Skipper Ekitike and a Triple Gunners Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
The quantity of Liverpool selections are you able to fit in your lineup for this round?
The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs , featuring a in-form attacker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers that are on course for a historically poor Premier League campaigns in history.
For managers who kept some of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , with the cash to spend following the injury to the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently assets from Anfield options ought to be your top priority.
The weekly selection is constructed based on present FPL valuations to comply with a £100m spending limit, mirroring using a Free Hit.
How Did Our Recent Selection?
Captain Manchester City's striker (a huge score) , alongside the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike guided the team to a solid score – enhanced by a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.
Our FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's defence suffered a minor wobble after the absence of their Brazilian defender, however, they've secured two clean sheets recently and have nine so far with less than the campaign's midpoint played.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in just a handful of home games campaign. Those goals were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
This week features a triple selection on the Arsenal backline.
Not only are they the top defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in more than half of their fixtures, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has not found the net in their past two outings.
The South Coast club have only managed 9 goals from eight fixtures away from home.
Timber continues to be a solid option every week , possessing increased attacking upside since returning to right-back.
Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points over his last four appearances, featuring a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
I'd pick six Anfield assets for this fixture if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out once again so far during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.
The Midlands side have only managed nine goals all season, including a couple away from home. This is one of the safest clean sheet prospect available.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Even with Leeds United's better goalscoring upturn – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Sunderland clean sheet at home.
That would mark their third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as an outstanding low-cost defensive pick. Managers can field him with assurance across many fixtures, thanks to his regular 'defcon' returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
The English midfielder will likely assume a key responsibility for Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
Recently, United have generated the best expected goals (xG) in the league by over three goals – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds' 5.68.
They face a Newcastle team who have struggled in away matches – managing one win in seven.
The former Chelsea man may inherit many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, potentially play in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
Wirtz is on the verge of a big haul , with a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves being a perfect opportunity for it.
Wirtz has delivered returns in three of four recent fixtures – two assists plus a defensive contribution display.
In that period he has created 10 chances, the highest of any his teammates, and his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
After recording 30 points in two games, Rogers' form is impossible to ignore.
He's Aston Villa's main goal threat, who can producing a goal with minimal space in the box.
A fixture at Stamford Bridge might seem a tough proposition, but Villa have won at that ground on two occasions in recent years.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for a starting spot, coupled with scored five goals over three matches, the French striker gets the captaincy for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
There's no dropping the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tricky away game this week, we are opting to bet against him with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m