Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Defence – The FPL Team of the Week
What number of The Reds selections might you squeeze inside your lineup for this round?
The Merseyside club are coming off back-to-back wins , with a sizzling attacker in their French frontman going into a fixture with a struggling Wolves side that are heading towards a historically poor Premier League campaigns ever.
Should you have retained a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers and have the budget to spend following the injury to the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, consequently assets from Anfield options ought to be the main consideration.
This ideal squad is assembled using current FPL valuations to fit within a £100m cap, mirroring using a Free Hit.
How Did The Previous Team?
Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) , alongside the productive duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman propelled the selection to a respectable score – enhanced by a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.
The FPL Selection for Matchday 18
Keeper and Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's defence experienced a slight stumble following an injury to their Brazilian defender, however, they've secured two clean sheets over their last four matches and have 9 so far before the campaign's midpoint completed.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in all but three matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
This week features a triple-up on the Arsenal backline.
They are the top defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's side who have not found the net in their last two outings.
Brighton have only managed 9 strikes in eight matches on the road.
The Dutch defender continues to be a reliable pick every week and has increased attacking upside now he is right-back.
Hincapie has collected defensive contribution points in his past four appearances, featuring two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
One could select half a dozen Liverpool assets for this fixture if allowed.
Wolves failed to score for the tenth occasion so far in a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
The Midlands side have a paltry 9 goals all season, with only a couple away from home. This is one of the safest shutout bet available.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Despite the Yorkshire club's recent goalscoring upturn – including the performances of their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.
It would be their third in a row and Alderete establishing himself as an outstanding low-cost defender option. Managers can start him with assurance across many fixtures, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
Mount is expected to take on a bigger part at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, with Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.
In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team registered the greatest expected goals (xG) statistically by over three goals – 8.78 against the next best Leeds' 5.68.
They welcome a Newcastle side who have been poor in away matches – with just one win in seven.
The former Chelsea man could well assume a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially on set-pieces, and could play behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a major point return , with a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves representing the prime scenario for that to happen.
He has registered attacking returns across four recent games – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.
In that period he has created 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, and his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's hot streak cannot be overlooked.
He's Aston Villa's key attacker, who can scoring a goal from the smallest space inside the area.
A fixture to Chelsea could be viewed as a challenging proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there on two occasions in recent years.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Due to his fixture, having no rivalry for his place, coupled with bagged five goals over three matches, Ekitike receives the captaincy this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
There's no dropping Haaland, but because he has a tougher away game in this round, I'm willing to bet against him with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m