𝘿𝙀𝙀𝙋 𝘿𝙄𝙑𝙀

A thread comparing the stats of 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 across the league, from my analysis the following players have stood out:

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧
𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐰
𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨
𝐀𝐳𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐞𝐭𝐚
𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞
𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐤
𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐑𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫
𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐲

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞:

I have excluded City from this deep dive as they are head and shoulders above the rest of the teams, this thread assumes you already have two City defenders.

𝐂𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐳𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐞𝐭𝐚, Chelsea

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬: SHU(A), NEW(H), SOU(A)

Cost: 5.6m
xGA: 2.63
Key Passes: 7
Shots: 4
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
xG: 0.32
xA: 0.33

𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫, Chelsea

Next three games: SHU(A), NEW(H), SOU(A)

Cost: 4.5m
xGA: 2.63
Key Passes: 1
Shots: 5
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
xG: 0.21
xA: 0.1

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨, Chelsea

Next three games: SHU(A), NEW(H), SOU(A)

Cost: 5.6m
xGA: 2.63
Key Passes: 1
Shots: 2
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
xG: 0.48
xA: 0.2

𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐰, Manchester United

Next three games: EVE(H), WBA(A), NEW(H)

Cost: 4.9m
xGA: 4.55
Key Passes: 13
Shots: 3
Goals: 0
Assists: 2
xG: 0.17
xA: 2.63

𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞, Manchester United

Next three games: EVE(H), WBA(A), NEW(H)

Cost: 5.5m
xGA: 4.55
Key Passes: 1
Shots: 5
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
xG: 0.22
xA: 0.03

𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧, Leicester

Next three games: WOL(A), LIV(H), AVL(A)

Cost: 5.1
xGA: 4.01
Key Passes: 2
Shots: 4
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
xG: 1.26
xA: 0.39

𝐋𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐤, Brighton

Next three games: BUR(A), AVL(H), CRY(H)

Cost: 4.8
xGA: 5.13
Key Passes: 2
Shots: 4
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
xG: 0.21
xA: 0.21

𝐁𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞, Brighton

Next three games: BUR(A), AVL(H), CRY(H)

Cost: 4.4
xGA: 5.13
Key Passes: 2
Shots: 4
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
xG: 0.2
xA: 0.62

𝐑𝐨𝐛 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, Arsenal

Next three games: AVL(A), LEE(H), MCI(H)

Cost: 4.6m
xGA: 4.95
Key Passes: 2
Shots: 3
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
xG: 0.14
xA: 0.1

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐲, Wolves

Next three games: LEI(H), SOU(A), LEE(H)

Cost: 5.4m
xGA: 5.54
Key Passes: 1
Shots: 7
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
xG: 0.79
xA: 0.47

𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞, Everton

Next three games: MUN(A), FUL(H), LIV(A)

Cost: 6.1m
xGA: 4.88
Key Passes: 10
Shots: 2
Goals: 0
Assists: 4
xG: 0.04
xA: 1.87

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Chelsea top the charts for xGA, with an average of 0.66 xGA per game, from the Chelsea options Rudiger offers the best value while Alonso offers the best in terms of attacking returns. Tuchel’s first test will be against Spurs tonight, this is an....

important game to see who he favours in his back line.

Brighton have completely turned their defensive numbers over the past three games, managing to take clean sheets both against Liverpool and Spurs. They also host Burnley and Palace in their next three games who have been struggling to score.....

...Ben White offers the best attacking returns and also the best value at a very cheap 4.4m

Manchester United have also hit a run of defensive form, only being bested by City over the last three games. Shaw offers both the best value at 4.9m and the best offensive returns. Shaw certainly passed the eye test over the past few games, my recommendation is to keep....

an eye on him against Everton this weekend, then bring him in for West Brom and Newcastle in the following weeks.

Lucas Digne and Willy Boly have both looked good offensively over the past 5 games, however both sides have struggled defensively in that time. James Justin stands out as an offensive option, though he has been considerably outperforming his expected stats.....

....Leicester also play Liverpool and Villa in their next three games.

𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑:
Brighton have the best upcoming games, the best form and are the cheapest options with Ben White at 4.4m. Chelsea have hit great form, depending on how they play against Spurs, Alonso or Rudiger could be viable options. Manchester United are in great defensive...

...form, Luke Shaw’s real test will be against Everton this weekend. James Justin stands out offensively, however he has been outperforming his stats and his tough fixtures.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠!

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Give me a shout if you have any suggestions for next weeks 𝘿𝙀𝙀𝙋 𝘿𝙄𝙑𝙀 or if you think there's any players I missed.