Skipper Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round

How many Liverpool selections might you accommodate in your team this week?

The Merseyside club have notched a pair of triumphs , featuring a sizzling attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers that are on course for a historically poor top-flight campaigns ever.

Should you have retained a few of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , and possess the funds to spend by replacing the injured Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool players ought to be the primary focus.

This ideal squad is assembled according to latest FPL costs to stay under a 100 million pound spending limit, as if you were playing a Free Hit chip.

A Look Back at The Previous Selection?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , alongside the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman propelled the selection to a respectable 82 points – supplemented by a 10-point cameo from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

Our FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 18

Keeper and Defenders

David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).

Arsenal's backline suffered a brief dip in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, however, they've secured two shutouts in their past four , boasting 9 so far with not even half the season played.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a long-range effort from Richarlison and a surprise goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

We're opting for a triple-up on the Arsenal defence.

As well as being the top defence in the game, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they host a Brighton side that has drawn a blank in their last two matches.

Brighton have a mere 9 strikes from eight fixtures away from home.

Timber remains a solid choice each gameweek and has greater goal threat now he is right-back.

Hincapie has collected defensive contribution points over his last four appearances, which included two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love half a dozen Anfield players this week if the rules permitted.

Wolves drew another blank once again this season during a recent two-nil home loss to the Bees.

They have a paltry nine goals this campaign, with only a couple on the road. That makes this as safe a clean sheet bet imaginable.

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

Regardless of Leeds United's recent goalscoring upturn – highlighted by their striker – we're selecting a Sunderland shutout at home.

That would mark a third consecutive and Alderete establishing himself as a prime value defender option. Managers can select him regularly in most games, given his consistent 'defcon' returns.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder is expected to take on a key role at Old Trafford in the next few games, due to Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.

Over the past three games, United boast the greatest expected goals (xG) in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle United team who have struggled away from home – managing a single victory in their last seven.

Mount could well take over many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, especially on set-pieces, potentially feature in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is poised for a major point return and a fixture at Anfield against Wolves representing a perfect opportunity for that to happen.

Wirtz has posted points across his past four games – two assists plus a defensive contribution performance.

In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the highest among all his teammates, while his expected goals stands at 0.88.

Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).

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

He's Aston Villa's talisman, who can producing a goal with the smallest space in the box.

An away trip to Stamford Bridge might seem a challenging proposition, but Villa have won at that ground on two occasions in recent years.

Forwards

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

Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no competition for his place, coupled with scored a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker earns the captaincy for this round.

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

One cannot consider dropping the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tougher away game this week, the choice is to pass over him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m

Daniel Carter
Daniel Carter

A tech strategist and digital innovation consultant with over a decade of experience in transforming businesses through cutting-edge solutions.