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 Who are the best FPL defenders for Gameweek 1?
Expert Fantasy Premier League manager Abdul Rehman (<a href="https://twitter.com/FPL_Salah">FPL Salah</a>) talks us through his top defensive picks for Gameweek 1 - how many are in your current draft?
Check out our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips">Ultimate Guide to FPL</a> for all our best player articles and much more.
 
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<h2>Best FPL defenders for Gameweek 1</h2>
<h3>Pedro Porro (£5.5m) - Spurs</h3>
Fixture: Burnley (H)
Porro is one of the standout defensive picks for Gameweek 1, combining a favourable fixture with plenty of attacking threat.  
Spurs open the season against promoted side Burnley. They will surely be more defensively solid under Thomas Frank, which should play into the hands of Porro as an FPL asset. 
He frequently makes overlapping and underlapping runs and should be on the majority of set-pieces now James Maddison looks to be out for most of the season. 
With set-piece duties, Porro’s chance creation potential skyrockets, offering multiple routes to points. He registered two goals and six assists last season. 
While Spurs are not always the most watertight at the back, Burnley’s modest attacking output should give Porro a decent shot at a clean sheet.  They are the favourites to keep one in Gameweek 1 at 46% 
Porro is also the second highest predicted scoring defender (5.2 points) for Gameweek 1 according to <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Hub AI.</a>
<div id="attachment_73904" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73904" class="size-full wp-image-73904" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Pedro-Porro-bordered-2.jpeg" alt="Pedro Porro Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Pedro Porro Stats
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<h3>Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) - Liverpool 
</h3>
Fixture: Bournemouth (H)
Van Dijk offers the perfect blend of security, defensive solidity and goal threat for Gameweek 1.  
He’s netted 25 goals in his Premier League career and notched three last season.
The Dutchman is also pretty good at at hitting the new <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-2025-26-changes-defensive-contributions">defensive contributions</a> bonus too - achieving it 11 times last season. 
Liverpool face Bournemouth at Anfield, a fixture that traditionally favours the Reds. Arne Slot’s side conceded only 41 goals (second-fewest) with an expected goals conceded (xGC) of 37.5 (second-best) so are one of the best defences in the league.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
Van Dijk is an immovable part of Liverpool’s first 11, meaning you get a nailed-on starter with near maximum minutes. 
The Reds are also the second favourites to keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 1 at 40%. 
This is a fixture in which the Dutchman can profit at both ends of the pitch.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
He is the fourth highest predicted scoring defender (5.0 points) according to the Hub AI. 
<div id="attachment_73905" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73905" class="size-full wp-image-73905" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Virgil-bordered-1.jpeg" alt="Virgil Van Dijk Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Virgil Van Dijk's stats
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<h3>Rayan Ait-Nouri (£6.0m) - Manchester City</h3>
Fixture: Wolves (A)
Ait-Nouri might be one of highest-upside picks for Gameweek 1. 
With four goals and seven assists last season, he is one of the most attacking defenders in the game - playing almost as a winger. 
City open against Wolves, who shouldn't pose too much attacking threat. Pep Guardiola’s side are masters of controlling possession, which typically limits opponents to very few chances.  
That means strong clean sheet potential right from the off. 
Ait-Nouri’s appeal however, lies in his attacking threat. He loves to get forward, carrying the ball into advanced areas and linking up with attackers in the final third. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
The Algerian should start against Wolves too, as he’s surely been brought in as a first-team player who will get plenty of minutes.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
City are the joint-second favourites to keep a clean sheet (40%).<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
<div id="attachment_73906" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73906" class="size-full wp-image-73906" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Ait-Nouri-bordered-1.jpeg" alt="Rayan Aït-Nouri Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Rayan Ait-Nouri's stats
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<h3>Marc Cucurella (£6.0m) - Chelsea</h3>
Fixture: Crystal Palace (H)
Cucurella had a phenomenal season, registering five goals and two assists.  
He has cemented himself as one of the first names on Enzo Maresca’s team sheet. 
Chelsea kick-off at home against Palace, a fixture in which the Blues should be strong favourites. <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
From an attacking standpoint, Cucurella is more than capable of delivering returns. His overlapping runs, link-up play, and dangerous crosses from the left makes him one of the best defenders in the final third.
Chelsea are also a solid defensive side. They only conceded 43 goals (third-fewest) with an xGC of 46.4 (fifth-best).
Cucurella has high upside and Maresca’s side are the third most likely team in Gameweek 1 to keep a clean sheet (38%).<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
The Spaniard is also the third highest predicted scoring defender (5.1 points) according to Hub AI.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
<div id="attachment_73907" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73907" class="size-full wp-image-73907" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Cucurella-bordered-1.jpeg" alt="Marc Cucurella Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Marc Cucurella's stats
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<h3>Murillo (£5.5m) - Nottingham Forest</h3>
Fixture: Brentford (H)
Murillo is a slightly under-the-radar defensive option who can quietly deliver strong FPL returns. He’s only owned by 5% of managers currently. 
Forest play Brentford at home in Gameweek 1 who have lost their best attacker in Bryan Mbeumo. 
They may also be without Yoane Wissa by Gameweek 1 as the centre-forward has been strongly linked to a move to Newcastle.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
What sets Murillo apart is his reliability for defensive contribution points. 
The Brazillian hit the threshold in 19 games last season, which would have given him an extra 38 points. 
While not as attacking as some defenders, Murillo can still offer a threat from set-pieces due to his aerial ability, proven by his two goals last season.
He’s the kind of player who, when Forest keep a clean sheet, is likely to sweep up bonus points because of his defensive workrate. 
<div id="attachment_73908" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73908" class="size-full wp-image-73908" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Murillo-bordered-1.jpeg" alt="Murillo Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Murillo's stats
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<h2>Best FPL Defenders for Gameweek 1</h2>
I will now rank these options exclusively for Hub <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join">members</a>. Rankings are given for the player’s FPL potential looking at price, fixtures and overall value.
Check our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">predicted points tool</a> for Hub AI's view.
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Best FPL defenders for Gameweek 1

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