AZ from FPL Blackbox is back with their top tips ahead of GW21, as they highlight three defenders to consider for the weeks ahead.
No matter how your FPL team is looking at the midway point of the season, we’ll all be looking for ways to get ahead of rivals and climb up our mini-leagues in January and beyond.
Below I’ve highlighted three defenders that users across the world should consider as we get into the business end of the season.
FPL GW21 Tips: Three Defenders To Consider
Daniel Muñoz (£4.7m)
It hasn’t been the greatest first half of the season for Crystal Palace. Down in 15th after 20 games played, many were expecting more from the Eagles after such a promising end to the 23/24 campaign.
Recently though, things have improved. Apart from the (somewhat unfortunate) 5-1 drubbing to Arsenal, Palace are unbeaten in 8 games, with draws against Newcastle, Manchester City and Chelsea over this period – and a commanding 3-1 win against the Seagulls.
Clean sheets have been hard to come by, with just 4 all season, but there are other reasons to be optimistic if you’re keen on Munoz.
Of all defenders, Munoz has the highest xG this season (3.35). He also has the third highest xGI (4.56) of all defenders, made even more impressive when you consider the only two defenders that can better this score are the premium duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold (5.57) and Josko Gvardiol (4.69).
Munoz is an integral part of Palace when they go forward and has good games on paper against Leicester, West Ham and Brentford in which you would expect to see goals.
Pervis Estupiñán (£5.0m)
Just one attacking return for Estupinan this season is disappointing. He managed 5 in an injury hit season last year and 8 in his debut season back in 22/23.
Brighton have also struggled at the back so far this year, with just 1 clean sheet in their last 12 games. With that said, Estupinan might feel like a bit of an expensive luxury, and if you’re a stats man, it’s probably not the right move for you with an xGi of just 2.14 over the season.
However, despite no win in the last 8 games, the signs (to me at least) are that Brighton are about to turn a corner. Winnable games are on the horizon, against the likes of Ipswich, Manchester United and Everton and Diego Gomez will add some steel to midfield.
While the xGI isn’t anything to write home about, he’s in pretty good company, above the likes of Milos Kerkez (2.01) and just behind attacking defender maestro Ait Nouri (2.74).
Is he worth the extra over the likes of Lewis Dunk (4.3m), Joel Veltman (£4.4m) and Paul Van Hecke (£4.5m)? I think he is, given that none of that trio have set the world alight.
I expect a barnstorming performance and a big return from Estupinan before the end of the season – wouldn’t it be great to call it? If it’s going to happen, it’ll happen in the next few weeks.
Neco Williams (£4.3m)
Relegated to the bench with the arrival of Alex Moreno, what a turnaround it’s been for Neco Williams. He’s now started 7 of the last 8 games, and Nottingham Forest have won all 7 of those games, with their only loss over this run coming when he missed out against Manchester City.
At just £4.3m, Williams is offering fantastic value as the cheapest option in the Forest back-line as the Tricky Tree’s look to cement a Champions League place next season.
Attacking wise, Williams sits at 0.54 xGI over his last six matches, in the same company as the likes of Van Dijk (0.54) and Nathan Collins (0.57), with just one chance created and 4 touches in the penalty area.
He doesn’t have a history of attacking returns either, with just 1 goal in his 3 full seasons in the Premier League.
Therefore, you have to say that goals and assists are unlikely, but given the strength of Forest’s back-line, he could be a shrewd investment to bolster your defence if you want to tap into arguably the meanest back-line in the league right now.
