Skipper Ekitike along with a Triple Gunners Defence – The FPL Team of the Week
The quantity of The Reds players are you able to accommodate in your lineup for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side have secured two consecutive victories , with a in-form attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a fixture with a struggling Wolves side who are tracking for an abysmal Premier League campaigns on record.
For managers who kept a portion of your AFCON wildcards , with the funds to reinvest by replacing the injured Manchester United's playmaker, then assets from Anfield options must be the main consideration.
The team of the week is chosen based on current FPL prices to comply with a 100 million pound spending limit, simulating using a one-week wildcard.
How Did The Previous Squad?
Captain Manchester City's striker (a huge score) and the in-form pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike led the selection to a respectable score – enhanced by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender off the bench.
This Week's Fantasy Premier League Selection for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper and Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's backline experienced a brief dip after the absence of Gabriel, but they have recorded two clean sheets recently , boasting nine already with less than the campaign's midpoint played.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in only three home games this season. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a spectacular effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected goal from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).
We're opting for a three-pronged from the Arsenal defence.
Not only are they the strongest defence statistically, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their fixtures, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has failed to score in two consecutive matches.
Brighton have only managed 9 goals from eight fixtures away from home.
The Dutch defender remains a steady pick each gameweek and has greater attacking upside now he is the full-back role.
Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points over his last four appearances, which included two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
One could select six Liverpool assets this week if the rules permitted.
Wolves were shut out once again this season in a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
They have a paltry 9 strikes all season, including two away from home. This is a very secure clean sheet bet possible.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Despite the Yorkshire club's recent goalscoring upturn – highlighted by their striker – I'm backing a Sunderland shutout on home soil.
It would be their third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender becoming the best value defensive pick. You can select him confidently across many fixtures, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution points.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
The English midfielder will likely assume a significant part for Old Trafford in the next few games, following Bruno Fernandes out injured.
In their last three matches, United have generated the greatest xG statistically by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle team that has not excelled away from home – with just one win from seven attempts.
The former Chelsea man is likely to inherit a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially on set-pieces, potentially feature behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves being the prime time for it.
Wirtz has delivered returns across his past four games – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' display.
Over that time he has created 10 chances, the highest of any Liverpool, and his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points over two matches, Rogers' form cannot be overlooked.
He is Aston Villa's main goal threat, who can producing a goal with minimal space inside the area.
An away trip to Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a difficult proposition, but Villa have won there in two of the past three seasons.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Due to his fixture, having no rivalry for his place, and having notched a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker gets the captaincy for this round.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to benching Haaland, although with him having a tougher fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to look elsewhere for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m