Captain Hugo Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
How many The Reds assets can you accommodate in your squad for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side have notched a pair of triumphs and boast a sizzling attacker in their French frontman preparing for a fixture with Wolves currently on course for one of the worst Premier League campaigns in history.
For managers who kept some of your AFCON free transfers , and possess the budget to spend by replacing the injured Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool players must be the primary focus.
The team of the week is constructed based on latest FPL costs to stay under a £100m cap, simulating activating a Free Hit chip.
A Look Back at The Previous Selection?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (a huge score) , combined with the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike propelled the squad to a solid 82 points – supplemented by a 10-point performance from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.
The FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's backline suffered a slight stumble in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, but they have secured two shutouts recently , with 9 so far with not even half the season played.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three home games campaign. Those goals were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Richarlison and a unexpected header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).
It's a triple-up from the Gunners' defence.
Not only are they the strongest defence in the game, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's side who have not found the net in their past two matches.
The South Coast club have only managed nine goals in eight fixtures away from home.
The Dutch defender remains a reliable option each gameweek , possessing greater offensive potential operating as the full-back role.
Hincapie has collected defensive contribution points over his last four starts, which included two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Managers would love half a dozen Liverpool assets for this fixture if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the tenth occasion so far in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
They have only managed 9 strikes in total, with only a couple on the road. It represents a very secure clean sheet prospect imaginable.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Despite Leeds United's better goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – we're selecting a Sunderland shutout at home.
That would mark a third consecutive , with Alderete becoming the best budget defensive pick. Managers can start him confidently across many fixtures, due to his regular 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder is expected to take on a bigger part at Manchester United in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.
Over the past three games, United boast the highest expected goals (xG) statistically by over three goals – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds' 5.68.
They face a Newcastle United side that has been poor away from home – managing a single victory from seven attempts.
Mount is likely to assume a large share of the injured star's creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, potentially play as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
The German playmaker is due a big haul and a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves representing an ideal opportunity for that to happen.
Wirtz has posted points across four recent games – two assists and one defensive contribution performance.
During that spell he has created 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, and his xG totals 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
Boasting 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's hot streak cannot be overlooked.
He is Villa's main goal threat, who can scoring a goal from the smallest space in the box.
A fixture at Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have won at that ground on two occasions in the past three seasons.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for a starting spot, coupled with bagged a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker gets the double-points role this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
There's no benching Haaland, but because he has a tougher away game in this round, I'm willing to pass over him for the armband.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m