Skipper Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
The quantity of The Reds assets might you accommodate in your team this week?
The Merseyside club have secured back-to-back wins and boast a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a fixture with Wolves that are heading towards an abysmal Premier League seasons on record.
Should you have held onto a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the funds to upgrade following the injury to the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool options must be the primary focus.
This team of the week is chosen based on latest FPL prices to stay under a 100 million pound spending limit, mirroring using a Free Hit.
What Was the Performance of Our Recent Selection?
Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike led the squad to a solid total – enhanced by a double-digit performance from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
The Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Matchday 18
Keeper and Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
Arsenal's backline experienced a slight stumble in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've recorded two shutouts recently , with nine already with less than the campaign's midpoint completed.
Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in only three fixtures at the Emirates this season. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous strike from Richarlison and a late 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 backline.
Not only are they the strongest defence statistically, recording shutouts in over 50% of their fixtures, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have failed to score in two consecutive games.
The South Coast club have a mere nine strikes from eight fixtures away from home.
The Dutch defender continues to be a reliable option each gameweek , with greater goal threat operating as the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian has registered defensive contribution points in his past four appearances, featuring two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love six Anfield assets this week if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team failed to score once again this season in a recent two-nil home loss to Brentford.
They have scored just nine strikes all season, with only two on the road. This is one of the safest clean sheet bet imaginable.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's recent offensive form – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Sunderland shutout at home.
It would be their third in a row , with Alderete is cementing himself as a prime low-cost defender option. You can select him with assurance across many fixtures, thanks to his regular 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount is expected to take on a bigger role for Old Trafford in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.
Recently, United boast the greatest xG statistically by over three goals – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They welcome a Newcastle United team that has not excelled on the road – with just a single victory in seven.
The former Chelsea man could well assume a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, notably from dead-ball situations, and might feature behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is poised for a major point return , with a home match versus the struggling Wolves presenting an ideal opportunity for it.
He has registered attacking returns in three of four recent fixtures – two assists plus a defensive contribution display.
In that period he's made 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, and his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's current form demands attention.
He is Aston Villa's main goal threat, capable of producing a strike with half a yard of space inside the area.
An away trip to Stamford Bridge may appear a challenging assignment, but Villa have won at that ground twice during the past three seasons.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, coupled with notched a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike receives the captain's armband this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to omitting the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a more difficult away game this week, the choice is to look elsewhere for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m