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Gameweek 9 Clean Sheet Analysis For Fantasy Premier League

Which clubs have the best chance of keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 9? We’ve analysed recent defensive form, fixture difficulty, and the bookies odds in an attempt to answer this question.

In preparation for Gameweek 9, @NaturalFootyFan has once again compiled statistical data, alongside the bookies odds, to create a defensive forecast. Despite the lack of clean sheets this season, hopefully this chart and the underlying stats included will help you out for FPL selection, as well as being a useful visual aid for daily fantasy players.

How is the data calculated?

Every team has been rated on a scale of 1 to 20 (1: best in the league, 20: worst in the league) based on form, fixture and odds. We’ve then totalled these findings and colour coded them so you can clearly visualise which clubs have the best clean sheet potential in Gameweek 9.

All statistics have been taken from the last four gameweeks, as we feel this provides a fair comparison with the likelihood of each club having two home and two away fixtures.

Gameweek 9 Defensive Potential: Form Vs. Fixture Vs. Odds

Observations from the table:

For the second week running, it’s Arsenal who lead the way in terms of clean sheet potential. Despite conceding a couple of goals last weekend, through individual concentration lapses, they remain unbeaten in all competitions since losing to Liverpool in Gameweek 1.

Their opposition, Middlesbrough, have managed to find the net on just seven occasions this season with their only win coming against Sunderland – a team currently and becoming accustomed to propping up the Premier League table in 20th position.

Arsenal have already secured shutouts versus Chelsea, FC Basel, and most recently Ludogorets, at the Emirates this season. Shkodran Mustafi has been a fantastic addition to their squad, and with the talk of Joe Allen being the most cost effective transfer this season, there’s no argument that Mustafi has been the most influential.

Ronald Koeman’s Everton are regulars in the top five, despite failing to keep a clean sheet since Gameweek 4. In each of their last four fixtures, The Toffees have conceded a solitary goal, but will look to go one better as they make the trip to Turf Moor.

It has recently been confirmed that their first choice backline will not be reunited after Leighton Baines suffered another setback in his return from a hamstring complaint. This news will drastically affect Everton’s defensive solidarity, but we are still backing them for a clean sheet.

Burnley have scored in each of their last 18 home league games against Everton, but conversely, the traveling side are unbeaten in their last 11 away matches against newly promoted clubs.

Liverpool complete the top three with their recent form and the bookies confidence balancing out a statistically difficult fixture. West Brom have proved a bogey team for Liverpool in the past with four of the last five meetings between the sides ending in a draw… the Pulis effect!

Jurgen Klopp’s men are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League games, however, as we’ve mentioned in the past, this hasn’t translated into clean sheet returns. Yes, they managed to grab one versus United on Monday, but that was their first of the season.

West Brom have scored in four consecutive matches, which has got to be some sort of record for a Tony Pulis managed club, but we can’t see this run continuing for much longer. Their away trip to Merseyside will be seen as an opportunity to get men behind the ball and frustrate.

Liverpool are expected to dominate possession inside The Baggies half for the majority of the game, so backing the likes of Dejan Lovren or Nathaniel Clyne in FPL is a smart idea.

Other findings:

Interestingly, Stoke rank fourth in our chart, despite their shaky start to the season. Mark Hughes seems to have steadied the ship somewhat with a solid defensive display in Gameweek 8 as they pushed aside Sunderland, whilst conceding just one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

After their dream start to the season which saw Hull win their opening two matches, they have gone from bad to worse with five losses and twenty goals conceded in their last seven matches.

With this in mind, the hosts will have something other than goals on their agenda.They will be desperate to put on a respectable showing, which means tightening up in defence and approaching the match with a bit more caution.

Mark Hughes and Mike Phelan may have enjoyed their time playing together at Manchester United, but the former will certainly be the more confident of the two coming into this one. He has never lost to Hull in the Premier League during his managerial career (W2, D2) – keeping four clean sheets in the process.

Elsewhere, Southampton, who are ranked first in the recent form category, slump to 12th position on our table with a difficult trip to Manchester City and it’s a similar story for Man United as they take on, or more likely bore off, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

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