The Scout takes a look at the 2020/21 Fantasy Premier League player list and assesses the best options according to position and price.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV) £7.5m
The Liverpool right-back is in a class of his own when it comes to offering points potential at both ends of the pitch in FPL.
Alexander-Arnold combined four goals and 15 FPL assists with 14 clean sheets last season.
His total of 210 points ranked joint-fourth among all players in 2019/20 and was just three points off the best-ever total for a defender.
The underlying numbers further highlight Alexander-Arnold’s attacking appeal.
His 44 shots and 87 chances created last season were both more than any other defender in FPL.
Virgil van Dijk (LIV) £6.5m
Although Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) will remain Liverpool’s first-choice left-back, the arrival of Konstantinos Tsimikas (£5.0m) gives Jurgen Klopp the chance to rest the Scot at times.
Van Dijk, on the other hand, remains an ever-present in the Reds’ rearguard, having started all 38 matches last season.
A major threat at set-pieces, the Dutchman scored five goals and supplied two assists.
And with Alisson (£6.0m) targeting a full campaign this time after missing nine matches last term, the Reds can surpass their 2019/20 total of 15 clean sheets.
Matt Doherty (WOL) £6.0m
Four goals, eight assists and 12 clean sheets earned the Wolverhampton Wanderers wing-back fourth place among defenders last season.
Doherty’s goal threat, in particular, looks very encouraging for managers looking to invest heavily at the back.
His 33 shots in the box, 13 big chances and 15 shots on target all placed top among defenders in 2019/20 FPL.
Lucas Digne (EVE) £6.0m
Everton’s left-back remains one of the most creative players in FPL.
Digne supplied 72 key passes last term, the eighth-highest total in the league.
And his eight assists were bettered by only Alexander-Arnold and Robertson.
Although he failed to score, the Frenchman still boasted a big threat from the back. Only seven other defenders surpassed his 29 shots.
If the Toffees can improve defensively under Carlo Ancelotti, Digne’s lowly 6.4 per cent ownership will surely soar.
Aymeric Laporte (MCI) £6.0m
The Frenchman’s injury absence proved a major blow for Manchester City last term.
Pep Guardiola’s side recorded eight clean sheets in Laporte’s 14 appearances, a 57 per cent success rate.
But they managed a shutout in only nine, or 37.5 per cent, in their other 24 Gameweeks.
Having dropped from last season’s starting price of £6.5m, Laporte could prove a strong option if he remains injury-free.
He totalled 177 points in his last full FPL campaign in 2018/19, just one point fewer than Van Dijk managed last season.
Also in this series
Part 1: Ryan No 1 among budget goalkeepers
Part 2: Save points boost appeal of Dubravka
Part 3: Vinagre standout option from budget defenders
Part 4: Wan-Bissaka an all-round prospect
Part 6: Armstrong offers goals at little expense
Part 7: Greenwood can provide outstanding value in new role
Part 8: Salah goal threat gives edge over rivals
Part 9: Maupay can shine among budget forwards
Part 10: Ings has platform to hit ground running
