Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The FPL Squad for the Round
The quantity of The Reds selections are you able to fit into your team this week?
Jurgen Klopp's side are coming off two consecutive victories , with a sizzling forward in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a clash with a struggling Wolves side currently on course for one of the worst Premier League seasons on record.
If you've held onto a few of your AFCON transfers and have the budget to reinvest following the injury to the injured Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool options should be the main consideration.
This weekly selection is constructed according to latest Fantasy Premier League prices to fit within a 100 million pound budget, simulating activating a Free Hit chip.
How Did The Previous Squad?
Skipper Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , alongside the productive duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman led the selection to a handsome score – enhanced by a double-digit performance from Fulham's defender off the bench.
The FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
Arsenal's backline suffered a minor wobble after the absence of their Brazilian defender, yet they've kept two shutouts over their last four matches , boasting nine so far with less than half the season played.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in just a handful of matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a spectacular effort from Richarlison , plus a late goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs Brighton (H).
It's a three-pronged on the Arsenal backline.
As well as being the strongest defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in the majority of their matches, they host a Brighton team that has failed to score in their last two games.
The South Coast club have scored just nine goals from eight fixtures away from home.
The Dutch defender is a reliable pick every week and has greater offensive potential operating as right-back.
Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points in his past four appearances, which included two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Managers would love six Liverpool assets this week if the rules permitted.
Wolves drew another blank for the tenth occasion so far in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
They have only managed nine strikes in total, including two away from home. It represents as safe a clean sheet prospect possible.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Despite the Yorkshire club's improved goalscoring upturn – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Stadium of Light clean sheet at home.
It would be a third consecutive , with Alderete becoming a prime budget defensive pick. You can select him regularly in most games, given his consistent defensive contribution points.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
Mount is expected to take on a significant responsibility at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, due to Bruno Fernandes out injured.
Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team registered the greatest xG statistically by a significant margin – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds' 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle side who have not excelled away from home – managing one win in their last seven.
The former Chelsea man is likely to inherit a large share of the injured star's creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, and might operate as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is due a big haul , with a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves being the prime opportunity for that to happen.
He has posted points in three out of his past four fixtures – a pair of assists and one 'defcon' performance.
In that period he's made 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, while his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
After recording 30 points in two games, Rogers' current form cannot be overlooked.
He is Aston Villa's key attacker, who can producing a strike with half a yard of space inside the area.
A fixture to Stamford Bridge might seem a challenging proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there on two occasions in the past three seasons.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Because of his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, coupled with scored a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike gets the captain's armband for this round.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
One cannot consider omitting the Norwegian goal machine, however with him having a tricky away game this week, the choice is to bet against him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m