Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Gunners Backline – The FPL Team of the Week
What number of The Reds assets might you squeeze in your team for this round?
The Merseyside club are coming off back-to-back wins , with a sizzling striker in their French frontman preparing for a fixture with a struggling Wolves side currently heading towards an abysmal top-flight campaigns on record.
For managers who kept a few of your AFCON wildcards and have the funds to upgrade after losing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, in that case Liverpool players ought to be the primary focus.
The team of the week is assembled based on present Fantasy Premier League prices to comply with a 100 million pound cap, as if you were playing a Free Hit.
What Was the Performance of Our Recent Selection?
Skipper Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , combined with the productive duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman propelled the team to a solid score – with a bonus a 10-point cameo from Antonee Robinson off the bench.
This Week's Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
Arsenal's backline experienced a minor wobble following an injury to their Brazilian defender, but they have secured two clean sheets over their last four matches , boasting 9 already with not even the campaign's midpoint played.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in only three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by a Manchester City superstar, 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 Brighton (H).
It's a triple-up on the Arsenal defence.
Not only are they the top defensive unit in FPL, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they face a Brighton side that has not found the net in their past two matches.
Brighton have scored just 9 goals from eight away games.
Timber remains a reliable option each gameweek and has increased attacking upside now he is the full-back role.
Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive appearances, including two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
One could select half a dozen Liverpool players for this fixture if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time this season in a recent 2-0 home loss to Brentford.
The Midlands side have scored just nine goals all season, including two away from home. This is one of the safest shutout prospect possible.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Despite the Yorkshire club's recent goalscoring upturn – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.
This would secure their third in a row and Alderete becoming an outstanding value defensive pick. You can select him with assurance in most games, given his regular 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount will likely assume a key role at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, due to Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.
Recently, United registered the greatest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle side who have not excelled on the road – with just a single victory in their last seven.
The former Chelsea man is likely to inherit many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, particularly on set-pieces, potentially operate as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is due a big haul and a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves being a perfect time for that to happen.
Wirtz has delivered returns in three of four recent games – two assists and one defensive contribution performance.
In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, while his expected goals stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
After recording 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's current form demands attention.
He's Aston Villa's talisman, capable of creating a strike from the smallest room inside the area.
An away trip at Chelsea might seem a difficult proposition, but Villa have won there in two of the last three campaigns.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Given his fixture, having no competition for a starting spot, and having notched a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker receives the double-points role for this round.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
There's no dropping the Norwegian goal machine, however because he has a tricky away game this week, we are opting to bet against him with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m