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            <p>Who are the best FPL defenders for Gameweek 2?</p>
<p>Four-time top 1k and six-time top 5k finisher <a href="https://twitter.com/FPL_Salah">Abdul Rehman</a> uses the Hub's <a href="http://fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/">Opta</a>, <a href="http://fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions/">Prediction</a>, <a href="http://fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-player-comparision-tool/">Comparison</a> and <a href="http://fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker/">Fixture</a> tools to identify the best Fantasy Premier League defenders for Gameweek 2.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to check out our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips">Ultimate FPL Gameweek 2 Guide</a>, which has everything you need to make the best decisions ahead of the deadline.</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Other articles in this series...<br />
<strong>Best FPL players for Gameweek 2: <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/best-fpl-players-for-gameweek-2-top-5-best-midfielders/">Midfielders</a> | <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/top-5-best-forwards-gameweek-2/">Forwards</a></strong></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">Best FPL Defenders for Gameweek 2</h2>
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<h3><strong>Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) – Liverpool</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Crystal Palace (H)</strong></p>
<p>Liverpool didn’t get off to the best start this season but that shouldn’t put you off their defensive assets at all.</p>
<p>They will still likely be in the top two when it comes to clean sheets at the end of the season.</p>
<p>Despite the result, <strong>Trent Alexander-Arnold</strong> is still likely to be the top scoring defender. He has plenty of attacking threat and is also on a lot of set-pieces.</p>
<p>The Reds also have an elite defence. They conceded only 26 goals (first) last term with an <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/">Expected Goals conceded (xGC)</a> of 37 (second).</p>
<p>They have a decent fixture in Gameweek 2 for clean sheet prospects. According to the bookmakers they are the second favourites to keep a clean sheet at 55%.</p>
<p>Plus our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Points Prediction Tool</a> ranks Trent as the second highest predicted scoring defender (6.1 points) for Gameweek 2.</p>
<p>The right-back will have ample opportunity at returns at both ends of the pitch.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-48227 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Trent-Alexander-Arnold-Stats-1.jpg" alt="Trent Alexander-Arnold Stats. best defenders gameweek 2" width="800" height="645" /></p>
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<p><strong> </strong></p>
<h3><strong>Joao Cancelo (£7.0m) – Manchester City</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Bournemouth (H)</strong></p>
<p>Last season <strong>Joao</strong> <strong>Cancelo</strong> managed one goal and 11 assists, with an <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/a-simple-guide-to-opta-stats-for-fpl/">Expected Goals (xG)</a> of 5.74 (first among defenders) and an xA of 6.55 (second among defenders).</p>
<p>He didn’t manage any attacking returns in Gameweek 1, but he did pick up a clean sheet and two bonus points, despite getting a yellow card.</p>
<p>Manchester City showcased again why they are the best defence in the league. West Ham away is a tricky fixture, but they restricted the Hammers to only one shot on target while controlling the possession as usual.</p>
<p>I am confident City will finish the season with the most clean sheets. Last term they kept 21 clean sheets (first), conceding 26 goals (first) with an xGC of 29.5 (first).</p>
<p>The Portuguese is a dangerous prospect considering how attacking he is. With Cancelo, you get the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>Their fixture in Gameweek 2 looks like a banker for a clean sheet. They play Bournemouth at home, and are at 68% to keep a shutout according to the bookmakers.</p>
<p>They will also likely score a fair few goals in this one, and you wouldn’t be surprised to see Cancelo in the thick of the action in the final third either.</p>
<p>Our <strong><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Points Prediction Tool</a></strong> ranks him as the highest predicted scoring defender (6.4 points) for Gameweek 2.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-48228 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Joao-Cancelo-Stats-1.jpg" alt="Joao Cancelo Stats. fpl tips gameweek 2" width="798" height="648" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Lucas Digne (£5.0m) – Aston Villa</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Everton (H)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Lucas Digne</strong> is at a very enticing price of £5.0m. He is playing as first choice wing-back, for a manager who likes his wing-backs to bomb forward.</p>
<p>Aston Villa kept 11 clean sheets (5th) last season, conceding 54 goals (10th) with an xGC of 53.1 (8th).</p>
<p>They didn’t get off to the best start this season though suffering a shock defeat to Bournemouth.</p>
<p>However, they have another decent fixture this week in Everton at home and they will again be strong favourites, with Digne facing his old club.</p>
<p>The French left-back started 29 games last season and picked up four assists, with an xA 3.68.</p>
<p>In total, over the last four seasons, he has scored four goals, and registered 26 assists, so we know he has bags of attacking potential – and will likely add to these tallies this season.</p>
<p>He is on free kicks and corners for Villa, and will pick up attacking returns in this team for sure.</p>
<p>The Villains are also the fourth favourites to keep a clean sheet this week at 39%.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-48229 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Lucas-Digne-Stats.jpg" alt="Lucas Digne Stats. best fpl gameweek 2 defenders" width="797" height="651" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.1m) – Arsenal</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Leicester City (H)</strong></p>
<p>Ukrainian <strong>Oleksandr Zinchenko </strong>had a dream debut for Arsenal in the opening Gameweek, keeping a clean sheet and grabbing an assist too.</p>
<p>What was interesting is that he was playing on the left-hand side of midfield while the Gunners lined up with three centre-backs.</p>
<p>Looking at his average position map, he was by far the most advanced defender and was playing parallel to <strong>Martin Ødegaard (£6.5m).</strong></p>
<p>He has attacking threat, with four assists last season in only 10 starts. He also has plenty of experience playing in the middle of the park, as that’s where he plays for his country.</p>
<p>He has eight goals for Ukraine, and has scored four goals and 18 assists from midfield in his club career, so he could be a fantastic option if Mikel Arteta continues to deploy him so high up.</p>
<p>Arsenal also have a decent fixture in Gameweek 2 at both ends of the pitch. Leicester weren’t the best defensively last season, and judging by their Gameweek 1 performance have not improved.</p>
<p>The Gunners kept 13 clean sheets last season, conceding 48 goals (7th) with an xGC of 50 (6th).</p>
<p>Also, the bookmakers have them as the third favourites to keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 2 at 43%.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-48230 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Oleksander-Zinchenko-Stats.jpg" alt="Oleksander Zinchenko Stats" width="799" height="644" /></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<h3><strong>Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.5m) – Wolves</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Fulham (H)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Rayan Ait-Nouri</strong> scored one goal and registered four assists last season. He managed the most attacking returns from the Wolves defenders, and looks the most attacking this season too.</p>
<p>In Gameweek 1 he created the most chances (three) from his teammates with an xA of 0.12.</p>
<p>With<strong> Nelson</strong> <strong>Semedo (£4.5m)</strong> still not fully fit, he should be nailed to start for now. The Portuguese has been out for a while and I can't see him coming back into contention anytime soon.</p>
<p>Wolves have always been a defensively solid side. They conceded 43 goals (fourth) last season with an xGC of 58.1 (eleventh) and will no doubt be amongst the top eight defences again this season.</p>
<p>Their fixture this week is great too, facing Fulham at home. They won’t get many better chances to keep a clean sheet, and Ait-Nouri will have chances at points at both ends of the pitch.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-48231 size-full" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Rayan-Ait-Nouri-Stats.jpg" alt="Rayan Ait-Nouri Stats" width="795" height="647" /></p>
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<h2><strong>Hub Power Rankings</strong></h2>
<p>To conclude, I will rank these Gameweek 2 defenders in accordance with our Power Rankings for Hub members.</p>
<h3>Best FPL defenders for Gameweek 2</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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