Captain Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week
What number of The Reds assets are you able to fit in your lineup this week?
The Merseyside club have secured back-to-back wins , with a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a clash with Wolves that are on course for a historically poor Premier League campaigns in history.
For managers who retained some of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , with the cash to reinvest by replacing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, then assets from Anfield players must be the primary focus.
This team of the week is assembled according to current Fantasy Premier League valuations to fit within a 100 million pound cap, simulating activating a one-week wildcard.
How Did Last Week's Squad?
Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) , combined with the hot duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman guided the selection to a solid 82 points – enhanced by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
This Week's Fantasy Premier League Selection for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
Arsenal's backline suffered a slight stumble after an injury to Gabriel, but they have recorded two clean sheets over their last four matches , with 9 to their name with less than the campaign's midpoint played.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in only three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a spectacular effort from Richarlison , plus a late goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
This week features a three-pronged on the Arsenal backline.
They are the top defensive unit in FPL, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's side who have not found the net in their past two matches.
The South Coast club have scored just nine strikes across eight matches on the road.
The Dutch defender remains a reliable option every week and has greater offensive potential operating as right-back.
The Ecuadorian has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, which included two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
One could select half a dozen Liverpool players for this fixture if allowed.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out once again in 17 games in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
They have only managed nine strikes this campaign, including a couple away from home. That makes this a very secure clean sheet bet imaginable.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Even with the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.
It would be a third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender becoming an outstanding budget defender option. You can select him confidently across many fixtures, given his potential for defensive contribution returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder should play a significant role at Old Trafford in the next few games, due to Bruno Fernandes out injured.
In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team boast the best expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds' 5.68.
They face a Newcastle United team who have struggled away from home – with just a single victory in their last seven.
Mount is likely to inherit a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, and could feature behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is on the verge of a major point return , with a home match versus the struggling Wolves representing the prime opportunity for that to happen.
Wirtz has posted points across his last four fixtures – two assists and one defensive contribution display.
During that spell he's made 10 chances, the most among all his teammates, while his expected goals totals 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's hot streak cannot be overlooked.
He is Aston Villa's talisman, with an ability to producing a strike from the smallest space in the box.
An away trip at Stamford Bridge may appear a challenging proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground in two of recent years.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Given his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having notched a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker receives the captaincy this week.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
One cannot consider benching Haaland, although with him having a tricky away game this week, the choice is to look elsewhere with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m