Skipper Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Gunners Defence – The FPL Team of the Week
How many The Reds players might you squeeze into your team this week?
The Merseyside club have secured back-to-back wins and boast a sizzling attacker in their French frontman ahead of a encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers that are heading towards a historically poor top-flight seasons ever.
Should you have retained a few of your AFCON wildcards and have the budget to upgrade after losing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool picks must be your top priority.
This weekly selection is assembled using current Fantasy Premier League prices to stay under a £100m budget, simulating you were playing a Free Hit.
What Was the Performance of The Previous Squad?
Skipper Erling Haaland (32 points) , combined with the productive pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman led the squad to a handsome score – with a bonus a double-digit performance from Fulham's defender off the bench.
Our FPL Selection for Matchday 18
Keeper & Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's defence had a slight stumble in the wake of an injury to Gabriel, yet they've kept two clean sheets recently and have nine to their name with less than the campaign's midpoint played.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in only three matches at home this season. Those goals came from Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise goal from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).
We're opting for a triple selection on the Gunners' defence.
As well as being the top defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their fixtures, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have not found the net in two consecutive games.
Brighton have only managed 9 goals in eight away games.
The Dutch defender continues to be a solid pick each gameweek , possessing greater attacking upside now he is right-back.
Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points in his past four starts, featuring two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
One could select half a dozen Anfield assets this week if the rules permitted.
Wolves were shut out for the 10th time so far in a recent two-nil home loss to the Bees.
They have only managed nine strikes all season, including a couple on the road. This is as safe a shutout prospect imaginable.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's better goalscoring upturn – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.
It would be a third in a row and Alderete establishing himself as a prime value defender option. You can field him regularly in most games, due to his potential for defensive contribution points.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder will likely assume a bigger role at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, following their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.
Over the past three games, United boast the best expected goals (xG) statistically by a significant margin – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle United team who have not excelled away from home – with just one win in seven.
The former Chelsea man may assume many of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly from dead-ball situations, potentially operate in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
Wirtz is poised for a significant score and a home match versus the struggling Wolves representing an ideal opportunity for it.
Wirtz has posted points in three out of four recent games – two assists plus a 'defcon' performance.
In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, while his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
After recording 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's hot streak is impossible to ignore.
He's Villa's key attacker, capable of scoring a strike with half a yard of room inside the area.
An away trip to Chelsea might seem a difficult proposition, but Villa have won there twice during the past three seasons.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for his place, and having notched a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike gets the captain's armband for this round.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to benching the Norwegian goal machine, but with him having a tougher fixture on the road in this round, we are opting to pass over him with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m