Captain Hugo Ekitike along with a Triple Gunners Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
How many The Reds players can you fit in your lineup for this round?
The Merseyside club are coming off back-to-back wins , featuring a sizzling attacker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a encounter with a struggling Wolves side currently tracking for a historically poor Premier League campaigns ever.
For managers who held onto a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the budget to reinvest after losing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool picks should be the primary focus.
The team of the week is assembled based on current Fantasy Premier League costs to fit within a £100m budget, as if you were playing a one-week wildcard.
A Look Back at Last Week's Team?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the hot duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman propelled the selection to a handsome score – enhanced by a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.
The FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper and Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's defence suffered a slight stumble following the absence of Gabriel, yet they've secured two clean sheets over their last four matches and have 9 already before half the season played.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in just a handful of fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals came from Erling Haaland, a wondrous strike from Richarlison and a late header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).
It's a triple-up on the Arsenal defence.
They are the top defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in the majority of their matches, they face a Brighton side that has failed to score in their past two matches.
Brighton have only managed 9 goals across eight away games.
Timber remains a steady choice each gameweek , possessing more offensive potential since returning to the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian has earned defensive contribution points over his last four starts, including two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
One could select six Anfield assets this week if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time this season in Saturday's two-nil home loss to Brentford.
They have scored just 9 strikes this campaign, with only two away from home. This is one of the safest clean sheet bet imaginable.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Regardless of the Yorkshire club's recent goalscoring upturn – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.
This would secure their third in a row and Alderete is cementing himself as an outstanding low-cost defender option. You can field him regularly across many fixtures, given his regular defensive contribution points.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount is expected to take on a bigger role for Old Trafford in the next few games, with their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.
Over the past three games, United have generated the best expected goals (xG) statistically by over three goals – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.
They face a Newcastle United team who have struggled away from home – with just one win from seven attempts.
Mount could well take over a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, and could feature as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is on the verge of a major point return , with a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves representing an ideal time for that to happen.
He has delivered returns across four recent fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' display.
In that period he has created 10 chances, the highest among all his teammates, while his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
With 30 points in two games, Rogers' current form is impossible to ignore.
He is Villa's key attacker, with an ability to creating a strike from half a yard of space inside the area.
A fixture to Stamford Bridge might seem a difficult proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground twice during the past three seasons.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, coupled with bagged a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker earns the captain's armband for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
One cannot consider benching Haaland, although with him having a tricky away game this week, I'm willing to pass over him for the armband.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m