Captain Hugo Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The FPL Team of the Week
How many The Reds assets are you able to accommodate inside your squad for this round?
The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs , featuring a sizzling attacker in their French frontman ahead of a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are heading towards a historically poor top-flight seasons on record.
For managers who kept some of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , with the funds to reinvest after losing the injured Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool picks ought to be the main consideration.
This ideal squad is assembled based on current Fantasy Premier League valuations to fit within a 100 million pound spending limit, simulating activating a Free Hit chip.
How Did Last Week's Squad?
Skipper Erling Haaland (32 points) , alongside the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman led the selection to a respectable score – enhanced by a 10-point performance from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
This Week's FPL Selection for Matchday 18
Keeper and Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's backline experienced a brief dip following the absence of Gabriel, but they have secured two shutouts over their last four matches , with 9 to their name before half the season gone.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in just a handful of matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs Brighton (H).
It's a triple-up from the Arsenal defence.
They are the top defensive unit in FPL, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they take on a Brighton side who have drawn a blank in their last two outings.
The South Coast club have scored just 9 strikes across eight fixtures away from home.
Timber remains a steady option every week , with more goal threat operating as right-back.
Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive appearances, including two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
I'd pick six Liverpool players this week if the rules permitted.
Wolves were shut out for the 10th time so far during a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
The Midlands side have only managed nine strikes this campaign, with only two away from home. This is a very secure clean sheet bet available.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Even with Leeds United's recent goalscoring upturn – including the performances 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 the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as an outstanding value defensive pick. Managers can start him confidently in most games, given his consistent defensive contribution points.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder should play a bigger role for Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
In their last three matches, United boast the best expected goals (xG) in the league by over three goals – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds United's 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle team that has not excelled on the road – with just a single victory in their last seven.
Mount is likely to take over many of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, and could operate behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
Wirtz is on the verge of a significant score , with a home match versus Wolves representing an ideal time for that to happen.
He has delivered returns in three of his past four games – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution performance.
In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, while his expected goals totals 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
After recording 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's form cannot be overlooked.
He's Aston Villa's main goal threat, capable of scoring a strike from the smallest space in the box.
An away trip to Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a tough proposition, the Birmingham club have won there twice during recent years.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for his place, coupled with scored five goals over three matches, the French striker earns the captain's armband this week.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
There's no dropping the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tricky away game this week, we are opting to look elsewhere with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m