Captain Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Gunners Backline – The FPL Team of the Week
What number of The Reds assets might you squeeze inside your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?
The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot forward in their French frontman preparing for a clash with Wolves currently on course for one of the worst top-flight seasons in history.
For managers who kept a portion of your AFCON free transfers and have the budget to spend following the injury to the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, in that case assets from Anfield players must be the primary focus.
The team of the week is chosen according to current Fantasy Premier League valuations to stay under a £100m cap, as if using a one-week wildcard.
What Was the Performance of Our Recent Selection?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (a huge score) , alongside the productive duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman led the selection to a handsome score – enhanced by a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender from the replacements.
This Week's Fantasy Premier League Selection for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's defence had a slight stumble after an injury to their Brazilian defender, however, they've kept two shutouts recently , boasting nine to their name with not even the campaign's midpoint completed.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three home games campaign. Those goals came from Erling Haaland, a wondrous effort from Richarlison , plus a late goal from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).
We're opting for a triple-up on the Arsenal defence.
As well as being the top defensive unit in FPL, with a clean sheet in more than half of their fixtures, they host a Brighton side that has not found the net in their last two matches.
The South Coast club have scored just 9 goals from eight away games.
Timber remains a reliable choice every week , with more offensive potential now he is the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian has collected defensive contribution points in his past four appearances, which included a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Managers would love half a dozen Liverpool assets this week if possible.
Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time this season in a recent two-nil home loss to Brentford.
The Midlands side have a paltry nine strikes all season, with only a couple away from home. It represents a very secure shutout prospect possible.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Despite the Yorkshire club's better offensive form – including the performances of their striker – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.
That would mark a third in a row and Alderete establishing himself as the best budget defender option. Managers can select him regularly in most games, thanks to his consistent 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount is expected to take on a bigger responsibility at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.
In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team registered the greatest xG statistically by over three goals – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle team who have been poor in away matches – with just one win in seven.
The former Chelsea man may assume many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, and could feature as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a major point return and a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves being an ideal time for it.
He has delivered returns in three out of his last four games – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' display.
In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, and his xG totals 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's form demands attention.
He is Aston Villa's talisman, capable of scoring a strike from the smallest room inside the area.
An away trip at Chelsea could be viewed as a tough assignment, but Villa have won at that ground on two occasions in the last three campaigns.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Because of his fixture, having no competition for a starting spot, and having bagged five goals over three matches, Ekitike earns the captaincy this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
There's no omitting the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tougher fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to bet against him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m