Best goalkeepers to pick in YOUR fantasy teams: Jordan Pickford and Ederson are in the top five for predicted points, but who is No 1 according to FPL experts?

Picking a goalkeeper is often the toughest position to get right in FPL. 

Do you blow the budget on a premium pick? Choose two cheaper options who you can rotate? Or spend the bare minimum? 

The AI predicted points for the opening four gameweeks make this discussion point conclusive... 

With just three days left until Friday's 6.30pm deadline, Fantasy Football Hub's Holly Shand takes a look at five goalkeepers you should consider for your 15-man squads.

=4. Jordan Pickford - 15.3 Predicted Points

England and Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford comes in equal fourth in the predicted points, the highest of those at the £5.0million price point. He kept 13 clean sheets last season, equal with Manchester City - only Arsenal can boast a better record from last campaign.

Five of Everton’s shut-outs came over their final ten games of the season, as the Toffees looked to grind out results in their quest to avoid relegation. We may see them play a little more open for the start of this campaign, but Sean Dyche sides are commonly renowned for their defensive qualities.

Pickford’s routes to points are plentiful: he topped the bonus points among goalkeepers with 22 and made 121 saves last season, ranking him sixth. 

It’s important to note that he currently makes the AI Optimal Team to start the season with, favoured ahead of more expensive picks who have higher predictions.

=4. Emi Martinez - 15.3 Predicted Points

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez is also priced at £5.0m and ranked level on points with Pickford over the opening four gameweeks. He’s another player who has had a busy summer, with Argentina successfully defending their Copa America title, but he is back in their pre-season setup.

Martinez has been incredibly consistent in FPL since establishing himself as a Premier League regular in 2020, keeping on average 11 clean sheets per season. We did see a drop-off in his output for 2023-24, keeping just eight clean sheets, as Aston Villa were involved in a demanding European campaign.

A fourth place finish last season has secured Champions League football for 2024-25, which means another hectic schedule for the side. Martinez was second only to Pickford for bonus points last season which is important to his fantasy points potential and he also boasts an enviable penalty save record.

3. Alisson Becker - 15.8 Predicted Points

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is in third place, one of four shot-stoppers in the game to be priced at this top £5.5m price point. 

The 2023-24 campaign was a rare injury-hampered season for him, with his eight clean sheets a total well below his Premier League average of 14 shut-outs per term.

A changing of the guard at Liverpool provides some unknowns going into this campaign, especially on whether we can expect an improvement in their clean sheet potential under Arne Slot. It’s rumoured that they are looking to sign a new defensive midfielder in the window, which would be a welcome boost.

Liverpool do have the fixtures to warrant early season defensive success, avoiding all of last season’s top four across their opening eight fixtures. They travel to promoted Ipswich Town on opening weekend, with home games against Brentford, Forest and Bournemouth in the first six attractive for clean sheet hopes.

2. Ederson - 16.4 Predicted Points

Following a summer of speculation, it seems that Ederson will remain a Manchester City player this season. FPL priced both him and his understudy Stefan Ortega at the highest price point of £5.5m for this campaign, to prevent the possibility of a budget route into the champions' defence.

Ederson has hit double digits for clean sheets in seven consecutive seasons for Manchester City, showcasing his outstanding consistency. The main concern is that, because he has a world-class attack in front of him, he rarely scores bonus points, with six points generally his ceiling in any given game.

Last season, Manchester City gave up just 60 big chances on their goal over the course of the season, with 34 goals conceded. Frustratingly, Ederson is prone to lapses in concentration, with City having incredibly high possession - they are occasionally troubled on the counter-attack.

1. David Raya - 16.9 Predicted Points

At £5.5m, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has taken a lead as the highest owned starting goalkeeper in the game, with the Spaniard in more than 20 per cent of teams. 

He finished last campaign as the second-highest scoring goalkeeper in the game, winning the Golden Glove with an impressive tally of 16 clean sheets.

Seven of those shut-outs came in the Gunners' final ten games of the season, when Arsenal were looking for consistency in their hopes of challenging Manchester City for the title. 

Raya comes in cheaper than the likely starting defenders from Arsenal, with competition for places high in their back four following the return of Jurrien Timber and summer signing of Riccardo Calafiori.

The Gunners surrendered a league lowest 43 big chances on their goal last campaign, with just 28.32 expected goals conceded. Arsenal have two home games in their first three, against Wolves and Brighton, before their schedule becomes more challenging with trips to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

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