Captain Ekitike and a Triple Gunners Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
The quantity of The Reds assets might you fit inside your lineup this week?
Jurgen Klopp's side have notched back-to-back wins , with a sizzling forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a encounter with a struggling Wolves side who are tracking for one of the worst Premier League seasons ever.
For managers who kept some of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers and have the cash to spend by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, in that case assets from Anfield picks should be your top priority.
This ideal squad is constructed based on current FPL costs to fit within a 100 million pound cap, simulating activating a one-week wildcard.
A Look Back at Last Week's Selection?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (a huge score) and the productive duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike led the squad to a handsome total – supplemented by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender off the bench.
Our Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper and Defenders
David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's backline suffered a minor wobble after an injury to Gabriel, yet they've recorded two clean sheets over their last four matches , boasting 9 already with less than half the season played.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three home games this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise header from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).
We're opting for a triple selection on the Arsenal backline.
Not only are they the strongest defence in the game, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they take on a Brighton team that has not found the net in their last two matches.
Brighton have scored just 9 strikes from eight fixtures away from home.
Timber continues to be a reliable choice every week , with greater attacking upside now he is right-back.
Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points in four consecutive 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 for this fixture if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the 10th time so far during Saturday's two-nil defeat at Molineux to Brentford.
The Midlands side have scored just 9 strikes this campaign, with only two away from home. This is a very secure shutout opportunity imaginable.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Even with the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – including the performances of their striker – I'm backing a Sunderland shutout on home soil.
This would secure their third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender establishing himself as the best budget defender option. Managers can field him with assurance across many fixtures, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder is expected to take on a bigger responsibility for Old Trafford in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro out injured.
Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the highest expected goals (xG) statistically by a significant margin – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds United's 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle team who have struggled in away matches – with just a single victory in seven.
Mount is likely to take over a large share of the injured star's creative responsibilities, notably on set-pieces, potentially feature as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
Wirtz is on the verge of a significant score and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves presenting a perfect time for that to happen.
Wirtz has delivered returns across his last four games – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.
Over that time he's made 10 chances, the highest of any Liverpool, and his expected goals stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
After recording 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's form cannot be overlooked.
He is Aston Villa's key attacker, with an ability to creating a strike from half a yard of room in the box.
A fixture to Stamford Bridge might seem a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have won at that ground on two occasions in the past three seasons.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Because of his fixture, a lack of competition for a starting spot, coupled with notched a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker receives the double-points role for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
One cannot consider dropping the Norwegian goal machine, however with him having a more difficult fixture on the road this week, we are opting to pass over him with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m