The Hard Tackle lists five candidates to replace Kostas Tsimikas in your FPL teams after the Liverpool defender broke his collarbone against Arsenal.
The games are coming thick and fast in the Premier League, with Gameweek 19 kicking off less than 48 hours after the end of the previous round of fixtures. So, there is no rest for the weary, either on the field or the managers taking care of their teams in FPL.
In a bizarre 2023/24 campaign thus far, the Fantasy Premier League has seen some ridiculous outcomes. Many popular players have picked up long-term issues, and the injury bug has now struck Kostas Tsimikas. That is not only a blow to Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool but also his near-1.5 million FPL managers.
The Greek international saw a surge in his ownership figures after Andrew Robertson picked up a long-term shoulder injury. Tsimikas has paid them back handsomely, producing a haul in five outings thus far. But his stint as an FPL regular is ending soon after he sustained a broken collarbone on Saturday against Arsenal.
A tackle from Bukayo Saka spelt doom for Tsimikas, who bizarrely picked up his injury after he took out Jurgen Klopp, who fell on him. So, with the 27-year-old out of commission, FPL managers need to identify options to replace him. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle lists five players to fill Tsimikas’s void in your teams in Gameweek 20.
Joe Gomez (£4.5m)
Our list begins with the player who will replace Kostas Tsimikas in the Liverpool lineup. We are talking about Joe Gomez, who has risen in prominence this season, appearing across the backline for the Merseyside outfit.
A versatile defender, Gomez can play as a left-back equally adeptly as he does as a right-back and a centre-back. With Andrew Robertson unavailable for the foreseeable future, Gomez will nail down his spot as the Liverpool left-back.
So, considering he costs just £4.5m, he is an attractive option to enter your teams, even though his offensive potential is nowhere close to Tsimikas’s. With only one team keeping more clean sheets than Liverpool, Gomez can at least offer you the potential of four CS points, which have been as good as goldust this season in FPL.
Marcos Senesi (£4.4m)
Our next pick might have surprised our readers a few weeks ago. But such is the volatile nature of FPL that Marcos Senesi has become highly sought-after in the competition. Let us tell you why he is an attractive asset.
Senesi has arguably the greatest threat in the box among centre-backs, with his recent output also illustrating that. The Argentine specialises in arriving late towards the ball to catch the opposition off-guard. That has been clear in Bournemouth’s last three completed games.
Senesi has found the back of the net twice while providing an assist this weekend against Nottingham Forest. That has brought his haul during this period to 34 points, thus adding to his allure. Considering the 26-year-old costs just £4.4m and features in only 4.2% of the FPL teams, he is a low-cost differential.
Dan Burn (£4.4m)
Having Newcastle United defender in your FPL teams has become like a gospel since the 2022/23 season. Kieran Trippier, in particular, has been highly sought-after for a long time, with the Englishman still remaining popular. But Dan Burn offers a low-cost alternative.
The veteran defender costs just £4.4m and features in only 4.2% of the FPL teams. Newcastle United’s stock has fallen to some extent this season. But Burn offers an offensive threat if he plays as a left-back, as he illustrated in Gameweek 17 against Fulham, as he recouped 14 points.
Gameweek 20 will bring a game against Nottingham Forest at home for Newcastle United. That should be an easy six-point haul for Burn, even though the Magpies have blown hot and cold this season. So, at £4.4m, he is an option worth considering.
Gabriel Magalhaes (£4.9m)
We have talked a great deal about clean-sheet potential in FPL this season. Shut-outs have come at a premium for all teams this season, but Arsenal’s performances at the back have been the most impressive.
Arsenal and Liverpool have conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League this season. But the Gunners have kept more clean sheets (7) than any other team thus far. While William Saliba is a popular pick among managers, his central defensive partner is also an option worth considering.
Gabriel’s attractiveness has fallen this season, with Mikel Arteta rotating him in the first half of the 2023/24 season. But he has regained his position in the last few weeks, becoming a mainstay at the back. Costing just £4.9m and featuring in only 15.4% of the teams, he can be a bit of a differential. In addition, he showcased his goal threat this weekend by scoring against Liverpool.
Levi Colwill (£4.6m)
Our list ends with a Chelsea defender, which might surprise our readers. But with the West London club having an attractive fixture list, keeping a Chelsea defender in your team might be a wildcard option.
The Blues have faltered at the back in the last few weeks. But they kept a clean sheet in their last Premier League game, even though the match was against the worst team in the Premier League. But six of Chelsea’s next seven games have a Fixture Difficulty Rating of 2.
So, if Mauricio Pochettino’s men can regroup themselves in the coming weeks, the defensive assets will become attractive options. That brings Levi Colwill, who tends to play as a left-back, into the picture. Considering the youngster costs just £4.6m, he will not set you back by much while being a differential. The Englishman might be worth considering.
