FPL Underlying Stats Defenders – the 4 defenders who shoot the most

Here’s an FPL underlying stats defenders article where we outline the 4 defenders who topped the shots per game statistic so far in the Premier League and why it’s important

FPL Underlying Stats Defenders – the 4 defenders who shoot the most

I outline my  FPL strategy along with 10 other FFGeek contributors in our new EBook.

Background

See also the article on the 4 forwards that shoot the most and 4 midfielders who shoot the most

If you are a regular reader of the site you will know that the primary underlying stats that I rely on are expected goals and expected assists which I get from the free site Understat.  However I always like to back it up with volume stats as well.  It’s all very well and good having great expected goals but if you don’t shoot regularly then good expected goals stats can be a bit of a mirage.

I think this is more so with defenders as their average shot position will not be as strong as forwards or midfielders so volume will be more important.

The shooting stats are from the free site whoscored.com

John Lundstram

No surprise that the £4.9m attacking midfielder classified as a defender is the top of the shots per game rankings for defenders.  Although there are a number of wing backs who play in advanced positions Lundstram was  the only consistent out of position defender of note in the true sense of the word.

In terms of total points he was 4th behind the Liverpool trio of defenders and behind the same 3 in points per match for those defenders who played over 1,000 minutes.

5 players had more than his 4 assists and no defender scored more goals than Lundstrams 4.  In combined goals and assists he was 3rd behind Alexander Arnold and Doherty with 4 of each totaling 8.

In my attacking defender player rankings when underlying stats were converted to FPL points he was 2nd only to Matt Doherty

The issue with Lundstram going forward is gametime security as he has been a sub in 4 of the last 5 games although in GW29 he did play 90 minutes.

Trent Alexander Arnold

The £7.8m Liverpool RB was sensational again for another season with 2 goals and 14 assists shooting 1.2 times per game.  His total goal and assists record of 16 was 7 ahead of the next highest of Doherty with 9.

The Liverpool full backs were the primary creative force for Liverpool with the only player in all of the game with more assists than Alexander Arnolds 14 and Robertson’s 7 was Sadio Mane with 9.

He was the clear assist leader for defenders and only De Bruyne has more than him in the FPL game with 18.

Despite the shot volume he didn’t really produce much in the way of xG.  His total xG was 2.63 compared to Lundstram of 4.92 and Doherty of 6.19 even though the volume differences aren’t that significant.

That definitely affected his attacking defender player rankings when underlying stats were converted to FPL points he was 3rd to Matt Doherty and John Lundstram.

The issue with Liverpool will be possible rotation once the league is won.

Yerry Mina

Everyone will know from the World Cup the Everton CB’s aerial ability to set pieces which presumably had alot to do with his pretty steep opening price of £5.5m.  However this only translated into 2 goals and 1 assist against an xG of 3.07.

He was ranked 7th in my attacking defender player rankings when underlying stats were converted to FPL points

What is more concerning though is gametime security with Mina being on the bench in the last 2 games before the season was suspended.  He has strong competition for a place with Holgate and Keane also centre backs.

Matt Doherty

The top player in attacking defender player rankings when underlying stats were converted to FPL points.  He was at his most rampaging when placed in a 3-4-3 with Traore as an RW allowing Doherty to come inside and look like a midfielder who ghosts late into the box.

It’s worth noting that 2 of his goals were inside the 6 yard box and the other 2 were inside the penalty area.  His 4 goals could have been so much more with an xG of 6.19 and in particular he missed a header in the last minute from against Newcastle which was inside the 6 yard box right in front of goal 

In fact 7 of his 23 open play shots came from inside the 6 yard box out and all 23 which were from inside the penalty area.  This guy isn’t a full back.

Good fixtures too.  If you can get this guy in your team you definitely should.

The Fixture Ease schedule

Here’s a representation of the defenders fixture ease schedule which shows the ease of each teams remaining fixtures.  It is out of date in the sense that the order is likely to now be from GW30 onwards and the ranking assumes home and away advantage with supporters in the ground.  However it does still give an indication of the fixture strength and gives you a visual representation of the remaining fixtures

I outline my  FPL strategy along with 10 other FFGeek contributors in our new EBook.