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Goalkeepers are players often overlooked in Fantasy Premier League, with many managers opting to splash out on attacking players instead. This is a rookie error, however, as a carefully selected goalkeeper can easily surpass one hundred points throughout a season, which makes a big difference in the long-run.
One of the biggest mistakes FPL managers make is choosing a ‘keeper from a top-four side and moving onto the next player selection without a second thought. Just because this goalkeeper belongs to a top club doesn’t mean that he’ll necessarily pick up the most points each game week.
Instead, you should look out for the hidden gems belonging to sides that are perhaps aiming for a simple mid-table finish, as they’ll be content with dull 1-0 wins if it means that they can pick up three points and a cleansheet in the process.
Big clubs don’t do this, mainly because they can’t. Any side that comes up against these big sides will sit deep and invite pressure, making the big side susceptible to a counter-attack which could ruin your chances of picking up those cleansheet points.
With that said, here are six cheap goalkeepers who could really make an impact in your side this season.
#6 Vicente Guaita (Crystal Palace) - £5.0m
Vicente Guaita signed for Crystal Palace in the summer on a free transfer from Getafe. At 32 years old, Guaita’s transfer went largely unnoticed, with the attention, as far as goalies are concerned, being on the younger, more promising ‘keepers switching sides.
However, as is clear to see now, Guaita’s experience holds him in very good stead. It’s not easy to adjust to the Premier League, and many top players have failed in the past, but Guaita’s transition has been surprisingly smooth.
The Spaniard has featured in all eight Premier League games for Palace so far, picking up a respectable three cleansheets in the process. Crystal Palace’s defence isn’t the best, so managing to secure three cleansheets is a testament to his ability between the sticks.
As long as he stays fit it is difficult to see Guaita losing his role of being the first choice custodian, which makes him a reliable addition to your side.
Guaita has already secured 30 points in Fantasy Premier League, which is higher than most, and with a price tag of just £5.0m, he’s simply a bargain. Get him while his price is still low!
#5 Nick Pope (Burnley) - £4.6m
Nick Pope has done so well for Burnley in recent seasons that he’s now cemented his position in the England national team. He fights for the first-choice role with Tom Heaton and Jordan Pickford but is still considered more than capable of becoming England’s undisputed No. 1 soon.
Like Guaita, Pope has played in all of the eight Premier League games for his side and kept three cleansheets, too. He’s cheaper than Guaita by £0.4m at £4.6m, which, for those trying to save every penny, could make him a slightly better option than the Palace ‘keeper.
Pope has notched up 32 points on the board in Fantasy Premier League so far - two points better than Guaita.
Even if you aren’t planning to use Pope as your first-choice goalkeeper, he still makes for a very reliable substitute if things go wrong.
#4 Dean Henderson (Sheffield United) - £4.5m
Dean Henderson has had a similar rise to Nick Pope in recent years. The past couple of seasons have catapulted him into the spotlight and he’s been called up to the England squad for his strong performances in the Premier League. What makes it even better is that Henderson is still only 22 years old!
Henderson has one of the lowest price tags for a goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League at just £4.5m, making him a true bargain for anyone looking for a back-up or a new first-choice keeper. The 33 points he’s accumulated so far also prove that he’s a fairly reliable option to have in-between the sticks for your side.
Like the two aforementioned goalkeepers, Henderson has featured in all eight Premier League games for Sheffield United and secured three cleansheets. Manchester United, his parent side, will surely be impressed by how he’s fared thus far.
#3 Mathew Ryan (Brighton) - £4.6m
Mathew Ryan has proven himself to be more than capable of performing at the level required for a Premier League goalkeeper, despite accusations that he wasn’t good enough in general during his time with Valencia a few years ago. Brighton took a chance by signing him and it has surely paid off, given just how well the 27-year-old is doing these days.
It’s a case of deja vu in this list, as Ryan has also played in all eight matches for the Seagulls and kept three cleansheets. As with any player you may be looking to sign for your FPL team, the number one priority is that they’re constantly picked. Rest assured that Ryan will make the team each week, especially considering his current run of form. Brighton’s other options simply aren’t anywhere near as good, so he’s a reliable choice for your side.
Ryan’s price tag is £4.6m, the same as Nick Pope’s, but the difference here is that the Australian sits on 35 points, three ahead of Pope. 35 points for a goalkeeper this early on is impressive, and it looks as if he can keep this up for quite some time before he starts to fade.
#2 Aaron Ramsdale (Bournemouth) - £4.5m
Another solid option for your FPL side is Aaron Ramsdale of Bournemouth. The 21-year-old has made the surprise leap into the first team and featured in all eight games so far this season.
Before now, Ramsdale had either been with the U23s or lingering in the reserves. Nobody had really expected such a sudden rise to the starting eleven but his performances for the Cherries this season have shown exactly why Eddie Howe has so much faith in the youngster. It’s also likely that we’ll be seeing Ramsdale get a call-up to the England team in the near future as well.
To pay just £4.5m for a keeper like this is, of course, a bargain. However, his points tally isn’t as high as it should be at this stage because he hasn’t managed to pick up a cleansheet yet. This may be due to Bournemouth’s defence relying too much on the inexperienced ‘keeper.
Naturally, he’s going to struggle against the many world-class forwards that feature in the Premier League but over time he should grow accustomed and do better to keep them out.
Still, 25 points is nothing to scoff at and keeping an eye will be a smart move for anyone after a cheap and reliable goalkeeper this season.
#1 Rui Patricio (Wolves) - £5.1m
Rui Patricio is the highest priced goalkeeper on this list and for good reason too. Wolverhapton Wanders is a very solid side in general nowadays, which will undoubtedly help Patricio out. Even when other teams do breakthrough on goal, the players can rely on their No. 1 to keep the opposition out.
At 31, Patricio has a wealth of experience under his belt. While many thought his transition to the Premier League from Sporting Lisbon would cause issues, he’s thrived in his new surroundings and is now widely regarded as one of the best custodians in the league.
Patricio costs £5.1m at the moment but that could soon change. His price has been gradually rising as a result of his superb performances on the field. He’s racked up an impressive 38 points and is one of the highest overall scoring players in the game - definitely the sort of man you should have in your side!
