Gameweek 4 is nearing with the first international break of the season drawing to a close, let's talk about all the players to buy, including wildcard and free hit picks if you're using a chip this week.
🧤 Goalkeepers
The stand out fixture is certainly champions Liverpool facing promoted Burnley away, which has Alisson top of the table on FPL Review. Looking at the next five games, however, Raya leads, so if you're going for any premium keeper he's the one for the longer term. Though we've had a new £5.5m keeper added, Donnarumma. Is he worth buying? 🧐 Interestingly, he comes in joint fourth for GW4 and second only to Raya for the next five.
He's regarded as one of the best keepers in the world in terms of pure shot-stopping. Absolutely huge at 6ft 5 and elite with his positioning. Doesn't have distribution anywhere near the same quality as Ederson, however, so it's an interesting signing. He could be one for Man City's future rather than Pep's future. Or maybe Pep is sacrificing or making tweaks to his philosophy. We could see less risky balls playing it out from the back. All things considered, I prefer Raya.
Saliba is out 3-4 weeks, though they do have incredible depth in all positions across the backline so they'll be potentially unaffected. Mosquera looked very capable against Liverpool. At cheaper price points, Henderson is the top £5m keeper for GW4 given Palace are home to Sunderland, and Palace will be pleased to have kept Guehi after his Liverpool move fell through, which is good news if you've got Henderson or Palace defenders in your team as well. Sanchez and Henderson are tied for the next five gameweek projected points. Martinez is actually top of the £5m's with 18 projected points, another bit of late drama in the transfer window as he hoped to conclude a move to Man Utd and didn't get the call. Instead, Lammens has joined who obviously doesn't reach the table next gameweek since they're facing Man City. Lastly, as far as the £4.5m keepers, it's Petrovic who leads but doesn't make the table, with 3.4 points this week and 16.9 for the next five.
🛡️ Defenders
Huge credit to Iraola and the Bournemouth squad. Many expected them to leak goals after losing Kepa, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, and Kerkez, and yet they have two clean sheets in three and overall are the fifth best defense for expected goals conceded in the opening three gameweeks. Newcastle are top with 1.5 xGC, Arsenal 2.2, Chelsea 2.4. Sunderland are unexpectedly high in fourth with 2.7 xGC. Though we're still talking about small sample sizes and we'll get a better read as more games are played.
Defenders are next. I mentioned that Sunderland home fixture for Palace which has Munoz top this week, with Lacroix and Guehi featuring too. Munoz is one player I'd love to be able to buy myself this week, with 4 goals and 6 assists last season. 10 involvements from a defender is incredible! 🤯 He had 8.4 xGI. This season his solid underlying numbers have continued, with 9 crosses, 2 chances created, and 0.86 xGI which is fourth highest among defenders. Lacroix is a very capable alternative, with fewer goal involvements but he's a beast for defensive contributions. Last season he hit the threshold 17 times for what would've been 34 additional points. Lacroix has hit it twice this season, averaging 12.3 DCs per game. Defenders only need 10.
Gabriel makes the table in third place. I've personally earmarked GW7 to buy him and/or Raya because they have City and Newcastle in GW5 and 6, then there's a noticeable fixture swing in GW7. Andersen historically registers very well for defcon too. He's hit it twice in three games this season, averaging 9.67/game and has Leeds at home this gameweek which is perfect really.
Naturally no Forest defenders are on the table since they play Arsenal away, but don't forget they have Burnley and Sunderland in GW5 and 6 so keep hold, then consider selling if you wish. They have been disappointing so far but it could be premature to drop them now.
If I was wildcarding what would my defense be? Munoz, Gabriel, and Andersen would definitely be in, and for the last two spots there's so many options. Double Palace defense with Lacroix looks good, and I like Senesi a lot for £4.6m. Konsa is potentially value for £4.5m with Everton, Sunderland, Fulham, and Burnley his next four.