Holly Shand is back with another round of FPL tips – this week centred around the best replacements for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
A hamstring injury for Trent Alexander-Arnold sees him as the most transferred-out player going into FPL Gameweek 12, as managers move their funds into attack.
But with a lack of consistent clean sheets from defenders, who are the top replacements for the Liverpool right-back?
FPL Gameweek 12 Tips – Best Trent Replacements
Premium: Josko Gvardiol (£6.3 million)
Keeping in the premium price category, it’s hard to look past Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol given his output this season, with 50 points making him the second highest scoring defender in the game over the opening 11 gameweeks.
Gvardiol has scored three goals to date, with seven shots on target, the leading tally among defenders in this campaign. He has started ten of their 11 league games, which bodes well for his potential minutes going into this congested phase of the Premier League calendar.
Manchester City’s fixtures are a little mixed, with games against Spurs, Liverpool, and Nottingham Forest in their next three and just two clean sheets so far.
However, they have been somewhat unlucky, conceding a league-lowest 86 shots on their goal.
Mid-priced: Pervis Estupinan (£5.0 million)
Brighton are a side hitting a great run of fixtures that extends all through the festive period, including facing promoted teams Southampton and Leicester City in the next four gameweeks, plus home games against Crystal Palace and Brentford.
Full-back Pervis Estupinan has started all of their last three games, where he’s had two shots on goal and created three chances for his team-mates, including two big chance creations. We know his attacking threat, with 13 goal involvements in the last two seasons.
Brighton are a team in form, with recent results against Manchester City and Spurs – plus three clean sheets to open their campaign. They have the form and fixtures to prosper in future gameweeks.
Budget: Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.7 million)
Wolves full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri is among the most attacking defenders in the game. He’s already racked up five goal involvements in a tricky opening spell of fixtures for his club, with three goals and two assists giving us a taster of what he’s capable of.
We’ve seen Ait-Nouri adopt multiple positions over this time, sometimes pushing up to be a wing-back or winger in Gary O’Neill’s system, registering 11 shots in the box and five on target, plus 24 touches in the opposition penalty area.
The upturn in Wolves fixtures bodes well for Ait-Nouri to add clean sheets to his attacking returns, with his side already keeping a shut-out at home to Southampton last time out. They have favourable fixtures in each of the next six gameweeks.
Enabler: Sepp van den Berg (£4.1 million)
For managers wishing to strip funds entirely out of their defence to load up with premium picks in the midfield, Brentford’s Sepp van den Berg has a kind price tag. The versatile defender has started each of their last eight games.
Clean sheets have been a challenge for the Bees so far this season, but with their balance of form and fixtures, there’s still some good opportunities in the short term, with a trip to goal-shy Everton next before hosting Leicester City in Gameweek 13.
Van den Berg does possess some aerial threat from dead ball positions, with seven shots so far this season. Don’t expect consistency for his price tag, but a rare goal or a clean sheet could pop up for some crucial points within the next couple of gameweeks.
