The Hard Tackle lists the best options for you to consider to replace Andrew Robertson in your FPL teams, with the Saturday cut-off point fast approaching.
Club football resumes this week after the end of the dreaded international break. The 2023/24 Premier League season heralds the advent of Gameweek 9, with FPL managers getting their teams in shape. Unfortunately, for 6.3% of the managers having Andrew Robertson in their squads they need to enter the market for a replacement.
Most clubs have come unscathed from the international break, with Andrew Robertson being the only major casualty. The Scottish international picked up a shoulder injury during his nation’s tie in the UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers against Spain.
The Scotland captain might be on the sidelines for ten weeks, and his shoulder might require surgery. So, with Robertson unlikely to return until the turn of the year, Liverpool and FPL managers need to consider ways to replace him in their teams.
With that in mind, The Hard Tackle helps you zero in on the best candidates to replace Andrew Robertson in your teams. Interestingly, we had suggested Robertson as a substitute for Pervis Estupinan in Gameweek 8. Meanwhile, we have not gone ahead with the defenders we recommended last time. You can consult that list here.
Kostas Tsimikas (£4.4)
Robertson *reportedly* out ❌ for up to 10 weeks could see Tsimikas 🇬🇷 start this run of fixtures! #FPL
Just £4.4m could be a GREAT buy ✅
Anyone risking it for GW9?Source: @MaddockMirror pic.twitter.com/U6R6nZ0Pu4
— Harry (@FPL_Harry) October 18, 2023
Let’s get the most obvious choice out of the way. We are talking about the natural replacement for Andrew Robertson in the Liverpool squad, Kostas Tsimikas, who commands a modest price of £4.4.
The Greek international has been unfortunate to find himself on the bench for much of his stint with Liverpool. With Robertson being as good as he is, game time has been hard to come by for Tsimikas in the last three seasons.
But he has been a consistent performer whenever Jurgen Klopp has handed him opportunities. The 27-year-old has a looping cross that leaves centre-backs and goalkeepers confused about its trajectory. Meanwhile, he has provided six assists in just over 1,500 minutes of action in the last two seasons.
With Robertson on the sidelines for the next two and a half months, Tsimikas will be the first-choice left-back for Liverpool. Considering the Reds’ offensive output this season, he will be in business throughout his spell in the team.
Joachim Andersen (£4.9)
Who doesn't love great value? 🤔
Joachim Andersen is the best bang for your buck players so far this season.💸
10.4 points per million cost.💰
Are you bringing him in?👀#FPL #FPLCommunity #CPFC pic.twitter.com/KwvRluUwlJ
— FPL Roo 🦘 (@FPLRoo) October 12, 2023
The next player on our list is the only centre-back we are recommending. While central defenders are not usually attractive in FPL, this candidate finds himself contributing in the final third more regularly than others. We are talking about Joachim Andersen.
The Danish international has been a mainstay at the back for Crystal Palace since arriving at Selhurst Park a few years ago. His initial seasons saw him focus on keeping things tight at the back to nail down his berth as a top-class defender.
But he has added layers to his game in the last 12 months, becoming an outlet inside the opposition’s box. Such has been his impact that the 27-year-old has already scored twice in eight games thus far this season.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s fixtures are favourable for the next six weeks, with Tottenham Hotspur being the biggest threat to the Eagles’ clean-sheet potential. Meanwhile, his imposing presence inside the box could make him a contender for offensive hauls.
Pedro Porro (£5.1)
Since GW2, Spurs's top DEFs are:
1. Van de Ven: 33pts, 90m/game, 7/7 starts
2. Pedro Porro: 32pts, 89m/game, 7/7 starts
3. Udogie: 31pts, 83m/game, 7/7 starts#TOT #fpl #ffs[🧵3/6] pic.twitter.com/5siVBa6Q1i
— fantasyfootballstats.org (@ffstatsdotorg) October 11, 2023
The last two candidates on our list are full-backs, as we alluded to earlier. The next player comes from Tottenham Hotspur, who cannot stop flying high at the moment. We are talking about Pedro Porro.
The Spaniard was slow to kick-start the 2023/24 season, with Emerson Royal finding the back of the net in the season opener against Brentford. But Porro has started every game for Tottenham since then, establishing himself as a mainstay in Ange Postecoglou’s backline.
A threat in the final third, Porro regularly finds himself in dangerous areas while striking a formidable bond with Dejan Kulusevski on his flank. The 24-year-old has provided two assists thus far, with his output improving with every passing game. In addition, Tottenham’s favourable fixtures should deliver consistent clean-sheet returns.
Diogo Dalot (£4.9)
Diogo Dalot – £4.9m
United haven’t started the season well at all but they do look slightly better defensively than going forward.
In GW8, Dalot looked very attacking, he managed 2 shots in the box and an xGI of 0.54. pic.twitter.com/W1mdxQPtd2
— FPL Mayor (@FPLMayor) October 18, 2023
Our list ends with a Manchester United defender, which might leave a few FPL managers perplexed. But hear us out for our reasoning, and we might compel you to pick Diogo Dalot as Andrew Robertson’s replacement.
Firstly, the Portuguese international has an eye-catching price tag of just £4.9. So, bringing him in will allow you to add to your budget before relaying it to other targets. But more importantly, Manchester United’s fixtures are improving, with the Derby next weekend being their only tricky game for a few weeks.
The Red Devils face Sheffield United this weekend, making Manchester United assets attractive. In addition, Dalot has no competitor for his spot in the team, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka out for the foreseeable future. So, he is an option to keep an eye on as you consider a replacement for Robertson.
