<div class="mp_wrapper">
            <div class="mepr-unauthorized-excerpt">
            <p>Who are the best FPL defenders for Gameweek 9?</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 9.</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 9 Guide</a>, which has everything you need to make the best decisions ahead of the deadline.</p>
<ul>
<li><a class="gmail-c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://onelink.to/ffhubapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span class="gmail-c-mrkdwn__highlight"><b>Download</b></span><b> </b><span class="gmail-c-mrkdwn__highlight"><b>our</b></span><b> new </b><span class="gmail-c-mrkdwn__highlight"><b>app</b></span></a><b>, featuring all </b><span class="gmail-c-mrkdwn__highlight"><b>our</b></span><b> great tools and articles in one place</b></li>
<li><strong>Love the Hub and what we do? <a href="https://footballcontentawards.com/voting"><strong>Vote for us in the Football Content Awards</strong></a> - Best in Fantasy Football Editorial</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>Time is running out to get 30% off your Fantasy Football Hub membership - <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join">join now</a> and get your money back if you don't win your FPL mini-league. <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/terms-and-conditions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Terms apply</a>.</strong> </li>
</ul>
<p>Other articles in this series:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/best-fpl-players-for-gameweek-9-top-5-best-midfielders"><strong>Best FPL midfielders for Gameweek 9</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/best-fpl-players-for-gameweek-9-top-5-best-forwards"><strong>Best FPL forwards for Gameweek 9</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Best FPL defenders for Gameweek 9</h2>
<h3><strong>Reece James (£6.0m) – Chelsea</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Crystal Palace (a)</strong></p>
<p>Chelsea have conceded nine goals so far and have not had the best start to the season.</p>
<p>But with them now being under new management, this could change - and it’s likely they will be one of the best defences in the league come the end of the season.</p>
<p>Chelsea play Crystal Palace in Gameweek 9 and this will be Graham Potter's first league game in charge.</p>
<p>The Eagles have scored seven goals (17th) with an <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/a-simple-guide-to-opta-stats-for-fpl">expected goals</a> (xG) of 9.07 (11th).</p>
<p>Brighton under Potter were really solid at the back and consistently in the top-seven defences in the league. I am confident he will turn the Blues back into a solid and robust defence.</p>
<p>The bookmakers also have them as the third favourites to keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 9 at 42%.</p>
<p>James also has plenty of attacking threat and whether he plays at right-back or right wing-back, he will be a great option.</p>
<p>Potter is likely to adopt the same attacking philosophy at his new club.</p>
<p>This season, James has had seven shots with an xG of 0.69 and also created seven chances with an expected assists (xA) of 1.14. He has both the highest xG and xA among the Chelsea defence.</p>
<p>James is also the fourth-highest scoring defender (4.7 points) according to our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Points Prediction Tool.</a></p>
<div id="attachment_49531" style="width: 812px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-49531" class="size-full wp-image-49531" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Reece-James-Stats-2.jpg" alt="Reece James Stats. best defenders gameweek 9" width="802" height="649" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-49531" class="wp-caption-text">Reece James Stats</p>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) – Liverpool</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Brighton (H)</strong></p>
<p>Alexander-Arnold has only one goal and one assist so far this season and really hasn’t lived up to his high standards.</p>
<p>His stats however show that he will come good.</p>
<p>He has an xG of 0.34 and created the most chances (13) and has the highest xA (1.34) among defenders.</p>
<p>Liverpool have a good fixture from a defensive point of view in Gameweek 9 as they take on Brighton.</p>
<p>The Reds have only conceded six goals (second) with an expected goals conceded (xGC) of 7.0 (fourth) so have been a bit unfortunate not to have more clean sheets. Their stats are positive for those with Liverpool defenders.</p>
<p>They are the favorites to keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 9 (50%) and are also the second favourites to score 2.5+ goals (44%) so this, of course, bodes very well for Alexander-Arnold who can get returns at both ends of the pitch.</p>
<p>He is also on set-pieces, which is always a bonus.</p>
<p>The 23-year-old is the second-highest scoring defender (5.5 points) for Gameweek 9 according to our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Points Prediction Tool.</a></p>
<div id="attachment_49532" style="width: 810px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-49532" class="size-full wp-image-49532" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Trent-Alexander-Arnold-Stats-1.jpg" alt="Trent Alexander-Arnold Stats. top 5 best defenders gw9" width="800" height="649" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-49532" class="wp-caption-text">Trent Alexander-Arnold Stats</p>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Joao Cancelo (£7.2m) – Manchester City</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Manchester United (H)</strong></p>
<p>Manchester City have conceded six goals (third) with an xGC of 4.7 (first).</p>
<p>They have been the best defence in the league yet again and it will very likely stay that way throughout the season.</p>
<p>They have a derby against Manchester United in Gameweek 9 but their defensive assets will still be the most optimal.</p>
<p>City are priced as the second favourites to keep a clean sheet (44%) and actually the favourites to score 2.5+ goals (50%).</p>
<p>With Cancelo, he will have opportunities both defensively and offensively and will be one of the best defensive options again.</p>
<p>Cancelo’s attacking stats aren’t as good as this time last season but he still has attacking threat and plays in the best defence in the league.</p>
<p>He has an xG of 0.34 and an xA of 0.41 and due to amount of key passes he makes he has seven bonus points too.</p>
<p>This bodes very well for him as City will likely keep the most clean sheets again this season and he will always be within a shout due to his favourable stats.</p>
<p>Our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Points Prediction Tool</a> has him as the highest-scoring defender (5.6 points) for Gameweek 9.</p>
<div id="attachment_49533" style="width: 806px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-49533" class="size-full wp-image-49533" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Joao-Cancelo-Stats-3.jpg" alt="Joao Cancelo Stats. best captains gameweek 9" width="796" height="650" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-49533" class="wp-caption-text">Joao Cancelo Stats</p>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>James Justin (£4.3m) – Leicester City</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Nottingham Forest (H)</strong></p>
<p>Justin has two assists to his name this season and looks to be the best defensive option for Leicester City.</p>
<p>He scored two goals and two assists in the 2020/21 season, with xG of 1.53 and an xA of 2.53.</p>
<p>He is very attacking and can play both left and right-back and seems to be fully fit now.</p>
<p>I think he is the best option from the Leicester defence as he offers the most attacking threat overall.</p>
<p>The Foxes have been really poor this season and sit bottom of the league. They have conceded the most goals (22) with an xGC of 13.9 (19th).</p>
<p>However, they come up against one of the poorest teams in the league in Gameweek 9 in Nottingham Forest.</p>
<p>They have scored six goals (18th) with an xG of 7.29 (sixteenth) and Brendan Rodgers' team won't get many better opportunities to keep a clean sheet.</p>
<p>Justin is also the most nailed and attacking defender for them and is very capable of both attacking and defensive returns this week.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="attachment_49534" style="width: 807px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-49534" class="size-full wp-image-49534" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/James-Justin-Stats.jpg" alt="James Justin Stats. best players fpl gameweek 9" width="797" height="648" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-49534" class="wp-caption-text">James Justin Stats</p>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Kurt Zouma (£4.5m) – West Ham United</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Fixture: Wolves (H)</strong></p>
<p>West Ham United have also been really poor this season and sit in the relegation zone.</p>
<p>They have have been decent defensively, conceding nine goals (fifth) with an xGC of 8.6 (fifth).</p>
<p>They come up against Wolves in Gameweek 9 who really do struggle to score. Bruno Lage’s men have scored the least goals (three) this season with an xG of 6.97 (17th).</p>
<p>They were also in the bottom five for both goals and xG last season and don’t seem to have improved in that department.</p>
<p>The bookmakers also have the Hammers as the fourth favourites to keep a clean sheet (40%) this week and Zouma is their best defensive option.</p>
<p>He is only £4.5m, nailed to start, and has goal threat also. He has six shots in the box with an xG of 0.42 and is a threat from set pieces.</p>
<p>He has 18 goals and 10 assists over his career so clearly knows where the back of the net is.</p>
<p>David Moyes’s men won't get many better chances to keep a clean sheet this season.</p>
<div id="attachment_49535" style="width: 805px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-49535" class="size-full wp-image-49535" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Kurt-Zouma-Stats.jpg" alt="Kurt Zouma Stats" width="795" height="650" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-49535" class="wp-caption-text">Kurt Zouma Stats</p>
</div>
<h2></h2>
<h2><strong>Hub Power Rankings</strong></h2>
<p>To conclude, I will rank these Gameweek 9 defenders in accordance with our Power Rankings for Hub members.</p>
<h3>Best FPL defenders for Gameweek 9</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
        </div>
                <div class="mepr-unauthorized-message">
            <div class="freetrial-banner update_2021">
<div class="banner-teaser-font">7 DAY FREE TRIAL</div>
<div class="large-font">Unlock our Power Rankings!</div>
<div class="desktop-trial-text">
<div class="standard-font">Join the Hub</div>
</div>
<p><button><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join/">Subscribe Now</a><br />
</button></p>
<div class="banner_trial_member_text">Already a member? <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/login/">Log in</a></div>
</div>
<p><iframe title="Main_LONG.mp4" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/579320338?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
        </div>
                <div class="mepr-login-form-wrap">
                            <span class="mepr-login-link"><a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/login/">Login</a></span>
                    </div>
    </div>



Best FPL players for Gameweek 9: Top 5 best defenders

Your mini-leagues aren't over

Community & tools