Skipper Hugo Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Defence – The FPL Team of the Week
How many The Reds players might you accommodate in your squad this week?
The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs , featuring a sizzling forward in their French frontman ahead of a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are heading towards an abysmal top-flight campaigns ever.
If you've held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers and have the budget to upgrade after losing the injured Bruno Fernandes, in that case Liverpool picks should be the main consideration.
This weekly selection is chosen according to present FPL valuations to fit within a £100m spending limit, mirroring you were playing a Free Hit.
How Did Last Week's Team?
Skipper Erling Haaland (a huge score) , alongside the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike guided the squad to a respectable total – supplemented by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender off the bench.
This Week's FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Keeper and Defence
David Raya, the Gunners, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's defence experienced a minor wobble in the wake of an injury to Gabriel, but they have kept two shutouts in their past four and have nine already with not even the campaign's midpoint completed.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in only three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a wondrous strike from Richarlison and a late header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
It's a triple-up on the Gunners' backline.
As well as being the strongest defence in the game, recording shutouts in the majority of their fixtures, they take on a Brighton side that has not found the net in their past two outings.
Brighton have scored just nine strikes in eight matches on the road.
The Dutch defender is a steady option each gameweek and has greater goal threat operating as right-back.
Hincapie has earned defensive contribution points over his last four starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Managers would love six Liverpool assets this week if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time this season during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.
They have scored just nine strikes this campaign, with only two on the road. That makes this a very secure clean sheet prospect available.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Regardless of the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet at home.
It would be a third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as a prime value defensive pick. Managers can start him confidently across many fixtures, thanks to his potential for 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
Mount will likely assume a key part at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.
Recently, United boast the highest xG statistically by a significant margin – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds' 5.68.
They face a Newcastle United team who have been poor away from home – managing one win in their last seven.
Mount could well take over a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially on set-pieces, potentially operate as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is on the verge of a big haul , with a home match against the struggling Wolves being a perfect opportunity for it.
Wirtz has posted points in three of four recent games – two assists and one defensive contribution performance.
During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the highest among all Liverpool, and his xG is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
After recording 30 points in two games, the midfielder's current form demands attention.
He's Aston Villa's main goal threat, who can scoring a goal from minimal room in the box.
A fixture to Chelsea may appear a tough assignment, but Villa have won at that ground on two occasions in recent years.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Due to his fixture, a lack of competition for a starting spot, and having scored a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker earns the captaincy for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to dropping Haaland, although because he has a more difficult fixture on the road this week, I'm willing to pass over him for the armband.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m