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 Who are the best Fantasy Premier League defenders to own for Gameweek 12? 4-time top 1k finisher <a href="https://twitter.com/FPL_Salah">Abdul Rehman</a> uses the Hub's <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/">OPTA</a>, <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions/">Prediction</a>, <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-player-comparision-tool/">Comparison</a> and <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker/">Fixture</a> tools to find the best FPL budget and premium defenders for our FPL teams.
Check out our <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-gw12-tips-ultimate-guide/">Ultimate Guide to FPL Gameweek 12</a> for all the key information, stats and tips you need going into the weekend's action.
I really like Gameweek 12 for the defender options. There were lots to choose from this week with quite a few teams having favourable home fixtures. The defender's spot is the one least prone to rotation over this busy period so bolstering up those £4.0m bench fodder or rotation risks with sure starters is probably a good idea at this stage. As always I will pick my top five best defenders for the Gameweek based on stats, form and fixtures.
<div id="attachment_30010" style="width: 809px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30010" class="wp-image-30010 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/GW12-Defensive-Fixture-Ticker.jpg" alt="GW12 tips" width="799" height="573" />
GW12 Defensive Fixture Ticker
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<h3>Andrew Robertson (£7.2m) – Liverpool</h3>
Fixture: Fulham (a)
Liverpool kept their third clean sheet of the season last Gameweek in a comprehensive 4-0 win over Wolves. The Scot was benched in his midweek Champions League clash against Midtjylland so should definitely start in Gameweek 12 against Fulham.
He has 7 Shots, 2 Shots on Target, 6 Shots in the Box and 2 Big Chances while also creating 17 Chances (2nd amongst defenders) and 5 Big Chances (1st amongst defenders). He is still a great option going forward in my opinion now only for next Gameweek but also beyond as the Reds fixtures are great right up until Gameweek 19.
Although Liverpool only kept one clean sheet in their first eight fixtures, they have now kept two in the last three. Looking at their defensive numbers they have also picked up. They have conceded 99 Shots (3rd), 66 Shots on the Box (4th), and 42 Shots on Target (7th). Their opposition Fulham have struggled to score this season only bagging 11 goals (17th) and have had 43 Shots on Target (14th), 75 Shots in the Box (15th) and 18 Big Chances (15th).
I feel this is a fixture where Liverpool could win by quite a margin and Robertson will have chances of points at both ends of the pitch. A clean sheet looks likely here and Robbo will get forward a lot as he does down the left wing and cross in as much as possible. Also, Fulham like to play and don’t sit deep which I think will play right in Liverpool’s hands. With him only getting 30 minutes midweek he will be nicely rested for this fixture too.
<div id="attachment_30011" style="width: 593px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30011" class="wp-image-30011 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Andrew-Robertson-Stats.jpg" alt="FPL Gameweek 12" width="583" height="606" />
Andrew Robertson Stats
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<h3>Gabriel Magalhães (£5.1m) – Arsenal</h3>
Fixture: Burnley (H)
Arsenal have been terrible this season and sit in 15th positon in the table with only 13 points. They have struggled to score and also been leaking goals lately. You might wonder why I am picking one of their defender this week then. The simple answer is their opposition, Burnley.
The Clarets have really struggled to score this season and have only managed five goals (20th). Their attacking stats show that it's no anomaly either with only 91 Shots (19th), 27 Shots on Target (20th), 50 Shots in the Box (19th) and 11 Big Chances (19th). They also have the second worst xG in the league with 8.63. With their talisman Chris Wood not finding his shooting boots this season there really isn’t anywhere their goals can come from on a consistent basis.
Over the season, Arsenal's defensive stats have been mediocre, conceding 75 Shots in the Box (7th), 42 Shots on Target (7th) and 19 Big Chances (6th). They have kept three clean sheets so far though and I believe their defence is more than good enough to keep Burnley out. The bookies agree with me too as they are top for clean sheet probability at 44% for Gameweek 12.
Gabriel is their most attacking defender when it comes to goal threat. He has 7 Shots, 2 Shots on Target, 7 Shots in the Box and 1 Big Chance. He is dangerous at set-pieces and has already notched two goals this season and is the most nailed defender in that defence.
<div id="attachment_30012" style="width: 591px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30012" class="wp-image-30012 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Gabriel-Magalhaes-Stats.jpg" alt="top 5 best players gw12" width="581" height="604" />
Gabriel Magalhães Stats
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<h3>Jannik Vestergaard (£4.8m) – Southampton</h3>
Fixture: Sheffield United (H)
The tall Danish defender has been a rock at the heart of the Saints defence this season which has seen them keep four clean sheets so far. He is also a massive goal threat from set-pieces and corners and has already scored three goals. Although Southampton have conceded five goals in their last three games their opponents have one of the worst attacking stats in the league and sit bottom of the table with only one point.
Sheffield United have only scored 5 goals (20th) same as Burnley however the Blades have played an extra game. They have 32 Shots on Target (18th), 69 Shots in the Box (17th), and 19 Big Chances (14th). They don’t have any proven goal scorers and it's really tough to see where their goals are going to come from.
The Saints have been okay defensively and have a more than good enough defence to keep them out. Although their defensive stats aren’t great, conceding 116 Shots (6th), 87 Shots in the Box (14th) and 51 Shots on Target (15th) they have kept clean sheets against the mid to lower table teams so are performing about as you would expect. Their shutouts have come against Burnley (a), West Brom (H), Everton (H) and Newcastle United (H). Sheffield United most certainly come under that category and I think this will be Southampton's best chance of a clean sheet statistically all season. The bookies have them second favourite after Arsenal to keep a cleanie at 42%.
I also think this is a fantastic fixture for Vestegaard as again like the aforementioned defenders has chances at both ends of the pitch. I actually think he is the most likely defender to score in Gameweek 12 especially with his teammate James Ward-Prowse (£6.2m) playing. Jannik has 5 Shots, 4 Shots on Target, 5 Shots in the box and one Big Chance. Two of his goals have come from Ward-Prowse assists from set-pieces and the defender is so dangerous in the box, at 6 foot 5 he will be favourite against most defenders.
<div id="attachment_30013" style="width: 691px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30013" class="wp-image-30013 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Jannik-Vestegaard-Stats.jpg" alt="best defenders gw12" width="681" height="591" />
Jannik Vestegaard Stats
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<h3>Sergio Reguilón (£5.7m) – Spurs</h3>
Fixture: Crystal Palace (a)
Tottenham Hotspur sit top of the league at the moment and have the joint most clean sheets (5) along with Chelsea. They have also conceded the least goals after only conceding nine after 11 games.
Spurs have conceded 80 Shots in the Box (8th), 36 Shots on Target (4th), and 12 Big Chances (12). They also have the fourth best xGC at 12.21. Although their defensive stats are good they don’t seem as good as their defensive form suggests. This is because of the way they are playing this season, allowing the opposition to have the possession and then catching them on the break which they have been doing to devastating effect.
The 23-year old Spanish full-back has had an impressive debut season so far and seems to have cemented that left-back spot starting his last five league games. He has two assists so far to his name also and is the most attacking defender in the Spurs team. He has 6 Shots, 2 Shots on Target, 3 Shots in the Box, 7 Chances created and 2 Big Chances created in only seven games. He is constantly making runs down the left wing and his average heat map position shows this too.
Spurs come up against Crystal Place in Gameweek 12. Although the Eagles haven’t been the worst attacking side this season their stats have been inflated by their 5-1 win over West Brom last week and their 4-1 win over Leeds United in Gameweek 8. They have had 112 Shots (15th), 43 Shots On Target (14th), 75 Shots in the Box (15th) and 19 Big Chances (14th). On top of this they have an xG of 14.70 and have scored 17 goals so seem to be overachieving in the goals department.
I think the North London club will be too strong and organised for them defensively and can see a routine win here and a clean sheet. With Spurs full-backs getting so forward in the attacks I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Reguilón got some attacking returns too.
<div id="attachment_30014" style="width: 583px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30014" class="wp-image-30014 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sergio-Reguilon-Stats.jpg" alt="FPL Gameweek 12" width="573" height="603" />
Sergio Reguilón Stats
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<h3>Stuart Dallas (£4.6m) – Leeds</h3>
Fixture: West Ham United (H)
Leeds United are not known for their defensive resolve however have still kept four clean sheets despite having terrible underlying numbers defensively. They have conceded 159 Shots (18th), 110 Shots in the Box (19th), 60 Shots on Target (17th) and 30 Big Chances (19th). Yet they have kept the second most clean sheets in the league so far. This is largely based on the system Bielsa plays. Leeds dominate possession for most of the match but do leave themselves open on the counter which allows their opposition to get many chances against them.
The Whites face West Ham United in Gameweek 12 and despite them having a good season so far and good attacking stats I see this as a game where Dallas is just as likely to get attacking returns as well as defensive. He has one goal and one assist and has been rather unfortunate not to get more. Amongst defenders, he has 12 Shots (3rd), 7 Shots on Target (1st), 4 Shots in the Box (6th) and 2 Big Chances (2nd). He also has the highest xG from all defenders at 1.71. This is mainly due to him being played in midfield quite a number of times by Bielsa. Depending on what formation Leeds play he will occasionally start as at left-back, right-back or in central midfield and sometimes will change during the match.
Their clean sheets this season have come against Sheffield United (a), Aston Villa (a), Arsenal (H) and Everton (a) so have shown they can keep out decent attacking teams like Villa and the Toffees.
Also with Michail Antonio (£6.2m) out injured, I think the Hammers will find it harder to score and Leeds will as usual dominate possession and create a lot of chances like they have been doing all season.
<div id="attachment_30015" style="width: 583px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30015" class="wp-image-30015 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Stuart-Dallas-Stats.jpg" alt="gw12 fpl tips" width="573" height="601" />
Stuart Dallas Stats
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In conclusion, I will rank these Gameweek 12 defenders in accordance to our Power Rankings for Hub members!
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Best Defenders For Gameweek 12 | Fantasy Premier League Tips

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