Captain Ekitike along with a Triple Gunners Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week
What number of The Reds selections are you able to fit inside your squad for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side have secured two consecutive victories , with a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike going into a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are tracking for a historically poor Premier League campaigns on record.
If you've retained a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , with the cash to upgrade by replacing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool picks must be the main consideration.
The team of the week is chosen based on present FPL costs to fit within a £100m spending limit, as if you were playing a Free Hit chip.
What Was the Performance of Last Week's Team?
Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) and the productive duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman guided the team to a handsome total – enhanced by a double-digit contribution from Antonee Robinson off the bench.
This Week's FPL Selection for Matchday 18
Keeper and Defenders
David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
Arsenal's backline had a minor wobble after the absence of Gabriel, yet they've kept two shutouts recently , with nine already with not even the campaign's midpoint gone.
Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in just a handful of matches at home this season. Those goals came from Erling Haaland, a spectacular strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a late goal from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs Brighton (H).
It's a triple-up from the Gunners' defence.
As well as being the top defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in the majority of their matches, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have drawn a blank in their past two games.
The South Coast club have only managed 9 goals from eight matches on the road.
Timber remains a steady choice every week , possessing greater offensive potential since returning to the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive appearances, which included a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
I'd pick six Anfield players for this fixture if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time in 17 games in Saturday's two-nil home loss to Brentford.
The Midlands side have scored just nine goals this campaign, including a couple on the road. That makes this a very secure shutout prospect imaginable.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Even with the Yorkshire club's improved offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.
That would mark their third in a row , with Alderete is cementing himself as the best budget defender option. You can start him regularly across many fixtures, given his regular 'defcon' returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
The English midfielder is expected to take on a bigger part for Old Trafford in the next few games, with their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.
In their last three matches, United have generated the highest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by over three goals – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle side who have struggled away from home – managing one win from seven attempts.
Mount is likely to inherit a large share of the injured star's creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, potentially feature behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a big haul , with a home match against Wolves representing an ideal scenario for it.
He has posted points across his last four fixtures – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution performance.
In that period he has created 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, while his xG is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
After recording 30 points in two games, Rogers' hot streak demands attention.
He's Aston Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to creating a strike from half a yard of space in the box.
A fixture at Stamford Bridge may appear a challenging proposition, but Villa have won at that ground in two of recent years.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Due to his fixture, having no rivalry for a starting spot, and having notched five goals over three matches, the French striker gets the captaincy this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to benching Haaland, however because he has a more difficult away game in this round, we are opting to pass over him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m