The Scout's watchlist of high-value defenders concludes.
James Milner (Liverpool) £6.5m
The attacking potential of Liverpool’s James Milner (£6.5m) can secure him a place in our Fantasy Premier League defences.
Milner scored seven penalty kicks in 2016/17.
He offered a reminder of those talents in Liverpool’s first summer friendly, netting a spot-kick in a 4-0 win over Tranmere Rovers.
After being used at left-back last season, Milner has now been reclassified as an FPL defender.
Milner scored 139 points as a midfielder last term.
Had he produced the same output as a defender, he would have claimed 174 points.
This would have ranked third behind Chelsea’s Gary Cahill (£6.5m and 178) and Marcos Alonso (£7.0m and 177).
Milner’s attacking statistics stand up well compared with last season’s top FPL defenders.
A tally of 36 shots on goal was bettered by only Alonso (46) and Chris Brunt (£5.5m) of West Bromwich Albion, with 38.
Milner’s tally of 56 key passes was 10 more than Everton’s Leighton Baines (£6.0m, 46), who top ranked for that statistic.
That ability to create chances will also boost Milner’s prospects in the Bonus Points System (BPS).
Five of the top seven scoring FPL defenders last season featured at either full-back or wing-back.
Owned by just 10.1%, Milner’s reclassification creates a new forward-thinking option.
Klopp’s side produced only 12 clean sheets last season but finished the campaign strongly, claiming shutouts in five of the final six fixtures.
Matches with Watford (away), Crystal Palace (home) and Burnley (home) in the first five Gameweeks hand Milner the chance to show his worth and trigger an early FPL transfer scramble.
Liverpool's opening Gameweeks
| GW | Opponent | FDR (1 = Low 5 = High) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watford (a) | 2 |
| 2 | Crystal Palace (h) | 2 |
| 3 | Arsenal (h) | 4 |
| 4 | Man City (a) | 4 |
| 5 | Burnley (h) | 1 |
