Skipper Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week
How many Liverpool selections are you able to accommodate inside your lineup for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side are coming off back-to-back wins , with a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike going into a fixture with a struggling Wolves side currently tracking for a historically poor top-flight campaigns ever.
Should you have held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the funds to upgrade after losing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, in that case assets from Anfield players must be the primary focus.
This ideal squad is chosen using present FPL prices to fit within a £100m spending limit, as if using a one-week wildcard.
How Did Last Week's Team?
Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the productive pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike propelled the selection to a handsome total – enhanced by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender off the bench.
This Week's FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
Arsenal's backline had a minor wobble after the absence of Gabriel, however, they've recorded two shutouts in their past four , boasting nine so far with not even half the season played.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in just a handful of fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a spectacular effort from Tottenham's forward and a late header from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
It's a three-pronged from the Arsenal backline.
As well as being the best defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their matches, they take on a Brighton side who have failed to score in two consecutive games.
The South Coast club have only managed nine strikes from eight fixtures away from home.
The Dutch defender continues to be a steady pick every week , possessing greater goal threat since returning to the full-back role.
Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points over his last four starts, featuring two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
I'd pick six Anfield assets for this fixture if allowed.
Wolves failed to score for the 10th time this season during Saturday's two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
They have only managed 9 strikes all season, including a couple on the road. This is a very secure shutout opportunity available.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Even with Leeds United's improved goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – we're selecting a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.
This would secure their third in a row and the Paraguayan defender becoming the best low-cost defender option. Managers can field him with assurance in most games, given his consistent 'defcon' points.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
Mount should play a key part for Manchester United in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro out injured.
Over the past three games, United boast the greatest xG in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds United's 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle United side who have not excelled in away matches – managing a single victory from seven attempts.
Mount is likely to assume many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, and could operate in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is due a big haul and a fixture at Anfield against Wolves presenting a perfect opportunity for it.
Wirtz has registered attacking returns in three of his past four games – two assists plus a 'defcon' performance.
In that period he has created 10 chances, the most of any his teammates, and his expected goals totals 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
Boasting 30 points in two games, Rogers' form demands attention.
He's Aston Villa's talisman, with an ability to scoring a goal from minimal space inside the area.
A fixture at Chelsea could be viewed as a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have won at that ground on two occasions in the last three campaigns.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, and having notched a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike earns the captaincy this week.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
One cannot consider omitting the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tougher fixture on the road this week, I'm willing to look elsewhere for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m