Skipper Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week
The quantity of The Reds assets might you fit inside your team for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side have notched a pair of triumphs and boast a in-form attacker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a encounter with Wolves that are tracking for an abysmal Premier League campaigns in history.
Should you have held onto a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , with the budget to reinvest following the injury to the injured Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool options should be your top priority.
The team of the week is constructed based on latest FPL valuations to stay under a £100m spending limit, simulating using a Free Hit chip.
How Did Last Week's Squad?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , alongside the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman propelled the team to a solid score – with a bonus a double-digit cameo from Antonee Robinson from the replacements.
Our FPL Selection for Matchday 18
Keeper and Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's backline had a brief dip after an injury to Gabriel, but they have secured two clean sheets over their last four matches , with 9 to their name before half the season played.
Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in just a handful of home games this season. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular strike from Tottenham's forward and a late header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).
We're opting for a three-pronged from the Arsenal backline.
As well as being the top defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have not found the net in two consecutive outings.
Brighton have scored just 9 strikes from eight away games.
Timber is a solid pick each gameweek , with more offensive potential since returning to the full-back role.
Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points over his last four starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
One could select six Anfield assets this week if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the 10th time this season in a recent two-nil home loss to Brentford.
The Midlands side have scored just 9 strikes in total, with only two away from home. That makes this a very secure clean sheet bet available.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Even with the Yorkshire club's improved offensive form – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.
This would secure a third consecutive , with Alderete is cementing himself as the best low-cost defensive pick. Managers can start him confidently across many fixtures, due to his potential for 'defcon' points.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder should play a key role for Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, due to their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.
In their last three matches, United boast the highest expected goals (xG) statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 against the next best Leeds' 5.68.
They face a Newcastle team that has not excelled on the road – with just one win in their last seven.
The former Chelsea man is likely to assume many of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly from dead-ball situations, and might play behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score and a home match versus the struggling Wolves representing a perfect time for that to happen.
Wirtz has delivered returns in three out of his last four fixtures – two assists and one 'defcon' display.
During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, and his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's form demands attention.
He is Villa's talisman, with an ability to producing a goal from half a yard of space inside the area.
An away trip at Stamford Bridge may appear a challenging proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground on two occasions in recent years.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having scored a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker gets the double-points role this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
There's no benching Haaland, however because he has a tricky fixture on the road in this round, we are opting to pass over him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m