Everton after five gameweeks
Everton are seventh after Gameweek 5 and have conceded three goals, the fewest in the division alongside Leeds: a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, draws at Bournemouth, at home to Manchester United and at Tottenham, and a 1-0 win over Ipswich. Three clean sheets.
David Moyes continues, and the FPL case is the one it has been for years under Moyes, now with the numbers to back it: buy the defence.
Tarkowski and the defence
James Tarkowski is the second-highest FPL scorer in the game after five gameweeks, behind only Pascal Groß: three clean sheets, a goal, an assist, and the defensive-contribution points a centre-back who blocks and clears everything collects every week. He has played every minute.
Jordan Pickford, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko have also played every minute and kept three clean sheets each. Mykolenko at £4.6m is the cheapest way in; Pickford is the keeper to pair with an Everton defender if you want the double-up.
The attack
Thierno Barry is first on penalties and has two goals from five starts — the forward to own if you want Everton attacking returns. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has played every minute with a goal, and Tyrique George has a goal from four starts. James Garner is first on corners and free kicks and second on penalties, but has no goal or assist yet. Jack Grealish has started once.
Everton’s next five
After the international break Everton play Hull (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), Newcastle (A) and Coventry (H). The FPL difficulty ratings put Hull and Coventry at 2, Chelsea at 4 and the trip to Arsenal at 5.
The defenders are the picks to hold through it, and GW6 at Hull is a good week to have them. The live table on this page carries each player’s price, ownership and flag.