Captain Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
The quantity of The Reds players might you squeeze inside your squad in the upcoming gameweek?
The Merseyside club are coming off two consecutive victories , featuring a sizzling attacker in their French frontman ahead of a clash with a struggling Wolves side who are on course for one of the worst top-flight seasons on record.
For managers who kept some of your AFCON transfers , with the budget to reinvest after losing the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool picks should be your top priority.
This ideal squad is assembled according to current Fantasy Premier League costs to fit within a 100 million pound budget, as if activating a one-week wildcard.
A Look Back at Our Recent Selection?
Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , alongside the productive pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman led the team to a handsome total – enhanced by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
Our FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Keeper & Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's backline experienced a minor wobble in the wake of the absence of Gabriel, but they have secured two shutouts over their last four matches and have nine already with not even the campaign's midpoint completed.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three matches at home campaign. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a wondrous effort from Richarlison , plus a surprise goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).
We're opting for a three-pronged on the Gunners' backline.
They are the best defence statistically, with a clean sheet in more than half of their fixtures, they face a Brighton team that has drawn a blank in their past two outings.
The South Coast club have scored just nine goals in eight fixtures away from home.
Timber remains a steady choice each gameweek , with greater goal threat operating as right-back.
The Ecuadorian has registered defensive contribution points in his past four starts, featuring two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Managers would love six Liverpool assets this week if the rules permitted.
Wolves were shut out for the tenth occasion this season in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.
They have a paltry 9 strikes in total, including two on the road. That makes this as safe a shutout prospect possible.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's improved goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – the pick is a Sunderland clean sheet at home.
This would secure a third in a row and the Paraguayan defender becoming the best budget defensive pick. Managers can field him confidently across many fixtures, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution returns.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount should play a key role for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
Recently, United have generated the best xG in the league by over three goals – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle United team who have struggled on the road – managing one win in their last seven.
The former Chelsea man is likely to take over a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, and could operate in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
Wirtz is on the verge of a big haul , with a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves being the prime time for that to happen.
Wirtz has registered attacking returns in three out of four recent games – two assists and one 'defcon' display.
Over that time he's made 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, and his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
Boasting 30 points in two games, the midfielder's form demands attention.
He is Aston Villa's main goal threat, capable of creating a strike with half a yard of room inside the area.
An away trip to Chelsea might seem a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have won at that ground in two of recent years.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Due to his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, coupled with scored five goals in three games, the French striker earns the double-points role for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to dropping the Norwegian goal machine, but with him having a tougher away game in this round, we are opting to look elsewhere for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m