Captain Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Backline – The FPL Team of the Week
The quantity of The Reds assets might you accommodate in your team for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side are coming off a pair of triumphs , with a in-form forward in Hugo Ekitike going into a clash with a struggling Wolves side that are tracking for an abysmal top-flight campaigns ever.
Should you have kept a few of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards , with the funds to reinvest after losing the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, then assets from Anfield options should be the main consideration.
This team of the week is constructed based on latest FPL prices to comply with a 100 million pound budget, simulating you were playing a Free Hit chip.
How Did Last Week's Selection?
Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the in-form pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman led the squad to a respectable total – supplemented by a 10-point performance from Antonee Robinson off the bench.
This Week's FPL Selection for Gameweek 18
Keeper and Defence
David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's defence suffered a minor wobble following an injury to Gabriel, yet they've secured two clean sheets in their past four , boasting 9 already with less than the campaign's midpoint gone.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in just a handful of fixtures at the Emirates campaign. The strikes they conceded were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular strike from Richarlison , plus a late header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs Brighton (H).
This week features a three-pronged from the Arsenal backline.
Not only are they the strongest defensive unit statistically, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has failed to score in their last two matches.
Brighton have a mere nine strikes from eight fixtures away from home.
Timber continues to be a reliable choice each gameweek , possessing greater attacking upside operating as the full-back role.
Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, including a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love six Anfield players for this fixture if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the tenth occasion so far in a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to Brentford.
They have only managed 9 strikes all season, with only a couple on the road. This is a very secure shutout bet imaginable.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Despite Leeds United's recent offensive form – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.
This would secure their third consecutive and Alderete establishing himself as the best budget defender option. You can field him regularly across many fixtures, given his consistent 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder is expected to take on a bigger part at Manchester United in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.
In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the highest expected goals (xG) in the league by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds' 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle United team that has not excelled on the road – with just one win in seven.
Mount could well assume many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, particularly from dead-ball situations, potentially operate as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score and a home match against Wolves presenting the prime time for that to happen.
Wirtz has registered attacking returns in three out of his last four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' performance.
Over that time he has created 10 chances, a team-high of any his teammates, while his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
After recording 30 points over two matches, Rogers' current form demands attention.
He's Aston Villa's main goal threat, who can producing a strike with minimal room in the box.
A fixture at Chelsea might seem a difficult assignment, but Villa have won at that ground in two of the last three campaigns.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Due to his fixture, having no competition for a starting spot, and having bagged a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike gets the double-points role this week.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
There's no omitting Haaland, but because he has a tougher away game this week, I'm willing to pass over him for the armband.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m