Captain Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Gunners Defence – The FPL Team of the Week
How many Liverpool selections can you squeeze in your team for this round?
The Merseyside club have secured two consecutive victories , with a red-hot forward in their French frontman ahead of a encounter with Wolves currently on course for one of the worst top-flight campaigns in history.
Should you have held onto a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the budget to spend after losing the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, then assets from Anfield options must be your top priority.
The weekly selection is assembled based on latest FPL prices to stay under a 100 million pound spending limit, simulating using a one-week wildcard.
How Did The Previous Selection?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (32 points) , combined with the in-form pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike propelled the selection to a solid score – with a bonus a double-digit performance from Fulham's defender off the bench.
The FPL Team of the Week for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya, the Gunners, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's defence suffered a minor wobble following the absence of Gabriel, however, they've recorded two clean sheets recently and have nine already with less than half the season played.
Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in all but three matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Richarlison , plus a late goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
This week features a triple selection from the Gunners' defence.
They are the best defence in the game, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they host a Brighton side who have not found the net in two consecutive matches.
Brighton have only managed nine strikes from eight matches on the road.
The Dutch defender remains a steady choice every week and has greater offensive potential since returning to the full-back role.
Hincapie has registered 'defcon' points in four consecutive appearances, featuring a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
One could select six Anfield assets this week if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out once again this season during a recent 2-0 home loss to Brentford.
They have a paltry 9 strikes in total, including two on the road. It represents a very secure shutout opportunity imaginable.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's better offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet at home.
It would be their third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender establishing himself as an outstanding low-cost defender option. Managers can select him with assurance in most games, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
The English midfielder is expected to take on a significant part at Old Trafford in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.
Recently, United registered the greatest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle team that has not excelled on the road – managing one win from seven attempts.
Mount is likely to assume many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, particularly on set-pieces, potentially play behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is poised for a big haul , with a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves presenting the prime scenario for it.
Wirtz has delivered returns across four recent games – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution performance.
During that spell he has created 10 chances, the most of any his teammates, while his xG is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
Boasting 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's current form demands attention.
He's Villa's talisman, with an ability to producing a goal from half a yard of room in the box.
A fixture to Chelsea might seem a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have won there in two of 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 a starting spot, coupled with scored a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike earns the captain's armband this week.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
There's no dropping Haaland, however with him having a tricky away game in this round, the choice is to pass over him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m
