FPL returns to action after 2 weeks of international break. The Premier League action for week 9 of play kicks off this Saturday with the North London Derby. Along with North London derby, we also have other exciting games to pay attention to.
With the return of the Premier League, so does fantasy football. Week 9 of FPL play is upon us and no games have been canceled or rescheduled. FPL Game Week 9 will have a full quota of games and FPL managers will have all available players to choose from. But due to a rigorous 2-week international break which was the final straw for national teams ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, everyone came in hard with some players coming back injured and may not be available for selection.
Now that FPL is coming back, all FPL fans will be down about their team selection, especially after the week 8 game where only a few teams played. Going into the team selection bottom line for every manager at FPL plays a crucial role. With an ample amount of questions about the selections of the defenders.
Let’s get right into it without further delay. In this article, we’ll help you sort out your confusion regarding defender picks. Here are our top picks for defenders to choose from in Week 9 of FPL play.
The best picks for FPL Defenders for week 9 of the FPL game
Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
The first name that comes to mind when talking about defenders in the Premier League is none other than Manchester City fullback Joao Cancelo. Cancelo has been brilliant throughout the season for Manchester City in that left-back role. With Zinchenko leaving Manchester City and Sergi Gomez coming in, he’s pretty inexperienced at this level. Joao Cancelo has become an automatic option for Pep Guardiola at left back.
Once again, Manchester City have been the best defense in the league, and will probably continue to be throughout the campaign. Even if he faces Manchester United in the local derby in match week 9, his defensive assets will still be at his best. Joao Cancelo has played a crucial role in Manchester’s backline. He has been a rock solid option for them. ManCity have only conceded 6 goals in 7 games played so far.
Picking Joao Cancelo gives you the advantage of having two threats in one player. Defensively, Cancelo is solid, but he also strikes wisely, he’s a potent threat. Cancelo’s bombardments from that left-wing plot create many opportunities for these teammates and end up contributing goals for the assists that led to goals. In attack, he has an xG of 0.34, an xA of 0.41 and seven extra points (bonus points) as a result of the number of important key passes he makes.
Reece James (Chelsea)
Another option for FPL coaches on their Week 9 teams among defenders could be Chelsea Reece James. James has been instrumental in Chelsea’s success over the seasons. He has made a huge impact from that right-back/right-back role. Now with the arrival of Gram Potter, it would be interesting to see what formation he adopts and how he brings out the best in Reece James.
Reece James is like Joao Cancelo, he contributes both on offense and defense. James has produced seven chances with an anticipated assist (xA) of 1.14 this season, along with seven shots with an xG of 0.69. He leads the Chelsea defense in terms of xG and xA.
Chelsea is playing Crystal Palace in game week 9 where both teams are struggling this season. But with Chelsea getting a new manager at the helm, Gram Potter is known for this team’s defensive solidity. Potter’s last team, Brighton, were defensively solid and leaked fewer goals compared to other teams. With Chelsea facing Palace, we expect James to contribute in both departments on the pitch. We expect James to play a vital role in this Week 9 matchup and FPL managers could benefit from drafting James into their Week 9 squads.
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)
Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier was selected as the last defender on our list. Trippier has proven to be a wise acquisition for Newcastle United. At both ends of the field, he has provided returns. He is a danger offensively and plays the right back position very well defensively.
He has played six games this season and has already scored one goal and had three clean sheets. He generated 11 chances with an xA of 0.82 and an xG of 0.32. Trippier’s ability to take set pieces for Newcastle is another benefit. Trippier is known for launching precise crosses from that right flank, which has produced several goals in the elite league.
Newcastle will play Fulham this week. Who is having a great season since their promotion to the Premier League? Tripper will have the ideal opportunity to score goals from both ends of the pitch in this match. He has two offensive options: he can score from set pieces or assist from centers. Therefore, Kieran Trippier is a player that all FPL coaches should have in their Week 9 rosters.
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