When You Can Consider Four-man Defence in FPL 2025-26?

In the Fantasy Premier League (FPL), every position is very important to generate at least decent points in a gameweek. Defence is a very underrated and crucial position in any FPL gameweek, as it can bring a big smile to the managers or cause a massive disappointment. Here, I am talking about the strategy of four-man defence in FPL 2025/26 season.

While an FPL manager must select five defenders in the 15-member FPL squad, an FPL gameweek can’t run without at least three defenders. In the FPL, the popular formations for any gameweek are 3-4-3 and 3-5-2, as many managers look for FPL defence with the number 3.

The problem with heavy defence in FPL

The major reason for generally not going with more than three defenders is the one-point reduction for conceding every two goals. If a team concedes four or six goals, the defender will have to reduce two and three FPL points, respectively, unless the defender went off the field before some goals.

As the midfielders and forwards have no regular points reduction threat, excluding any bookings, which is usual for every player (-1 for a yellow card and -3 for a red card), FPL managers generally choose fewer defenders.

FPL Defence advantages

The most important part of selecting a defender is expecting a clean sheet, which brings four extra points for the defender. However, the clean sheet is very risky, as the defender must play for at least 60 minutes, and the clean sheet dream can be wiped out just for one goal (unless the defender is substituted off before the goal is conceded or an early goal is conceded and the defender later joins as a substitute to play at least 60 minutes).

The most exciting part for the defence in FPL is an assist and a goal. While FPL defence can earn three points for an assist, a goal provides better points than a midfielder or a forward, as a defender earns six points from a goal. That is why the wing-backs and set-piece specialists are the most demanded defenders in the FPL.

Due to the introduction of FPL defensive contribution points, where a defender can add two solid points for recording 10 or more CBITs (clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles) in a match, the centre-backs now have more importance in defence in FPL, as they are the favourites to bring defensive contribution points regularly. Otherwise, most centre-backs were previously ignored, as most were not considered as aerial threats.

When to go with a four-man defence in FPL

However, the four or five members on the defence in FPL team can be beneficial if a manager uses them wisely. Below, I am bringing some scenarios in which the four-man defence in FPL can be effective.

• If a gameweek's fixtures favour the defenders, like the multiple top in-form teams facing below-ranked out-of-form teams. For this, I always check on SportsDunia's FPL Fixture Difficulty Ratings.
• When budget midfielders or budget forwards are not producing enough points.
• Want to keep flexibility in the team. In this case, 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 are the ideal formations, as in both cases, the four-man defence plays a crucial role.
• Some defenders are producing good points at regular intervals, like the team is maintaining clean sheets regularly, the defenders are more present in goal involvements, the defenders are producing enough defensive contributions in regular matches, the defenders are earning bonus points regularly, etc.