Caoimhin Kelleher, Brentford, keeper, £4.7m – Burnley (a)
Brentford’s defence is worth investing in as they enter a very nice run of games, including Wolves and Everton at home.
And Burnley have scored less than a goal per game at home.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £6m – West Ham (h)
The Dutchman has 28 points in his past two games, much to the dismay of any FPL managers who sold him for Gabriel before Arsenal’s double gameweek.
Like Brentford, Liverpool also have a great run of fixtures and a match in blank gameweek 31 so, even if you have missed his recent points, a move for Van Dijk still makes sense.
James Hill, Bournemouth, £4.1m – Sunderland (h)
Also making the team this week is “budget Van Dijk” Hill, who had his fifth straight return last week.
He has good-looking fixtures, he usually gets defensive contribution points, and is about as cheap as they come. Sign him up.
Plus, Sunderland have scored only six goals away from home this season.
Diogo Dalot, Manchester United, £4.5m – Crystal Palace (h)
Dalot is worth watching because he has carried the kind of threat in his past few games that is not showing up in the underlying data.
Dalot had a 12-pointer three games ago and is finding himself in some fantastic attacking positions at times without producing the final pass.
In five games he has created five chances and two big chances.
He has the United right-back position locked down, so offers security and upside at a value price.
Nico O’Reilly, Manchester City, £5m – Leeds (a)
Since Pep Guardiola switched Nico O’Reilly into midfield four games ago, only Haaland and Antoine Semenyo have had more shots and big chances for City.
And it all came to a head with his two-goal performance against Newcastle last week.
He does not really collect defensive contribution points in this role, like you might expect, but £5m for an OOP (out-of-position) defender with a goal threat is great value.
Just keep an eye on City’s gameweek 31, which is currently a blank, and make sure you have a plan.
