As we head into the next round of Premier League matches, it's time to reassess our Fantasy Premier League (FPL) teams and make some crucial decisions. With Liverpool on a hot streak, having won their last two games, and boasting a red-hot striker in Hugo Ekitike, it's no surprise that they dominate our team of the week. The Reds are set to take on a struggling Wolves side, who are on course for the worst Premier League season ever, making them an attractive prospect for FPL managers.
If you've been holding onto some of your free Africa Cup of Nations transfers and have the budget to replace the injured Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool players should be your top priority. Our team of the week is selected based on current FPL prices, with a budget of £100m, as if we were playing a Free Hit. This allows us to create a dream team without any financial constraints, giving us a unique insight into the best possible lineup for the week.
Looking back at last week's team, we saw some impressive performances, with Erling Haaland leading the charge with 32 points. Antoine Semenyo and Hugo Ekitike also impressed, with 10 points each, while Antonee Robinson chipped in with a bonus 10-pointer from the bench. Our team racked up a respectable 82 points, and we're hoping to build on that success this week.
Our team of the week is a balanced lineup, with a mix of defensive solidity and attacking flair. In goal, we have David Raya (£6m) of Arsenal, who face a Brighton side that has failed to score in their last two outings. The Gunners have been impressive at home, with clean sheets in all but three games, and we're backing them to continue that form.
In defence, we have a triple-up of Arsenal players, with Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m) joining Raya. Timber is a solid choice every week, with attacking upside now that he's back at right-back, while Hincapie has earned defensive contribution points in his last four starts, including two clean sheets. We're also backing Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m) of Liverpool, who face a Wolves side that has failed to score in 10 of their last 17 games.
Rounding out our defence is Omar Alderete (£4m) of Sunderland, who face a Leeds side that has seen a recent upturn in form. However, we're backing the Black Cats to secure their third consecutive clean sheet at home, with Alderete cementing himself as the best budget defensive pick.
In midfield, we have Mason Mount (£5.9m) of Manchester United, who should play a big role in the next few games with Bruno Fernandes injured. United have the highest expected goals (xG) in the league over the last three games, and Mount is likely to pick up a lot of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, especially on set-pieces.
We're also backing Florian Wirtz (£8.1m) of Liverpool, who is on the verge of a haul and has a prime opportunity to deliver against Wolves. Wirtz has returns in three of his last four games and has created 10 chances in that time, the most of any Liverpool player. Morgan Rogers (£7.2m) of Aston Villa completes our midfield trio, with 30 points in his last two games, and we're backing him to continue his impressive form against Chelsea.
In our frontline, we have Hugo Ekitike (£8.9m) of Liverpool as our captain, who faces an abysmal Wolves side with no competition for a starting spot. Ekitike has been in red-hot form, and we're backing him to continue his goal-scoring streak against a side that has struggled to defend all season.
With Liverpool's dominant form and Wolves' struggles, it's a no-brainer to load up on Reds players this week. Our team of the week is a balanced lineup, with a mix of defensive solidity and attacking flair, and we're confident that it can bring home the points.
Here's a summary of our team of the week:
Don't forget to tune in to our FPL special Q&A with expert Pras, live on the BBC Sport website on 26 December at 16:30 GMT, for more tips and advice on how to succeed in the world of FPL.
As we head into the next round of matches, it's time to make some tough decisions and shape our teams for success. With our team of the week as a guide, we're confident that you can make the right choices and climb the FPL rankings. Good luck, and let the games begin!
Original: BBC Sport
Image: BBC Sport
Written by Npsports
