be said for every Manchester City asset.
6. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle): £6.5m
Last season’s top points-scoring defender, Trippier is part of Eddie Howe’s mean Newcastle defence while also on set-piece duty, meaning that he guarantees points from all angles.
At £6.5m though, he is the joint-second most expensive defender on the game and, 33-years-old in September and now set to be asked to play in the Champions League for the Magpies, asking him to play twice a week every week may prove a tall order.
He is certainly one to keep an eye on, but should Newcastle find cover at right-back this summer, he may play far less in the Premier League than he did last season, so he may be one to steer clear of.
And a stunning Kieran Trippier free-kick made it 3-1 to the Magpies 👀 #MCINEW pic.twitter.com/8bgcjJqy52
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 3, 2023
5. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool): £6.0m
He won’t come cheap, but Virgil van Dijk guarantees points. Even in a lacklustre Liverpool season last time out, the towering Dutchman managed to pick up 127, the 11th most of any defender.
Van Dijk is priced accordingly, but is the cheapest of Jurgen Klopp’s backline that are guaranteed to start most games (he played 32 games last campaign). A threat from set-pieces too, he is a great buy if you believe that Liverpool are set to challenge back at the top next season.
On @VirgilvDijk‘s birthday, it’s only right we look back at this ice cold penalty 🥶 pic.twitter.com/c3PmL8oJmE
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 8, 2022
4. Sven Botman (Newcastle): £4.5m
If you want a cheaper way into Newcastle’s excellent defence and take advantage of their clean sheet points, Botman may be your man.
2m cheaper than teammate Trippier, he scored 70 points fewer than the Englishman last season but, as we outlined above, there is a good chance that gap will narrow this season.
Likely to play just about every game he can next season, the Dutchman could be a valuable addition to any FPL side this season.
Rolls Royce. 🇳🇱
One year ago today, #NUFC confirmed the signing of Sven Botman!
⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/zTLCXi4SJX
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 1, 2023
3. Luke Shaw (Manchester United): £5.5m
Manchester United managed the most clean sheets in the Premier League last season, making their defenders very attractive options on FPL.
While perhaps more at risk of rotation than either of Lisandro Martinez or Raphael Varane, and £0.5m more expensive than either, Luke Shaw is the best chance of points from the Red Devils.
He combines that clean sheet potential with excellent returns potential in front of goal, and managed at least 40 points more than either central defender last season.
Manchester United’s Luke Shaw during the Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, London.
Picture : Mark Pain / Alamy 2M40YY0 22 Oct 2022 – Chelsea v Manchester United – Premier League – Stamford Bridge
Manchester United’s Luke Shaw during the Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, London.
Picture : Mark Pain / Alamy (Alamy Stock Photo)
2. Pervis Estupinan (Brighton): £5.0m
A bargain by the end of last season, Estupinan threatens to be the bargain of this season’s competition too, with the Brighton defender priced at just £5m.
The Ecuadorian fullback returned 128 points last season, which included a mammoth 7 assists as he transformed under Roberto de Zerbi.
There is no reason to suggest that he won’t be able to replicate that again this season, and even improve on last season’s returns.
An incredible first season with us. ✨ Enjoy the best of @PervisEstupinan! 🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/OqenfwtEHS
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 28, 2023
1. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool): £8.0m
The undisputed king of FPL defenders in recent years, Alexander-Arnold has been priced at an astonishing £8.0m this year but could still, unbelievably, prove good value.
Having played as an inverted fullback in the final games of the season, the Englishman provided a goal and seven assists in the 10 games he was deployed there, and remains on set-piece duty for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
It is hard not to see him topping the points scoring charts for defenders again this year, the only question is whether getting him in your side means you have to sacrifice another big ticket player. Otherwise, it is a no brainer.
