Gianni Buttice Runs Through The Best Differential Defenders to Buy with Double Gameweeks on the Horizon 675l3j

Gianni Buttice picks out the best differential defenders to buy ahead of FPL Gameweek 31, with double gameweeks on the horizon.

With Arsenal’s Gabriel ruled out for several weeks due to injury, many FPL managers are on the lookout for a replacement defender.

To gain an edge on mini-league rivals, differential players are now more important than ever. Selling Gabriel provides a chance to free up funds and strengthen other areas of your squad.

In this article, I’ll highlight three under 7% owned defenders priced at 4.5 million or less, all with double gameweeks approaching.

FPL Best Differential Defenders 6i5j6o

Tino Livramento (Newcastle United) – 4.5 million / 3.8% Ownership 7145y

Tino Livramento is playing for a team on the up. Newcastle are winning games, with good fixtures ahead, and now – because of the Lewis Hall injury – Livramento is a guaranteed place in the starting XI for the run-in.

Newcastle are playing for fifth in the table, which will see them get Champions League football next season, and Livramento is given a fair amount of licence to attack by Eddie Howe.

Remarkably, he has no league goals or assists this season, which is probably why he’s so lowly owned. Leicester, followed by a home double gameweek, makes him a form and fixtures pick.

Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) – 4.5 million / 6.3% Ownership 6z49

Lucas Digne has five assists this season and is consistently listed as one of the best attacking defenders in the game.

Aston Villa have struggled for clean sheets this season, but having earned one against Brighton last time out and with key players like Pau Torres back fit, many expect Emery’s men to be tighter at the back.

A likely double in Gameweek 33 and Southampton and Nottingham Forest up before that, Villa, who added some excellent attackers to their squad in January, are looking like they’re going to have a strong end to the season.

Ian Maatsen’s addition to the squad last summer looked like it was going to make Digne a non-event in FPL, but the Frenchman has played well enough to keep his spot in the first-choice XI for now.

Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace) – 4.5 million / 1.1% Ownership 465ac

Maxence Lacroix should benefit from the double double in Gameweeks 32 and 33 and is a rock at the heart of the Crystal Palace back three.

He does well in the underlying data, which has seen him pick up 9 bonus points so far, rarely gets injured and offers a set-piece threat with one goal and two assists this season.

Palace had an off day in their 1-1 draw with Southampton, but if Glasner’s men can match the run they had at the end of last season, we can expect a good handful of clean sheets for Lacroix and co.

It should be noted Daniel Muñoz is the standout pick in the Palace back line but costs 0.6 million more, and if funds are tight, the Frenchman is a legit option.