Skipper Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week
The quantity of Liverpool selections might you squeeze in your squad this week?
The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs and boast a sizzling attacker in their French frontman preparing for a encounter with Wolves currently on course for a historically poor top-flight seasons on record.
For managers who retained some of your AFCON wildcards , and possess the budget to upgrade following the injury to the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool picks ought to be your top priority.
The weekly selection is assembled based on present Fantasy Premier League valuations to stay under a 100 million pound cap, mirroring using a one-week wildcard.
What Was the Performance of The Previous Squad?
Captain Erling Haaland (a huge score) and the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike guided the selection to a solid 82 points – enhanced by a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
The Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Keeper & Defence
David Raya, the Gunners, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
Arsenal's backline experienced a slight stumble in the wake of the absence of Gabriel, however, they've secured two shutouts recently , with 9 already with not even half the season played.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in just a handful of home games this season. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs Brighton (H).
We're opting for a triple selection from the Arsenal defence.
They are the top defensive unit in the game, recording shutouts in the majority of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has drawn a blank in their past two matches.
Brighton have only managed 9 strikes in eight matches on the road.
Timber continues to be a solid pick every week , possessing increased attacking upside now he is the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian has registered 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, which included two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love half a dozen Liverpool assets for this fixture if possible.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out once again in 17 games in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
The Midlands side have only managed 9 strikes in total, with only two on the road. That makes this as safe a clean sheet opportunity available.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Regardless of the Yorkshire club's improved goalscoring upturn – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.
It would be a third in a row and Alderete establishing himself as an outstanding budget defensive pick. You can start him regularly across many fixtures, due to his consistent defensive contribution points.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder will likely assume a bigger role at Old Trafford in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.
Over the past three games, United registered the highest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds' 5.68.
They welcome a Newcastle side that has struggled away from home – with just a single victory from seven attempts.
The former Chelsea man may take over many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, particularly from dead-ball situations, and might operate as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
The German playmaker is poised for a major point return , with a fixture at Anfield against Wolves representing the prime opportunity for that to happen.
He has delivered returns in three out of four recent games – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' performance.
In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, a team-high of any his teammates, while his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
After recording 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's current form is impossible to ignore.
He is Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to scoring a goal with half a yard of room inside the area.
An away trip at Chelsea might seem a challenging proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground in two of the last three campaigns.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for a starting spot, and having scored five goals in three games, the French striker gets the double-points role this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to omitting the Norwegian goal machine, however with him having a more difficult away game this week, we are opting to bet against him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m