Captain Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Gunners Backline – The FPL Team of the Week

The quantity of Liverpool players are you able to squeeze inside your lineup this week?

The Merseyside club have notched two consecutive victories , with a sizzling striker in their French frontman ahead of a encounter with a struggling Wolves side currently on course for a historically poor top-flight campaigns in history.

For managers who held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers and have the budget to upgrade after losing the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, in that case assets from Anfield picks must be your top priority.

The ideal squad is assembled using latest Fantasy Premier League costs to fit within a 100 million pound spending limit, as if activating a Free Hit.

How Did Our Recent Squad?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , alongside the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike guided the team to a respectable score – with a bonus a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson off the bench.

Our FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 18

Keeper & Defenders

David Raya, the Gunners, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).

Arsenal's backline suffered a minor wobble in the wake of an injury to Gabriel, but they have kept two clean sheets in their past four , with nine so far with not even half the season gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in just a handful of matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a late goal from Wolves' attacker.

Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).

This week features a triple-up on the Arsenal backline.

Not only are they the top defensive unit in FPL, recording shutouts in more than half of their matches, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's side who have drawn a blank in their last two games.

The South Coast club have a mere nine goals in eight away games.

Timber remains a reliable choice each gameweek , with increased offensive potential operating as right-back.

Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points over his last four starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.

Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).

Managers would love six Liverpool assets this week if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the 10th time so far during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

They have a paltry 9 goals this campaign, with only two away from home. It represents as safe a shutout bet imaginable.

Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).

Despite the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – including the performances of their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light clean sheet at home.

It would be their third consecutive and Alderete is cementing himself as the best value defensive pick. You can start him with assurance in most games, thanks to his regular defensive contribution returns.

Midfielders

Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).

Mount is expected to take on a significant role for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

Recently, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the best xG statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 against the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle side who have been poor away from home – with just one win from seven attempts.

Mount could well take over a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, notably from dead-ball situations, and might feature behind the striker.

Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).

The German playmaker is poised for a major point return and a fixture at Anfield against Wolves presenting the prime opportunity for that to happen.

Wirtz has delivered returns across his past four fixtures – two assists and one 'defcon' display.

Over that time he has created 10 chances, a team-high among all Liverpool, and his expected goals stands at 0.88.

Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).

Boasting 30 points over two matches, Rogers' form cannot be overlooked.

He's Villa's talisman, with an ability to scoring a goal from minimal space in the box.

An away trip at Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a difficult assignment, but Villa have emerged victorious there on two occasions in the last three campaigns.

Forwards

Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).

Given his fixture, having no competition for his place, coupled with bagged a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike receives the captaincy this week.

Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).

One cannot consider omitting the Norwegian goal machine, but with him having a tricky fixture on the road this week, the choice is to look elsewhere with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m

Ashley Davis
Ashley Davis

A tech enthusiast and productivity coach who writes about optimizing workflows and embracing digital tools for better living.