Skipper Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The FPL Squad for the Round
What number of Liverpool assets can you squeeze inside your squad in the upcoming gameweek?
Jurgen Klopp's side have notched a pair of triumphs , featuring a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike going into a fixture with a struggling Wolves side who are on course for a historically poor top-flight campaigns in history.
Should you have kept a portion of your AFCON wildcards and have the budget to reinvest following the injury to the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, in that case assets from Anfield players ought to be the primary focus.
The team of the week is assembled based on present FPL costs to comply with a £100m cap, as if you were playing a one-week wildcard.
What Was the Performance of Our Recent Squad?
Captain Erling Haaland (a huge score) , combined with the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike led the selection to a solid 82 points – enhanced by a 10-point performance from Antonee Robinson off the bench.
The FPL Team of the Week for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya, the Gunners, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's backline experienced a slight stumble after an injury to their Brazilian defender, however, they've secured two clean sheets in their past four , boasting 9 so far with less than the campaign's midpoint gone.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in just a handful of matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward and 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' backline.
They are the top defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their fixtures, they host a Brighton team who have drawn a blank in their last two games.
The South Coast club have only managed nine goals in eight fixtures away from home.
The Dutch defender continues to be a reliable pick every week , possessing more offensive potential operating as right-back.
Hincapie has registered 'defcon' points in his past four appearances, featuring a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
I'd pick six Liverpool players this week if the rules permitted.
Wolves failed to score for the tenth occasion this season during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.
They have only managed 9 strikes in total, including two on the road. That makes this as safe a shutout opportunity available.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Regardless of the Yorkshire club's improved offensive form – including the performances of their striker – we're selecting a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.
This would secure a third in a row and the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as an outstanding value defender option. Managers can start him with assurance in most games, given his consistent 'defcon' points.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
Mount should play a significant responsibility at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, due to Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.
Recently, United have generated the highest xG statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle side who have not excelled in away matches – with just a single victory in their last seven.
The former Chelsea man is likely to assume a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, and could feature in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is due a major point return and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves presenting an ideal scenario for it.
Wirtz has delivered returns across his past four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution performance.
Over that time he's made 10 chances, the most among all his teammates, and his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's current form cannot be overlooked.
He is Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to producing a strike from the smallest space in the box.
An away trip at Stamford Bridge might seem a tough assignment, but Villa have won there twice during the past three seasons.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for his place, coupled with notched a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker gets the captaincy for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
There's no omitting Haaland, but with him having a tougher away game in this round, we are opting to look elsewhere for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m