How many Liverpool players are you able to accommodate into your squad for this round?
The Merseyside club have secured two consecutive victories , featuring a sizzling attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are heading towards an abysmal top-flight campaigns ever.
For managers who held onto a few of your AFCON wildcards , and possess the cash to reinvest following the injury to the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool options should be the main consideration.
The ideal squad is chosen using present FPL costs to comply with a £100m spending limit, as if activating a one-week wildcard.
A Look Back at Our Recent Team?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (32 points) , alongside the productive pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike propelled the squad to a handsome total – enhanced by a double-digit cameo from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
This Week's FPL Team of the Week for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya, the Gunners, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's backline had a slight stumble after the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have kept two clean sheets in their past four , boasting 9 to their name with less than half the season played.
Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in just a handful of matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a spectacular effort from Richarlison , plus a surprise header from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).
It's a triple selection on the Gunners' defence.
As well as being the best defensive unit in FPL, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their fixtures, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have failed to score in their last two games.
The South Coast club have only managed 9 goals from eight fixtures away from home.
Timber is a steady choice each gameweek , possessing greater attacking upside since returning to right-back.
Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, which included two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love six Anfield players this week if allowed.
Wolves drew another blank for the 10th time this season during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.
The Midlands side have scored just nine goals all season, with only a couple away from home. That makes this as safe a clean sheet opportunity possible.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Even with Leeds United's better offensive form – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.
It would be a third in a row , with the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as the best low-cost defender option. Managers can start him regularly across many fixtures, due to his potential for 'defcon' returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount should play a key role for Manchester United in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.
Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team registered the greatest expected goals (xG) statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.
They face a Newcastle United team that has been poor in away matches – with just one win from seven attempts.
The former Chelsea man may inherit a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, potentially play behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is due a big haul , with a home match against Wolves presenting a perfect scenario for it.
Wirtz has posted points in three out of four recent games – two assists and one 'defcon' display.
During that spell he has created 10 chances, the highest of any his teammates, and his xG stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
Boasting 30 points in two games, Rogers' hot streak is impossible to ignore.
He's Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to scoring a goal from minimal space in the box.
A fixture to Chelsea may appear a tough assignment, but Villa have won there in two of the last three campaigns.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Due to his fixture, a lack of competition for a starting spot, and having bagged five goals in three games, the French striker receives the captain's armband for this round.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
One cannot consider omitting Haaland, however with him having a more difficult away game in this round, I'm willing to bet against him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m
