Skipper Ekitike along with a Triple Gunners Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week
How many The Reds assets can you fit into your team for this round?
The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs and boast a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a fixture with a struggling Wolves side who are tracking for a historically poor top-flight seasons in history.
If you've kept a few of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards , with the funds to reinvest by replacing the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool picks ought to be the primary focus.
The weekly selection is constructed based on present Fantasy Premier League costs to stay under a £100m spending limit, as if activating a Free Hit chip.
A Look Back at Our Recent Selection?
Captain Manchester City's striker (a huge score) and the in-form pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike guided the selection to a handsome score – enhanced by a 10-point performance from Fulham's defender from the replacements.
The FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper and Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
Arsenal's backline experienced a slight stumble following an injury to their Brazilian defender, however, they've kept two clean sheets in their past four , with nine so far before half the season completed.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in all but three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward and a surprise header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).
This week features a triple selection from the Arsenal defence.
Not only are they the strongest defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have not found the net in their past two games.
The South Coast club have only managed 9 strikes across eight away games.
Timber is a solid option every week , with more offensive potential operating as the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian has registered defensive contribution points over his last four starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
One could select six Liverpool assets this week if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank once again in 17 games during a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
The Midlands side have a paltry 9 goals in total, with only a couple away from home. This is as safe a clean sheet opportunity possible.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's recent offensive form – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.
This would secure their third in a row and Alderete becoming a prime value defensive pick. Managers can select him confidently in most games, given his potential for defensive contribution returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount should play a significant role for Manchester United in the next few games, following Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.
Recently, United have generated the highest xG across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle United side who have struggled in away matches – managing a single victory in seven.
The former Chelsea man is likely to inherit a large share of the injured star's creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, potentially feature as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is poised for a major point return and a home match against the struggling Wolves presenting the prime opportunity for that to happen.
He has delivered returns in three of his past four fixtures – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution performance.
Over that time he's made 10 chances, the most among all his teammates, while his expected goals stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points over two matches, Rogers' current form cannot be overlooked.
He's Aston Villa's talisman, capable of scoring a goal with half a yard of room inside the area.
An away trip at Chelsea may appear a tough proposition, but Villa have won there in two of the past three seasons.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Due to his fixture, having no competition for his place, coupled with bagged five goals in three games, the French striker gets the captain's armband for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
There's no benching the Norwegian goal machine, however because he has a more difficult away game in this round, the choice is to look elsewhere with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m