Skipper Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week
What number of The Reds players are you able to squeeze into your lineup for this round?
The Merseyside club have notched back-to-back wins and boast a in-form attacker in their French frontman going into a fixture with Wolves who are heading towards one of the worst top-flight campaigns on record.
Should you have retained some of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers and have the funds to reinvest following the injury to the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, then assets from Anfield players ought to be your top priority.
The weekly selection is constructed using current FPL valuations to stay under a 100 million pound budget, simulating activating a Free Hit chip.
How Did Last Week's Selection?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , combined with the in-form pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike led the team to a solid score – supplemented by a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.
Our FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 18
Keeper and Defence
David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's backline had a brief dip following the absence of Gabriel, but they have secured two shutouts recently and have nine to their name with not even the campaign's midpoint completed.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in only three matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Richarlison , plus a surprise goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs Brighton (H).
We're opting for a triple selection on the Arsenal backline.
Not only are they the strongest defence statistically, recording shutouts in over 50% of their fixtures, they take on a Brighton side that has not found the net in their last two matches.
The South Coast club have only managed nine goals from eight fixtures away from home.
The Dutch defender is a reliable choice each gameweek , with more goal threat now he is right-back.
The Ecuadorian has collected 'defcon' points over his last four starts, featuring two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
I'd pick half a dozen Anfield assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.
Wolves drew another blank once again in 17 games during a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.
The Midlands side have a paltry 9 goals in total, with only two away from home. This is one of the safest clean sheet opportunity imaginable.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Despite the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – and the form of their striker – we're selecting a Stadium of Light shutout at home.
That would mark a third in a row , with the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as a prime budget defensive pick. You can select him regularly across many fixtures, due to his regular 'defcon' returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
The English midfielder should play a bigger responsibility for Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following their Portuguese maestro out injured.
In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the greatest expected goals (xG) statistically by over three goals – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle side that has not excelled away from home – with just a single victory from seven attempts.
Mount may assume many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, and might operate behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score , with a home match versus the struggling Wolves presenting an ideal opportunity for that to happen.
Wirtz has posted points in three out of his last four games – a pair of assists and one 'defcon' display.
In that period he has created 10 chances, the highest among all his teammates, and his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points in two games, Rogers' current form is impossible to ignore.
He's Aston Villa's key attacker, who can producing a strike with half a yard of space inside the area.
A fixture to Stamford Bridge may appear a tough assignment, the Birmingham club have won there in two of the past three seasons.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having notched a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike earns the captain's armband this week.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to benching Haaland, however with him having a tougher fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to pass over him with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m