Skipper Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Gunners Defence – The FPL Squad for the Round
How many Liverpool selections might you squeeze in your lineup this week?
The Merseyside club have notched back-to-back wins , featuring a sizzling forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a encounter with Wolves that are tracking for an abysmal Premier League seasons in history.
If you've held onto some of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , with the budget to spend after losing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, then assets from Anfield players should be your top priority.
This weekly selection is constructed according to present FPL costs to fit within a 100 million pound budget, simulating you were playing a Free Hit chip.
What Was the Performance of Our Recent Squad?
Captain Manchester City's striker (a huge score) , alongside the productive pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman led the selection to a handsome 82 points – enhanced by a double-digit cameo from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.
This Week's Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week for Gameweek 18
Keeper and Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's backline experienced a minor wobble after the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have secured two shutouts recently , with nine so far before half the season gone.
Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in only three matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous effort from Richarlison and a unexpected header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).
This week features a three-pronged from the Arsenal defence.
As well as being the strongest defensive unit in FPL, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has drawn a blank in their last two matches.
Brighton have a mere nine goals from eight matches on the road.
Timber is a steady choice every week , with greater goal threat now he is right-back.
Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points in his past four starts, which included a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
I'd pick half a dozen Liverpool assets this week if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the 10th time in 17 games in a recent two-nil home loss to the Bees.
They have scored just nine strikes all season, with only a couple on the road. That makes this one of the safest shutout opportunity possible.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Even with the Yorkshire club's improved goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – we're selecting a Sunderland shutout at home.
This would secure their third in a row and the Paraguayan defender establishing himself as the best low-cost defensive pick. Managers can start him confidently across many fixtures, thanks to his consistent defensive contribution points.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder will likely assume a significant role at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
In their last three matches, United have generated the highest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.
They welcome a Newcastle side that has not excelled in away matches – with just one win in seven.
Mount is likely to inherit many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, particularly on set-pieces, potentially operate in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a big haul , with a home match versus Wolves representing a perfect scenario for that to happen.
Wirtz has registered attacking returns in three of his last four fixtures – two assists and one 'defcon' performance.
During that spell he has created 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, while his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
After recording 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's hot streak cannot be overlooked.
He is Aston Villa's key attacker, capable of scoring a strike from minimal room inside the area.
An away trip to Chelsea may appear a tough proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground on two occasions in the past three seasons.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Due to his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having scored a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker gets the captain's armband this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to dropping Haaland, but with him having a more difficult fixture on the road this week, we are opting to pass over him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m