Best FPL Players For Double Gameweek 33 | Top 5 Best Defenders

Who are the best FPL defenders for Double Gameweek 33?

Four-time top 1k and 5-time top 5k finisher Abdul Rehman uses the Hub's OPTA, Prediction, Comparison and Fixture tools to identify the best Fantasy Premier League budget and premium defenders.

Don’t forget to check out our Ultimate FPL Gameweek Guide, which has everything you need to make the best decisions ahead of the deadline.

The Best FPL Defenders for Double Gameweek 33

Fabian Schar (£4.4m) – Newcastle United

Fixture: Leicester City (H) and Crystal Palace (H)

Fabian Schar has emerged as a great value option. He has now started the last 13 league games and has two goals and two assists over the season in only 21 starts. He has 12 Shots in the Box with an xG of 1.46 and has also created 10 Chances with an xA of 2.19.

Newcastle United have two home games in Double Gameweek 33 as they welcome Leicester City and Crystal Palace. The Toon are not the same team as they were in the first half of the season and have improved vastly.

Since Gameweek 20, Newcastle have only conceded 12 goals (4^th) with an xGC of 15.0 (5^th) so we need to recalibrate our thinking when it comes to them now.

Leicester and Palace are both good attacking sides but with the Newcastle being at home I fancy them for at least one clean sheet here, and it’s always good to back an attacking defender also like Schar.

They are at 31% and 33% to keep a clean over the double which puts them at 54% to keep at least one clean sheet.

Schar has attacking threat and is also playing in a decent team who have back-to-back home games. He does currently look the best option in that backline when you look at the underlying numbers and his price. He should also now be on some set-pieces too.

According to our Points Prediction Tool he is the highest predicted scoring defender (7.2) for Double Gameweek 33.

 

Joao Cancelo (£7.0m) – Manchester City

Fixture: Brighton (H)

Joao Cancelo has one goal, and nine assists this season. He has the highest xG amongst defenders (4.36) and has created 38 Chances with an xA of 5.06 (3^rd amongst defenders). He also has the most final third passes (922) from any player in the league.

Manchester City have now kept 18 clean sheets (1^st) and easily have the best defence in the league. They have conceded 20 goals (1^st) with an xGC of 23.5 (1^st).

Despite no double this week I still think Cancelo is most definitely worth inclusion. The Blues come up against Brighton at home this week which looks like another prime fixture for a clean sheet. The Seagulls really have struggled in front of goals. They have only netted 28 goals (18^th) with an xG of 38.4 (14^th).

The bookmakers also have City as the favourites to keep a clean sheet this week at 56% and also have them as the favourites to score 2.5+ goals (48%).

This bodes well for Cancelo at both ends of the pitch and he is probably the safest pick this Gameweek. He is actually the highest predicted scoring defender (5.8 points) out with those who have a double gameweek according to the Points Prediction Tool.

Trent Alexander Arnold (£8.4m) – Liverpool

Fixture: Manchester United (H)

Trent Alexander-Arnold has amassed an impressive two goals and 12 assists this season. He has registered 12 Shots in the Box with an xG of 2.63 and created 95 Chances (1^st) with an xA of 9.91 (3^rd).

Liverpool also do not have a double gameweek but again I feel Trent is most definitely worth including here. The Reds are only behind Man City when it comes to defence. They have conceded 22 goals (2^nd) with an xGC of 31.3 (2^nd).

They have a big derby here against rivals Manchester United this week who haven’t been too bad attack wise, despite their poor season overall. They have scored 49 goals (6^th) with an xG of 51.8 (5^th). I do think Liverpool will do really well to keep a clean sheet but can see them scoring a few which of course works in Alexander-Arnold’s favour too.

The bookmakers agree as they are fifth favourites to keep a clean sheet in Double Gameweek 33 at 45%, but are second favourites to score 2.5+ goals (44%).

The Englishman will be a great option again this week and can easily outscore the doubling defenders. The right-back can score, assist and he is also on plenty of set-pieces too. He has plenty of avenues to points.

The England international is is also on his way to breaking his record points total of 210 points in 2019/20. He currently has 191 points with seven games left.

Alex Telles (£5.0m) – Manchester United

Fixture: Norwich (H) and Liverpool (a)

Alex Telles has two assists this season by creating 19 Chances with an xA of 1.16. With Luke Shaw out injured, he should be good to start for the two games in Double Gameweek 33.

Manchester United really have a Gameweek of two halves especially defensively. They welcome Norwich to Old Trafford in the opening game and then travel to Anfield in the second to take on Liverpool.

The Canaries have scored 20 goals (20^th) with an xGC of 27.8 (20^th) whereas the Reds have scored 79 goals (1^st) with an xG 79.1 (1^st) so they literally play the worst attacking side in the league followed by the best.

The bookmakers have United as second favourites to keep a clean sheet against Norwich (54%) and at 13% at Liverpool. This gives them a 60% chance to keep at least one clean sheet.

I think Alex Telles is the best defensive option for this double. He is an attacking full-back who is on corners and free-kicks so this bodes well for him for both attacking and defensive returns.

Our Points Prediction Tool has him as the second highest predicted (6.8 points) scoring defender for Double Gameweek 33.

Gabriel (£5.4m) – Arsenal

Fixture: Southampton (a) and Chelsea (a)

Gabriel has had a good season for Arsenal keeping 13 clean sheets (3^rd) and scoring three goals. He has 21 shots in the Box with an xG of 2.32 and has also created 10 Chances with an xA of 1.51.

The Gunners come up against Southampton and Chelsea in Double Gameweek 33. The North London club have been solid defensively this season for the most part. They have conceded 36 goals (5^th) with an xGC of 38.8 (5^th).

The Saints have scored 37 goals (14^th) with an xG of 46.0 (8^th) and Chelsea have scored 64 goals (3^rd) with an xG of 57.9 (3^rd). These aren’t going to be easy games to keep a clean sheet in but Mikel Arteta’s side have shown already this season they are a good defensive side. Also with Gabriel we have the attacking threat too so he could pop up with a goal.

Arsenal are also at 37% and 22% to keep a clean sheet in their respective fixtures which means they have a 50% chance of keeping at least one clean sheet.

The Gunners are a much-improved side in defence and despite their back-to-back losses I am still confident they will finish the season strongly. Only Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea have kept more clean sheets than them.

Hub Power Rankings

I will now rank the Best FPL Double Gameweek 33 Defenders in accordance with our Power Rankings for Hub members!