Skipper Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Gunners Defence – The FPL Team of the Week
The quantity of The Reds assets might you accommodate in your squad for this round?
The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs and boast a red-hot striker in Hugo Ekitike going into a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are heading towards one of the worst top-flight seasons in history.
If you've kept a few of your AFCON free transfers , and possess the cash to spend after losing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, in that case Liverpool players ought to be your top priority.
The weekly selection is chosen according to latest Fantasy Premier League valuations to fit within a £100m budget, mirroring activating a Free Hit chip.
How Did Last Week's Squad?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the productive duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike propelled the team to a handsome 82 points – enhanced by a double-digit cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.
This Week's FPL Selection for Gameweek 18
Keeper and Defenders
David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's backline had a minor wobble after an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've recorded two shutouts in their past four and have nine to their name before the campaign's midpoint completed.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in just a handful of home games this season. Those goals were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular strike from Richarlison , plus a late goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).
We're opting for a three-pronged on the Arsenal defence.
They are the strongest defence in the game, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they host a Brighton team who have failed to score in two consecutive outings.
The South Coast club have a mere 9 goals across eight away games.
The Dutch defender continues to be a solid choice every week and has more attacking upside since returning to the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian has registered 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love six Liverpool assets this week if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the tenth occasion this season in a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
They have a paltry 9 goals this campaign, including two away from home. This is a very secure shutout bet possible.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's better offensive form – and the form of their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.
This would secure their third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender becoming an outstanding budget defensive pick. Managers can start him confidently in most games, thanks to his potential for 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount should play a bigger responsibility for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.
Recently, Erik ten Hag's team registered the greatest xG across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.
They face a Newcastle United side who have not excelled on the road – with just one win in seven.
The former Chelsea man is likely to take over many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially on set-pieces, potentially feature in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
Wirtz is due a major point return and a home match against the struggling Wolves presenting a perfect opportunity for that to happen.
He has registered attacking returns across his past four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' display.
Over that time he's made 10 chances, the highest among all Liverpool, while his xG is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
Boasting 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' hot streak is impossible to ignore.
He is Villa's main goal threat, who can scoring a goal from minimal space in the box.
A fixture at Chelsea might seem a difficult assignment, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground in two of the past three seasons.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for a starting spot, and having bagged a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker receives the double-points role this week.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to benching the Norwegian goal machine, however with him having a tricky fixture on the road this week, the choice is to pass over him for the armband.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m