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            <p>Wondering who are the best FPL defenders for Gameweek 2?</p>
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<h2><strong>Best Defenders Gameweek 2</strong></h2>
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<h3><strong>Pervis Estupinan (£5.0m) – Brighton</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Wolves (a)</strong></p>
<p>Pervis Estupinan started the season similarly to how he ended last.</p>
<p>Estupinan was very attacking against Luton in Gameweek 1, taking two shots and creating six chances, with an Expected Assists (xA) of 0.86.</p>
<p>His assist got him three bonus points, despite conceding a goal and receiving a yellow card.</p>
<p>The Ecuador international was ranked fourth for overall attacking returns among defenders last season, with one goal and seven assists.</p>
<p>Brighton have another good fixture this week from a defensive perspective. They come up against Wolves, who scored the least goals last season (31) and also recorded the worst xG (37.27).</p>
<p>With the losses of <strong>Diego Costa</strong> and <strong>Raul Jimenez (£5.5m)</strong> I can see them struggling against Brighton in Gameweek 2.</p>
<p>The Seagulls conceded 53 goals (sixth best) with an xGC of 48.4 (fourth best) and will probably rank similarly this season.</p>
<p>Estupinan is nailed to start, and has a great opportunity for a clean sheet this week. With his attacking threat, he will be a good option most weeks anyway.</p>
<p>Brighton are the fourth favourites to keep a clean sheet (42%) in Gameweek 1, so Estupinan is again a top option for this week.</p>
<div id="attachment_56818" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-56818" class="size-full wp-image-56818" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Pervis-Estipinan.jpg" alt="Pervis Estupinan stats. best defenders fpl" width="798" height="650" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-56818" class="wp-caption-text">Pervis Estupinan stats</p>
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<h3><strong>Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) – Chelsea</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: West Ham United (a)</strong></p>
<p>Ben Chilwell got off to a flying start this season, and also picked up three bonus points with his assist.</p>
<p>Chilwell was first for touches in the final third, and his average position map showed him as the second-most advanced player against Liverpool</p>
<p>We may see more of this, and his record shows he has immense attacking threat. The 26-year-old has 11 goals and 13 assists in his last four seasons.</p>
<p>Chelsea have a tough game in Gameweek 2 against London rivals West Ham, however they showed against Liverpool that they are a much-improved side under Mauricio Pochettino.</p>
<p>They are at a healthy 40% to keep a clean sheet against the Hammers, and Chilwell’s attacking threat makes him a great option against most opposition.</p>
<p>He is nailed to start, and has both goal and assist threat.</p>
<p>The <strong><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Hub AI tool</a></strong> also ranks him at 39% for anytime returns which for a defender is either a clean sheet, goal or assist.</p>
<p>He is a great long-term hold also looking at the Blues fixtures.</p>
<div id="attachment_56819" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-56819" class="size-full wp-image-56819" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ben-Chilwell.jpg" alt="Ben Chilwell stats. fpl tips gameweek 2" width="798" height="650" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-56819" class="wp-caption-text">Ben Chilwell stats</p>
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<h3><strong>Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.0m) – Liverpool</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Bournemouth (H)</strong></p>
<p>Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t get off to the best start against Chelsea, with no attacking returns and an xG and xA of 0, but it is important to note he did create the assist for Mohamed Salah’s offside goal.</p>
<p>Trent’s underlying stats have been elite for the past four seasons, and he will no doubt be among the highest scoring defenders again this season.</p>
<p>Liverpool have a plum home tie against Bournemouth in Gameweek 2, and this is exactly the type of game in which the right-back could haul big.</p>
<p>The Cherries scored the fourth least goals (37) last season with an xG of 39.51 (third-worst). Although the Reds' defence wasn’t anywhere near as good as previous seasons last term, they still have the best chance of a clean sheet this week.</p>
<p>They are the favourites to keep a clean sheet (52%) and to score 2.5+ goals (58%) so it looks like a prime fixture for Alexander-Arnold to profit at both ends of the pitch.</p>
<p>Alexander-Arnold is nailed to start, has both goal and assist threat, and is on a lot of set-pieces.</p>
<p>The 24-year-old is also the highest predicted scoring defender (5.5 points) according to our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions"><strong>Hub AI tool.</strong></a></p>
<div id="attachment_56820" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-56820" class="size-full wp-image-56820" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Trent-Alexander-Arnold.jpg" alt="Trent Alexander-Arnold Stats" width="798" height="650" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-56820" class="wp-caption-text">Trent Alexander-Arnold Stats</p>
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<h3><strong>Pau Torres (£4.5m) – Aston Villa</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Everton (H)</strong></p>
<p>Pau Torres started on the bench against Newcastle United in Gameweek 1, but with <strong>Tyrone Mings (£4.5m)</strong> sustaining a serious injury which saw him stretchered off, Torres will surely be nailed to start now.</p>
<p>The Spaniard has 15 goals and five assists in his career so has a fair bit of attacking threat too.</p>
<p>Villa had a phenomenal season under Unai Emery, and only conceded 46 goals (third best) and kept 12 clean sheets (fourth most).</p>
<p>Although a 5-1 defeat in the first week isn't very promising, we can't make many conclusions based on one game, especially given how good they were last term.</p>
<p>They also have a much easier fixture in Gameweek 2 against Everton at home. The Toffees scored the second least goals (34) last season with an xG of 48.38 (fourteenth).</p>
<p>Villa are the third favourites to keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 2 (48%) and this is one of the best chances they will get to keep a shutout this season.</p>
<div id="attachment_56821" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-56821" class="size-full wp-image-56821" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Pau-Torres.jpg" alt="Pau Torres stats" width="798" height="650" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-56821" class="wp-caption-text">Pau Torres stats</p>
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<h3><strong> </strong><strong>William Saliba (£5.0m) – Arsenal</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Crystal Palace (a)</strong></p>
<p>It was a huge shock when the Arsenal line-up was announced and <strong>Gabriel (£5.0m)</strong> was named on the bench. The Brazilian had started the last 73 games for Arsenal dating back to August 2021.</p>
<p>Saliba however did start, and also picked up an assist. It’s still early, but from Mikel Arteta’s decision, it perhaps shows that the Frenchman is the most nailed defender for Arsenal.</p>
<p>Rotation in the backline may be a sign of things to come, but I think for now we have to assume Saliba is safe until we see otherwise.</p>
<p>Mikel Arteta’s team kept 14 clean sheets (second best) conceding 43 goals (second least) with an xGC of 47.5 (third best).</p>
<p>They have another decent fixture this week against Crystal Palace, in which they will be strong favourites.</p>
<p>The Gunners are the second favourites to keep a clean sheet (48%) against Roy Hodgson’s side, and Saliba has some attacking threat, with two goals and one assist last term.</p>
<div id="attachment_56822" style="width: 808px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-56822" class="size-full wp-image-56822" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/William-Saliba.jpg" alt="William Saliba stats" width="798" height="650" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-56822" class="wp-caption-text">William Saliba stats</p>
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<h2><strong>Hub Power Rankings</strong></h2>
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Best FPL Defenders for Gameweek 2 2023/24

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