Skipper Hugo Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Gunners Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
The quantity of The Reds selections are you able to fit in your squad for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side have notched two consecutive victories and boast a sizzling forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a clash with a struggling Wolves side that are tracking for one of the worst top-flight seasons in history.
For managers who retained a portion of your AFCON wildcards , and possess the budget to reinvest by replacing the injured Manchester United's playmaker, then assets from Anfield players must be the primary focus.
This ideal squad is assembled based on latest Fantasy Premier League costs to stay under a £100m budget, mirroring using a Free Hit.
A Look Back at Our Recent Selection?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , alongside the in-form pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a respectable 82 points – with a bonus a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
Our Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya, the Gunners, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's defence had a brief dip after an injury to Gabriel, however, they've kept two shutouts recently , boasting 9 so far with not even the campaign's midpoint completed.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in all but three matches at home this season. Those goals came from Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Richarlison , plus a surprise header from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs Brighton (H).
We're opting for a triple selection on the Gunners' defence.
They are the best defensive unit in the game, recording shutouts in more than half of their fixtures, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have not found the net in two consecutive matches.
Brighton have only managed nine goals from eight matches on the road.
Timber continues to be a reliable choice each gameweek , with more offensive potential operating as right-back.
The Ecuadorian has registered 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, which included a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
I'd pick six Anfield assets this week if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out once again so far in a recent 2-0 home loss to Brentford.
The Midlands side have scored just nine strikes all season, with only two on the road. It represents as safe a shutout bet available.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's improved goalscoring upturn – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.
That would mark a third in a row , with the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as an outstanding low-cost defender option. Managers can select him confidently in most games, due to his consistent defensive contribution returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
The English midfielder should play a key responsibility at Manchester United in the next few games, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
In their last three matches, United boast the best xG statistically by a significant margin – 8.78 against second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They welcome a Newcastle side that has been poor on the road – with just one win from seven attempts.
Mount could well assume a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, potentially feature as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a big haul and a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves representing an ideal time for that to happen.
Wirtz has delivered returns in three of his past four fixtures – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution performance.
During that spell he's made 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, while his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
Boasting 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's form is impossible to ignore.
He's Villa's key attacker, with an ability to producing a strike from minimal space in the box.
An away trip to Chelsea could be viewed as a challenging proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground on two occasions in the past three seasons.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Given his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, coupled with scored five goals over three matches, the French striker gets the double-points role for this round.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
There's no dropping Haaland, although with him having a tougher fixture on the road in this round, we are opting to bet against him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m