Liverpool Defence

[Taff Murray]

With the news about VVD injury, requires knee surgery, so who knows how long he will be out for is it time to ditch Liverpool defenders. They have always looked suspect when he doesn't play so I cant see too many CS until he returns. So do Robertson & TAA still hold the same value/must have status without those returns. Assists and the odd goal can't justify their price tags surely. IMHO they will no longer be able to sustain their value and there may be far better options to move to now.

[Bernd Leno’s Garage]

I'm not sure what the far better options are?

Teams with most clean sheets:
Villa (3)
Southampton (2)
Wolves (2)
West Ham (2)

10 x teams have one clean sheet, with six having zero.

Robertson is the sixth highest scoring defender, with only one clean sheet. Ahead of him are Digne, Castagne, and three Villa defenders.

Sorry, but I don't see any value in defenders right now at all. Digne and Castagne may be good options, but neither team looks convincing at the back at all.

No team stands out as defensively secure yet. It'll take a lot more before I can be convinced to pin my defensive hopes on Mings and Cresswell.

[Bernd Leno’s Garage]

To be clear, I am exploring the very fair point you have made. I'm just stating that I don't see obvious answers elsewhere. Certainly none that are anything but a tinkerer's consideration.

I for one binned TAA last week, having had him and Robertson from GW1. Robertson just looks like a much better option at the moment (it's all relative of course).

[johnF]

I think the point is there are no obvious must have defenders at the moment. So why spend over 7 million on any of them? Trent and Robertson haven't really lived up to their price so far and their points potential looks even less good now that VVD is out so I think there is a an argument for downgrading them to a much cheaper option which would then give you an extra 2.0 to spend on midfielders and/or strikers which seems to be where all the points are coming from at the moment.

[Bernd Leno’s Garage]

I think the point is there are no obvious must have defenders at the moment. So why spend over 7 million on any of them? Trent and Robertson haven't really lived up to their price so far and their points potential looks even less good now that VVD is out so I think there is a an argument for downgrading them to a much cheaper option which would then give you an extra 2.0 to spend on midfielders and/or strikers which seems to be where all the points are coming from at the moment.

That’s not an unreasonable point, but outwith Villa’s clean sheets (which to even the most optimistic fan will not continue at this pace) he’d be near enough the best performing defender.

It’s far too soon to extrapolate much, but I’d certainly not include more than one Liverpool defender right now.

[Geri]

I still have both TAA and Robbo. If I was to wildcard right now I wouldnt have both, maybe even neither, but wasting FT on removing them while their next two are shu and whu at home doesnt feel right. After those 2 I will revaluate and they are for sure the obvious sacrifices if more money is needed upfront

[math!]

I didn't want Trent in pre-season as I thought he is not worth the price and looking back over the first few GWs I'm still leaning towards that. However, he does get attacking points and hasn't done much so far so those points could be on the horizon. So far this isn't a season for clean sheets despite unusually solid performances from West Ham and Aston Villa propping up their defenders' overall points so Liverpool's dodgy defending shouldn't be too much of a concern. Digne, Chilwell, and maybe Telles, seem to me the best choices outside of the two Liverpool fullbacks. If Brighton step it up then Lamptey too would be a template player.

Losing van Dijk looks like it's more a loss for their assist potential but the addition of Thiago could provide them with more chances to set someone up or score themselves.

[SirMattBugsby]

Trent is a captaincy option this GW, imo. He can get assists from deeper positions too, and still is on set pieces (although sharing with Robbo and Mo).

Are the 5.5s better value for money? Only reason I'll downgrade Pool double-up is to get a 7th attacker worth 6.5-7.

[carver]

I’d be getting rid of taa but have bigger problems.

Thought taa looked great first few games despite no rewards but has been quiet last few.

Having taa at 7.5 and not performing is crippling a lot of teams . Sheff Utd at home should be a great opportunity though

I think Allison is a bigger miss than VVD and when he is back would hope to see some clean sheets .

[Aldershot Rejects]

My target for a £5m defender is about 4.7 ppg. Robertson is currently on 5 ppg despite Liverpool's fragility.
I've had him since GW1 and he was in every draft for my GW5 WC. With a nice fixture run coming up, he's going nowhere from my team.

[Aldershot Rejects]

No team stands out as defensively secure yet. It'll take a lot more before I can be convinced to pin my defensive hopes on Mings and Cresswell.

Since lockdown, Villa have been in the top three for least xG goals I believe; that's a third of a season. What will it take to convince you?

[Pirlo's Beard]

Since lockdown, Villa have been in the top three for least xG goals I believe; that's a third of a season. What will it take to convince you?

Beating Liverpool 7-0 instead of 7-2 might have helped.

[Aldershot Rejects]

Since lockdown, Villa have been in the top three for least xG goals I believe; that's a third of a season. What will it take to convince you?

Beating Liverpool 7-0 instead of 7-2 might have helped.

OK, fair point

[Aldershot Rejects]

Since lockdown, Villa have been in the top three for least xG goals I believe; that's a third of a season. What will it take to convince you?

Beating Liverpool 7-0 instead of 7-2 might have helped.

OK, fair point