FPL
Best FPL Defenders for Gameweek 1 – Stats, Fixtures, and Expert Picks
Top FPL defender picks for GW1 with stats, fixtures & expert insights.
Gameweek 1 is always a tricky balancing act. We don’t have fresh data yet, but we do have last season’s numbers, pre-season performances, and some juicy fixtures to target.
For this season opener, the early signs point to defensive value in Liverpool, Spurs, and Manchester City – with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest also offering under-the-radar potential.
Let’s get into it.
Why Target These Teams in GW1?
Early analytics point to the following clean sheet favourites for Gameweek 1:
- Liverpool (40%) Home to Bournemouth, who have sold most of their starting defence.
- Spurs (46%) Host promoted Burnley, lacking their standout goalkeeper from last season.
- Manchester City (40%) Away to Wolves, who’ve lost their two best players and will likely be penned in all game.
- Chelsea (38%) Strong home fixture against Palace.
- Nottingham Forest Brentford could be without both Mbeumo and Wissa.
Attacking threat from defenders is a big part of the calculation, but we start with clean sheet probability, then build up from there.
The Top Defensive Picks for Gameweek 1
Pedro Porro (£5.5m) – Spurs

- Fixture: Burnley (H)
- Last season: 2 goals, 6 assists
- Set-piece duties: Yes (likely on majority with Maddison out)
Porro has one of the most favourable opening fixtures. Burnley’s attack was modest in the Championship, and Spurs under Thomas Frank will be far more disciplined than under Ange.
Add in Porro’s overlapping/underlapping runs and set-piece delivery, and you have multiple routes to points. Spurs are the top clean sheet favourites in GW1, making Porro a high-ceiling pick.
Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) – Liverpool

- Fixture: Bournemouth (H)
- Career record: 25 Premier League goals
- DEFCON threat: Achieved defensive contributions bonus 11 times last season
Liverpool’s defensive numbers last year were elite: 41 goals conceded (2nd fewest) and an xGC of 37.5. Van Dijk is nailed for 90 minutes every week, and his aerial presence means he can score at either end.
Bournemouth’s attack can be dangerous, but their defensive reshuffle means Liverpool will dominate possession. Van Dijk is a safe, premium way to start the season at the back.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (£6.0m) – Manchester City

- Fixture: Wolves (A)
- Last season: 4 goals, 7 assists
- Style: Essentially a winger in build-up play
Signed to be a first-team regular, Ait-Nouri gives City another overlapping threat. Wolves away isn’t quite as scary as it sounds – they’ve lost their most dangerous attackers, and City should control the game from start to finish.
Ait-Nouri is expensive for a defender, but his attacking numbers justify the price. The clean sheet odds sweeten the deal.
Marc Cucurella (£6.0m) – Chelsea

- Fixture: Crystal Palace (H)
- Predicted points: 5.1 (3rd highest)
- Last season: 5 goals, 2 assists
Under Enzo Maresca, Cucurella has become an attacking outlet from the left. Chelsea’s defensive record last season (43 goals conceded, 3rd best) suggests stability, and Palace at home is a good starting point.
His crossing and link-up play make him dangerous in the final third, and he’s locked in as a starter.
Murillo (£5.5m) – Nottingham Forest

- Fixture: Brentford (H)
- Ownership: 5%
- Bonus magnet: 19 games last season (38 extra points with DEFCON)
Murillo doesn’t offer the same attacking flair as others on this list, but his bonus point potential is massive when Forest keep a clean sheet. With Brentford possibly missing both Mbeumo and Wissa, this could be one of those low-scoring, bonus-heavy wins for Forest.
At £5.5m, he’s a shrewd pick for managers looking beyond the obvious names.
Budget-Friendly Alternatives
If you’re looking to free up cash, a couple of cheaper options stand out from expert reveals:
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) Now at West Ham, with early fixtures against Sunderland and Palace. Brings attacking threat alongside clean sheet potential.
- Micky van de Ven (£4.5m) Set-piece danger and likely to benefit from Spurs’ improved defensive structure under Frank.
These can be used to balance out a premium-heavy defence.
Expert Manager Insights
Elite FPL managers are placing strong emphasis on Defensive Contributions (DEFCON) this season.
This explains why names like Murillo and Tarkowski are getting locked into drafts despite not being headline scorers last season, they clean up on bonus points in the right games.
GW1 Defensive Summary
Taking into account fixtures, clean sheet odds, attacking threat, and value:
- Pedro Porro (£5.5m) Best balance of fixture and multiple routes to points.
- Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) Rock-solid premium option with goal threat.
- Marc Cucurella (£6.0m) Strong attacking numbers and fixture.
- Rayan Ait-Nouri (£6.0m) High upside, but slightly riskier.
- Murillo (£5.5m) Bonus point magnet with a great GW1 matchup.
Budget watchlist: Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m), Micky van de Ven (£4.5m).
Final Thoughts
Gameweek 1 is a perfect time to combine safe clean sheet bets with one or two high-upside defenders. Liverpool, Spurs, and City look like the most reliable foundations, while Chelsea and Forest offer differentials.
If you’re going premium in defence, make sure you’re also getting attacking potential. If you’re going budget, target DEFCON specialists who can rack up bonus points.
With so many managers focusing on midfield and forward fireworks, a smart defensive setup could quietly put you ahead right from the start.
Download the “We Play FPL” app to plan your transfers, compare players, and check points predictions so you can optimise your squad for both the short and long term.
May your arrows be green. Happy managing!
FPL
FPL Gameweek 12: Key Picks, Prices and the Deadline
FPL Gameweek 12 preview: recommended goalkeepers, defenders and attackers plus deadline details.GW12
The international break has given Fantasy Premier League managers a breather, but the scramble resumes for Gameweek 12 with a full slate of fixtures and a handful of injury concerns carrying over from November’s internationals.
Goalkeepers to consider start with David Raya (£5.9m). Arsenal face a strong away Spurs side in the north London derby on Sunday, but Raya’s consistency is evident: seven clean sheets from 11 games. Robin Roefs (£4.7m) has been a standout signing for Sunderland and is currently FPL’s top-scoring goalkeeper ahead of a trip to Fulham, a side only four teams have scored fewer goals than this season. Emiliano Martínez (£5.0m) is another option after a 14-point haul that included a penalty save in the 4–0 win over Bournemouth; Aston Villa travel to Leeds United.
Defenders: Marc Cucurella (£6.1m) offers attacking threat and recent form, with six or more points in four of his last five outings and a start at Burnley in Saturday’s early match. The absence of Gabriel frees funds in many squads, making Jurriën Timber (£6.2m) and William Saliba (£6.0m) viable Arsenal defensive replacements. For Crystal Palace, Daniel Muñoz (£5.8m) combines attacking and defensive potential against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Chris Richards (£4.5m) is a budget route into Palace’s backline. Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m) remains a value pick for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest at home. Marcos Senesi (£5.0m) is attractive for Bournemouth managers; only five defenders have more points than his 58.
Midfield and attack: Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) is Arsenal’s principal attacking threat, scoring in four of his last six games and with six goal contributions in his last ten clashes with Spurs. Bryan Mbeumo (£8.5m) has hit six or more FPL points in four of his last five matches. Jérémy Doku (£6.5m) impressed recently with 11 points versus Liverpool and three goal contributions for Belgium during the break. Ismaïla Sarr (£6.7m) could be productive at Wolves, while Enzo Fernández (£6.7m) should be rested and available for Burnley after missing international duty. Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m) offers a differential for Brighton against Brentford, with four goal contributions and the highest chance-creation numbers at his club.
Strikers: Erling Haaland (£14.9m) is the obvious captaincy pick after his season tally rose to 32 goals for club and country during the international period. Jean-Philippe Mateta (£8.1m) has two goals and an assist in his last four matches, including a France strike, and João Pedro (£7.5m) returned 16 points across his last two games. Igor Thiago (£6.3m) scored twice and earned 13 points against Newcastle before the break and faces Brighton away.
The GW12 deadline is 11 a.m. GMT (6 a.m. ET) on Saturday, Nov. 22.
FPL
Gameweek 10 FPL: Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders and Forwards to Consider
GW10 FPL guide: top goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward picks ahead of Saturday deadline GW
Gameweek 10 brings a fresh set of fixtures and clear FPL options across every position. Below are the players backed by recent returns and upcoming opponents to consider before the Saturday deadline.
Goalkeepers: David Raya (£5.7m) is a reliable option after helping Arsenal keep six clean sheets in nine Premier League matches. He offers steady six-point returns despite limited save and bonus returns and will face Burnley (A) this weekend. Sunderland stopper Robin Roefs (£4.7m) leads the goalkeepers for points, with 52 from nine matches and four clean sheets; Everton (H) is his next fixture. Nick Pope (£5.2m) is level on points with Raya and provides clean-sheet potential as Newcastle, who have five this season, travel to West Ham United (A).
Defenders: Gabriel (£6.5m) is an Arsenal mainstay with 62 points this term; he has posted nine-plus points in five of his last six games and was used only from the bench in the Carabao Cup midweek. Jurriën Timber (£6.1m) offers double-up value in the Arsenal backline. Dan Burn (£5.1m) is Newcastle’s highest-scoring defender. Crystal Palace defenders Daniel Muñoz (£5.7m) and Marc Guéhi (£4.9m) are attractive with Brentford (H) up next, while Nordi Mukiele (£4.1m) has produced two double-digit hauls in the past six games and looks nailed for the clash with Everton on Monday evening.
Midfielders: Bryan Mbeumo (£8.2m) returned 15 points last weekend and sits as the second-highest scoring midfielder, with Nottingham Forest (A) his next test. Bruno Fernandes (£8.9m) has 40 points and remains central to Manchester United’s attacking output despite a four-point return at Brighton. Arsenal’s Declan Rice (£6.7m) and Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) are their key attacking assets versus Burnley; both were substitutes midweek and Saka scored on his arrival. Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m) has one goal and two assists and faces Leeds United (H). Ismaïla Sarr (£6.5m) impressed with a midweek brace in the Carabao Cup and has three goals and an assist in seven league matches.
Forwards: Erling Haaland (£14.8m) was blanked only for the second time this season against Aston Villa and was rested midweek; he faces Bournemouth (H). Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.7m) scored three at Selhurst Park in his last home league appearance and played one half in the midweek win. Hugo Ekitiké (£8.6m) has six goals this term and was rested on Wednesday, with Aston Villa (H) to come. Nick Woltemade (£7.5m) has six in 11 for Newcastle and has recorded six or more points in four matches, while Danny Welbeck (£6.4m) has five goals this season, including three in his last two league appearances.
There is no Friday night or early Saturday kick-off this week. The Gameweek 10 deadline is 1.30 p.m. GMT on Saturday, Nov. 1.
Arsenal
2025/26 FPL: Gameweek 9 player picks and the Oct. 24 deadline
FPL Gameweek 9 picks: goalkeepers, defenders and forwards to consider for the Oct. 24 deadline. BST.
Gameweek 9 offers few standout heavyweight clashes, which can make it an ideal week for FPL managers hunting steady returns. Below are considered selections drawn from the current form and fixtures ahead of the Oct. 24 deadline.
Goalkeepers: David Raya (£5.7m) is highlighted for clean sheet potential after conceding just three times in all competitions this season and is described as a set-and-forget option. Nick Pope (£5.2m) sits as FPL’s second-highest scoring goalkeeper through the opening eight rounds and has kept three clean sheets in his last four matches in all competitions, with Newcastle hosting Fulham on Saturday. Robert Sánchez (£4.9m) is the cheaper alternative; he will be aiming for a shutout at home to Sunderland, who have scored in only one of their four away games.
Defenders: Marc Cucurella (£6.1m) offers attacking and defensive upside, having delivered 15 points across his past two matches and creating 11 chances for Chelsea this term. Gabriel (£6.4m) is the leading defensive candidate, having provided more points than any other defender this term and 45 in his last five Premier League matches. Marcos Senesi (£5.0m) is the obvious Bournemouth route into defence at home to Nottingham Forest, with 48 points this term. Dan Burn (£5.1m), Kieran Trippier (£5.0m) and Joe Rodon (£4.1m) are also noted as solid defensive choices.
Midfield and attack: Antoine Semenyo (£8.1m) has outscored other midfielders by 24 points and is a must-have at home to Forest, having produced five-plus points in all his home games. Declan Rice (£6.6m) could benefit from Arsenal’s set-piece threat at home to Palace. Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) remains a reliable long-term option despite fitness setbacks.
Forwards: Erling Haaland (£14.7m) remains a must-have after 11 goals in eight league games and is primed to score as Manchester City visit Aston Villa. Cody Gakpo (£7.5m) has scored in his past five matches for club and country and faces Brentford. Igor Thiago (£6.1m) is a budget gamble after five league goals in eight matches.
Reminder: The Gameweek 9 deadline is 6:30 p.m. BST (1:30 p.m. ET, 10:30 a.m. PT) on Oct. 24.
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