Skipper Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week
What number of The Reds players can you accommodate inside your team for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side have secured a pair of triumphs and boast a sizzling attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a fixture with a struggling Wolves side that are tracking for a historically poor top-flight campaigns on record.
Should you have kept a few of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards , and possess the budget to spend by replacing the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, in that case Liverpool options ought to be the main consideration.
The ideal squad is chosen based on present FPL valuations to comply with a £100m budget, mirroring activating a Free Hit chip.
What Was the Performance of The Previous Selection?
Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the hot pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman propelled the squad to a solid 82 points – supplemented by a 10-point performance from Antonee Robinson from the replacements.
Our FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's defence experienced a slight stumble following the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have kept two clean sheets recently and have nine already before half the season gone.
Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in just a handful of home games this season. Those goals came from Erling Haaland, a spectacular strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise goal from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).
This week features a triple-up from the Arsenal backline.
They are the top defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in the majority of their matches, they take on a Brighton side that has drawn a blank in their past two outings.
Brighton have scored just 9 strikes in eight fixtures away from home.
The Dutch defender remains a steady option every week , with more goal threat operating as right-back.
Hincapie has registered 'defcon' points over his last four appearances, including a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love half a dozen Anfield players for this fixture if possible.
Gary O'Neil's team failed to score once again in 17 games during Saturday's two-nil home loss to the Bees.
The Midlands side have a paltry nine strikes in total, including two away from home. That makes this a very secure shutout opportunity available.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Despite the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout at home.
That would mark a third in a row and the Paraguayan defender establishing himself as the best low-cost defensive pick. You can select him confidently in most games, given his potential for defensive contribution returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder should play a bigger role for Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, due to Bruno Fernandes out injured.
Recently, United registered the highest xG statistically by over three goals – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds' 5.68.
They face a Newcastle side that has been poor in away matches – with just one win in their last seven.
The former Chelsea man could well take over many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, potentially operate as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
The German playmaker is poised for a significant score and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves presenting the prime time for it.
He has registered attacking returns in three of his last four games – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.
In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most of any his teammates, and his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
Boasting 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's form is impossible to ignore.
He's Aston Villa's key attacker, with an ability to scoring a strike from half a yard of space in the box.
A fixture to Stamford Bridge might seem a difficult assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground on two occasions in recent years.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, coupled with notched five goals in three games, the French striker gets the double-points role for this round.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
One cannot consider dropping the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tougher away game in this round, the choice is to bet against him for the armband.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m