Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Defence – The FPL Team of the Week
The quantity of Liverpool players can you squeeze into your squad this week?
Jurgen Klopp's side have notched two consecutive victories and boast a in-form striker in their French frontman preparing for a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are on course for a historically poor Premier League seasons ever.
For managers who retained a portion of your AFCON transfers and have the funds to upgrade by replacing the injured Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool players must be the primary focus.
This ideal squad is constructed based on latest FPL costs to fit within a 100 million pound spending limit, as if using a one-week wildcard.
What Was the Performance of The Previous Team?
Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) , alongside the hot duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike guided the team to a solid total – with a bonus a double-digit cameo from Antonee Robinson off the bench.
This Week's FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Keeper & Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's defence had a slight stumble in the wake of an injury to Gabriel, yet they've secured two shutouts in their past four and have 9 already with not even half the season played.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in just a handful of matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a spectacular effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a late goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).
This week features a triple selection on the Gunners' defence.
As well as being the strongest defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they face a Brighton team who have not found the net in their last two outings.
Brighton have a mere 9 strikes from eight away games.
Timber remains a solid choice every week , possessing more goal threat operating as right-back.
Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points in four consecutive 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 possible.
Wolves drew another blank for the tenth occasion this season during a recent two-nil home loss to Brentford.
The Midlands side have only managed nine strikes this campaign, with only a couple on the road. That makes this a very secure clean sheet opportunity available.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Even with the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout at home.
That would mark their third consecutive and Alderete is cementing himself as a prime low-cost defensive pick. Managers can field him with assurance across many fixtures, due to his regular defensive contribution returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
Mount is expected to take on a key part for Manchester United in the next few games, with Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team boast the highest xG across the Premier League by over three goals – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.
They welcome a Newcastle side who have been poor on the road – with just a single victory in seven.
The former Chelsea man could well take over a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, and could operate behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
The German playmaker is due a big haul and a home match versus the struggling Wolves being the prime scenario for that to happen.
He has delivered returns across his last four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' performance.
Over that time he's made 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, while his expected goals totals 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
Boasting 30 points in two games, Rogers' hot streak cannot be overlooked.
He is Villa's key attacker, who can scoring a goal from half a yard of room in the box.
An away trip to Stamford Bridge may appear a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there twice during recent years.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Because of his fixture, a lack of competition for his place, coupled with scored a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike receives the captain's armband for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
One cannot consider benching the Norwegian goal machine, however with him having a more difficult away game this week, I'm willing to pass over him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m