Skipper Hugo Ekitike along with a Triple Arsenal Defence β The FPL Team of the Week
The quantity of The Reds assets might you accommodate in your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?
The Merseyside club are coming off two consecutive victories and boast a in-form striker in Hugo Ekitike going into a clash with Wolves that are tracking for a historically poor Premier League seasons ever.
For managers who kept some of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers and have the cash to reinvest after losing the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool picks ought to be the main consideration.
The team of the week is assembled according to present Fantasy Premier League valuations to comply with a Β£100m budget, simulating using a one-week wildcard.
A Look Back at Last Week's Selection?
Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) , combined with the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike propelled the selection to a solid total β with a bonus a double-digit contribution from Fulham's defender from the replacements.
The FPL Selection for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper and Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, Β£6m β vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's defence experienced a brief dip following the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have recorded two shutouts recently , with nine to their name before half the season gone.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in all but three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular strike from Richarlison and a surprise goal from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (Β£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (Β£5.5m), Arsenal β vs Brighton (H).
This week features a three-pronged from the Arsenal backline.
They are the strongest defensive unit in FPL, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they face a Brighton side who have drawn a blank in two consecutive outings.
The South Coast club have scored just 9 strikes in eight away games.
Timber continues to be a reliable pick each gameweek and has greater offensive potential operating as the full-back role.
Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points over his last four appearances, featuring two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, Β£5.9m β vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love half a dozen Anfield assets this week if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out once again this season during Saturday's two-nil home loss to Brentford.
They have only managed 9 strikes in total, with only a couple away from home. This is a very secure shutout bet imaginable.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, Β£4m β vs Leeds United (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's recent goalscoring upturn β and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin β I'm backing a Sunderland shutout at home.
This would secure their third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender becoming an outstanding low-cost defender option. You can start him regularly across many fixtures, thanks to his regular defensive contribution returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, United, Β£5.9m β vs Newcastle (H).
Mount should play a bigger role for Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team boast the best xG statistically by a significant margin β 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.
They welcome a Newcastle United side who have been poor on the road β with just one win from seven attempts.
The former Chelsea man is likely to inherit a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably on set-pieces, potentially feature in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, Β£8.1m β vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a big haul , with a fixture at Anfield against Wolves representing an ideal time for it.
Wirtz has posted points in three out of four recent games β a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution display.
During that spell he's made 10 chances, the highest among all his teammates, while his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, Β£7.2m β vs Chelsea (A).
Boasting 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's hot streak cannot be overlooked.
He is Aston Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to creating a strike from minimal space inside the area.
An away trip at Chelsea could be viewed as a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground in two of recent years.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, Β£8.9m β vs Wolves (H).
Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for his place, and having bagged five goals over three matches, Ekitike earns the captaincy this week.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Β£15.1m β vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to omitting the Norwegian goal machine, although with him having a tricky fixture on the road in this round, the choice is to look elsewhere with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, Β£7.6m