David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – Brighton (h)
Arsenal‘s defence had a bit of a stumble following Gabriel’s injury, but they have two clean sheets in their past four and nine already with less than half the season played.
The Gunners have clean sheets in all but three home games this season as well. Those goals conceded were from Erling Haaland, a Richarlison stunner from the halfway line and a surprise late header from Tolu Arokodare for usually toothless Wolves.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – Brighton (h)
It’s an Arsenal triple-up this week in defence.
As well as being the best defence in the game, with a clean sheet in more than half their matches, they take on a Brighton side that has failed to score in their past two outings.
The Seagulls have only managed nine goals in eight away games.
Timber is a solid choice every week and has more attacking upside now he is back at right-back.
Hincapie has earned defensive contribution points (defcon) in his past four starts, which included two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – Wolves (h)
I’d pick six Liverpool players this week if I could.
Wolves failed to score for the 10th time in 17 games in Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to Brentford.
They have only managed nine goals all season, including two on the road. This is as safe a clean sheet as they come.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – Leeds (h)
Despite Leeds‘ recent goalscoring upturn – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I’m backing a Sunderland clean sheet at home.
It would be their third in a row and Alderete is cementing himself as the best budget defensive pick. You can start him confidently in most games, given his defcon potential.