UCL Fantasy Football: What we know so far – Defenders

UEFA.com casts its eye back on the first three matchdays to assess the key performers in each position, and what that means for #UCLfantasy managers going forward. Here we look at defenders.

After three matchdays it is two Liverpool defenders who lead the #UCLfantasy pack. Both Trent Alexander-Arnold (€6.6m) and Joe Gomez (€5.9m) have picked up 31 Fantasy points each with the Reds having kept three clean sheets from three matches. The duo have also racked up 58 ball recoveries between them, but whilst the majority of those have come from centre-back Gomez, full-back Alexander-Arnold has also provided an attacking threat having registered two assists.

Two of Liverpool’s remaining three group stage matches are at Anfield, meaning further accumulation of Fantasy points look on the cards for Reds defenders, although bear in mind Alexander-Arnold is facing a few weeks on the sidelines with an injury picked up in the Premier League at Manchester City on Sunday so it might be worth switching attention to fellow Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson (€6.5m), who has earned 24 points to date.

Rounding off the top three defenders is Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich (€6.6m), who has 28 Fantasy points to his name. With three assists and a goal over the past three matchdays, the versatile Kimmich has been picking up points through his attacking exploits rather than via clean sheets, with the holders having registered just one shut-out in their first three group games.

Kimmich has established himself as a must-own player within the #UCLfantasy community, but there's injury news here too: a knee problem picked up against Dortmund at the weekend means he is set to miss the rest of the group stage. Whilst the German international is pencilled in for a return to action before the UEFA Champions League's knockout stages, the 35% of #UCLfantasy managers who currently have Kimmich in their squad will have to have a rethink.

Whilst premium defenders have stood out the most over the three matchdays, that’s not to say that cheaper options don’t also represent a vital source of points. Thomas Meunier (€5.0m) has proved a shrewd #UCLfantasy asset with the Dortmund man part of a back line that has kept two clean sheets from their three games. Meunier also provides an attacking threat, with one assist along with 20 ball recoveries, giving him a total of 21 Fantasy points.

Christian Romero (€4.9m) at Atalanta is another who has acquired many #UCLfantasy points this season through the three-way possibility of clean sheets, attacking returns and ball recoveries. One clean sheet, one assist and a massive 33 ball recoveries have brought the budget Romero 19 points. Finally, a mention for Chelsea defenders, whose side have kept three clean sheets in as many matches. The highest performing of those defenders is the moderately priced Kurt Zouma (€5.1m), with 20 #UCLfantasy points accrued so far.