As the start of the new Premier League season is now less than a week away, we now turn our attention to the top Goalkeepers for FPL. As many of our followers may have noticed, our preference is to unlock value between the sticks and save our precious budget for the more explosive players up front. To that extent, we typically favour lower-priced goalkeeper assets, with either a preferred player to start every week along with a cheap backup, or as part of a rotation pair based on fixtures. Once again, we encourage our readers to sign up for the Transfer Algorithm page on Patreon where FPL Managers receive weekly FPL updates to the player rankings, including discussions with the algo creator and data scientist Mikkel Tokvam, our insightful analysts and some of the best FPL players in the world.

1. Mat Ryan

For the past few seasons, Brighton shot-stopper Matt Ryan has provided a consistent source of points for FPL Managers at a cut-throat price. While not necessarily orchestrating the most solid defensive unit with only 9 clean sheets last season, the Australian international racks up quite a few saves which increases his appeal through save and bonus points. In addition, when paired with his backup, Matt Ryan provides the lowest cost goalkeeper combination for a total of 8.5m, though it should be noted though that his previous backup David Button just recently signed with West Brom and it remains to be seen who exactly will step up in his place.

FPL price: 4.5

Expected points per GW: 3.66

Budget-constrained value: 0.50

2. Hugo Lloris

After a disappointing season during which the French international struggled with injuries, Hugo Lloris returns to Tottenham this campaign fit and ready to flourish under manager Jose Mourinho’s second season at the helm. The acrobatic shot-stopper has been an integral part of the Lilywhites defense over the past 8 seasons and is one of the lower priced entries into a top 6 defence. It should be noted that Spurs open the season with a jam-packed schedule across multiple competitions, so it remains to be seen how the club will utilise its full squad and if Lloris can retain fitness for the duration of the Premier League season.

FPL price: 5.5

Expected points per GW: 3.99

Budget-constrained value: 0.47

3. Alex McCarthy

When Fraser Forster was sent out on loan to Celtic last season, the door was opened for a new keeper to step up at Southampton. Although teammate Angus Gunn started the campaign as first-choice, team manager Ralph Hasenhuttl made the switch to Alex McCarthy who helped solidify the backline and finished the season with 7 clean sheets through the final 28 matches. Priced at a budget-friendly 4.5m for a club that has improved significantly in defence and starts the season with very favourable fixtures, the former Crystal Palace keeper hopes to retain his place in the starting XI even with the return of Forster to Saint Mary’s Stadium.

FPL price: 4.5

Expected points per GW: 3.49

Budget-constrained value: 0.46

4. Aaron Ramsdale

With the departure of Dean Henderson to parent club Man United following his loan to the Blades last season, Sheffield United have signed Aaron Ramsdale as his replacement. The former Bournemouth keeper has had his ups-and-downs with a struggling Cherries defense that kept only 5 clean sheets last season, but the English international showed promise as he accumulated the second highest number of saves with 128. Now joining a much more robust defence that kept 13 clean sheets last season, Ramsdale hopes to claim his spot as first choice keeper at Bramall Lane.

FPL price: 5.0

Expected points per GW: 3.75

Budget-constrained value: 0.47

5. Nick Pope

It’s a tough act to follow but Nick Pope cemented his place as top keeper at Burnley since displacing his former English teammate Tom Heaton who departed last year for Aston Villa. This past season’s highest scoring goalkeeper in FPL kept 15 clean sheets for the Clarets as runner-up in the Golden Glove race and was among the best in almost every metric. Notorious for keeping a tight defence, Burnley tend to concede a fair amount of shots resulting in consistent save points for the English keeper, but also don’t score much on the opposite end of the pitch which puts him in a great position to secure bonus points even when Burnley don’t keep a clean sheet. This season Nick Pope sees his FPL price rise to 5.5m which may no longer present great value, but it would be hard to ignore his exceptional skills for a place in your squad.

FPL price: 5.5

Expected points per GW: 3.77

Budget-constrained value: 0.43

Written by Alex “The Analyst” Potier from the Transfer Algorithm

Check out our other previews of the upcoming Premier League Fantasy Football 20/21 season:

- Top 5 Forwards

- Top 10 Midfielders

- Top 5 Defenders