Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored the most Defensive Contribution (DEFCON) points on Gameweek 1 of the 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season.Â
The Reds secured a thrilling win in their season opener, beating Bournemouth 4-2 at Anfield.
Despite not scoring or assisting, Van Dijk — one of ChatGPT’s best FPL picks — scored three points on Matchday 1.
FPL DEFCON Points Explained
Defensive Contributions or DEFCON is the newest addition to the FPL world. It rewards outfield players for all the defensive actions they take during the game.
The Manager of the Week from #FPL Gameweek 1 🤩 pic.twitter.com/MGVIa9FH2w
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 19, 2025
Defenders earn two points for accumulating 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles (CBIT). Midfielders and attackers, meanwhile, get two points for reaching 12 CBIT. But their haul also includes ball recoveries.
How Many DEFCON Points Can a Player Score Per Game?
Outfield players can score a maximum of two DEFCON points per game in FPL. So, even if a defender accumulates 20 CBIT, he would not score four points.
DEFCON Points Leaders After FPL Gameweek 1
A total of 25 players crossed the required threshold for scoring the two FPL DEFCON points on Matchday 1. Out of the 25, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk registered the highest CBIT with 21. Of all the midfielders, Marcus Tavernier topped the charts with 20.
No forward managed to cross 12 CBIT to score two DEFCON points in Gameweek 1.
Virgil van Dijk Had the Most CBIT
| Player | Team | Cost | Points | DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil | Liverpool | £6.5m | 3 | 21 |
| Lacroix | Crystal Palace | £5.0m | 8 | 16 |
| Senesi | Bournemouth | £4.5m | 2 | 15 |
| Tarkowski | Everton | £4.5m | 4 | 15 |
| Ait-Nouri | Man City | £5.0m | 9 | 15 |
| Saliba | Arsenal | £5.5m | 9 | 14 |
| Van den Berg | Brentford | £4.5m | 3 | 14 |
| Ballard | Sunderland | £4.0m | 17 | 14 |
| Aina | Nottingham Forest | £4.5m | 4 | 12 |
| Cash | Aston Villa | £5.0m | 8 | 11 |
| Mitchell | Crystal Palace | £4.5m | 9 | 11 |
| Yoro | Man Utd | £4.5m | 4 | 11 |
| Schar | Newcastle | £5.0m | 8 | 11 |
| Burn | Newcastle | £4.5m | 9 | 11 |
| De Ligt | Man Utd | £5.5m | 4 | 10 |
Sunderland man Daniel Ballard was the standout of the lot. Not only did he rack up DEFCON points, but he also contributed to the attack, scoring 17 points in total.
Marcus Tavernier Led Midfielders in CBIT
Midfielders need to reach 12 CBIT to score the two DEFCON points in FPL. Marcus Tavernier of Bournemouth had 20, which helped him double his points from two to four.
| Player | Team | Cost | Pts. | DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tavernier | Bournemouth | £5.5m | 4 | 20 |
| Adams | Bournemouth | £5.0m | 4 | 19 |
| Wieffer | Brighton | £5.0m | 4 | 18 |
| Andre | Wolves | £5.5m | 4 | 15 |
| Odegaard | Arsenal | £8.0m | 5 | 14 |
| Onana | Aston Villa | £5.0m | 5 | 14 |
| Stach | Leeds | £5.0m | 8 | 13 |
| Zubimendi | Arsenal | £5.5m | 5 | 12 |
| Cullen | Burnley | £5.0m | 4 | 12 |
| Caicedo | Chelsea | £5.5m | 5 | 12 |
Gameweek 2 kicks on Friday, with West Ham United hosting Chelsea at London Stadium. It concludes on Monday, with a blockbuster clash between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St. James’ Park.
