Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Defenders Picks for FPL Gameweek 19

On Boxing Day, with only three essential tasks on the agenda—creating an epic Christmas Day leftover sandwich, lounging on the sofa, and setting up your Fantasy Premier League team—everything else can wait until the 27th. However, it’s crucial not to overlook the Gameweek 19 deadline, which is arguably the easiest one to miss.

Whether you’re recovering from a hangover induced by one too many Baileys shots or engaging in traditional activities like a stroll or a bold dive into the sea, Fantasy Premier League might not be the first thing on your mind when you wake up. To ensure you don’t miss out, here are a couple of handy tips for selecting the top five defenders in Gameweek 19.

Consider setting your alarm for 10:45 am (BST), allowing ample time to organize your squad before the 11 am deadline. With this simple strategy, you can seamlessly navigate your FPL duties while enjoying the festive season. Easy peasy.

Sven Botman (Newcastle)

Priced at £4.5m, Sven Botman emerges as a compelling option for Fantasy Premier League managers, providing a robust rotation choice in Newcastle United’s defense. Following his appearance as a substitute for the injured Jamal Lascelles in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Luton Town, Botman seems poised for his first start since Gameweek 6 when Newcastle hosts Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening.

Newcastle boasts the best defensive home record this season, securing six clean sheets at St James’ Park. However, their away performances have only resulted in one clean sheet. This suggests that Fantasy managers may find value in budget assets like Botman, deploying them selectively, particularly in home matches.

Crucially, Newcastle has an advantageous home schedule in the coming Gameweeks. According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), six of their next seven encounters at St James’ Park, including the upcoming match against Nottingham Forest, are rated only two, making Botman an appealing choice for those seeking a cost-effective defensive option with favorable fixtures ahead.

Also Read: Fantasy Premier League: Top Five Midfielders Picks for FPL Gameweek 19

Alfie Doughty (Luton Town)

Alfie Doughty of Luton Town is making a surprising appearance as the fourth most creative defender this season, following the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, and Pedro Porro. Despite not enjoying the same level of recognition, Doughty, a left wing-back, has impressively created 30 chances, resulting in three assists—equalling Alexander-Arnold’s total.

Notably, a couple of these assists came in Luton’s recent match against Arsenal. Doughty’s strength lies in quantity over quality, with only three of his chances classified as “big chances” that a teammate was expected to score. Nevertheless, his crosses into the box serve as a crucial weapon for Rob Edwards’ side. Riding high after their victory against Newcastle, Luton faces significant encounters against Sheffield United and Burnley in their next three fixtures.

With an ownership of just 0.3 percent, Doughty emerges as a potential differential for Gameweeks 19 and 21. Priced at £4.4m with 42 points, he presents an intriguing option, particularly for the upcoming fixture against Sheffield United away.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

While Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a consistent recommendation in Fantasy Premier League, the best Liverpool defender, and arguably the best defender overall to consider at the moment, is still Alexander-Arnold. However, for those looking for a more budget-friendly option at £8.2m, Virgil van Dijk emerges as an intriguing alternative.

Although he lags behind Alexander-Arnold in overall points, Van Dijk has showcased his goal threat from set-pieces and even outscored his teammate in a single game. In the recent 2-0 victory against Sheffield United, Van Dijk returned an impressive 14 points, contributing a goal, maintaining a clean sheet, and securing two bonus points. As Liverpool faces Burnley at Turf Moor in the upcoming Gameweek 19, the prospects of Van Dijk repeating his goal-scoring exploits seem promising.

Burnley has struggled to find the net in four of their nine home league matches and has conceded the joint-highest number of goals from set-pieces (eight). Considering this, the potential for a Van Dijk goal, possibly from an Alexander-Arnold assist, could be a viable outcome. Priced at £6.2m with 63 points, Van Dijk presents an appealing and more affordable defensive option for Fantasy managers in the upcoming fixture against Burnley away.

Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United)

Priced at £6.9m, Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United is a notable defender to consider, particularly with an upcoming home fixture against Nottingham Forest. Having completed his suspension last weekend, Trippier is expected to feature prominently, making him a compelling option for Fantasy managers, especially with the early kick-off on Boxing Day. Notably, six of Newcastle’s seven clean sheets this season have been secured at home.

Trippier has consistently showcased his assist potential both in open play and from dead balls. He leads the league in taking free kicks, tallying 24 so far. His impressive season statistics include creating 45 chances, with ten of them classified as big chances, resulting in seven assists to date. With a solid points total of 84 and an ownership of 42.9 percent, Trippier presents a well-rounded defensive option for the Boxing Day clash against Nottingham Forest at home.

Also Read: Fantasy Premier League: Predicted Lineups | Team News | Injury Updates | FPL GW 18

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool, priced at £8.3m, has been in exceptional form recently, creating an impressive 22 chances in the last four Gameweeks. This remarkable statistic sets him apart from other defenders in the Fantasy Premier League, with at least 10 more chances created than any of his counterparts in the same period.

Alexander-Arnold’s consistent ability to generate goal-scoring opportunities makes him a standout option for Fantasy managers looking to bolster their defensive ranks.