Captain Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
How many Liverpool assets can you accommodate in your team for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side have notched a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a fixture with a struggling Wolves side currently on course for one of the worst Premier League campaigns on record.
For managers who held onto a portion of your AFCON free transfers , with the cash to spend by replacing the injured Bruno Fernandes, then assets from Anfield options ought to be the main consideration.
The weekly selection is assembled using present FPL prices to fit within a £100m cap, simulating you were playing a Free Hit.
How Did The Previous Selection?
Skipper Manchester City's striker (32 points) , alongside the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman propelled the squad to a handsome 82 points – enhanced by a double-digit performance from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
Our FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya, the Gunners, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's backline suffered a brief dip after an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've kept two shutouts recently , boasting nine so far with not even the campaign's midpoint played.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in just a handful of home games campaign. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
This week features a three-pronged from the Arsenal defence.
They are the best defensive unit in FPL, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have not found the net in two consecutive outings.
Brighton have scored just nine strikes across eight matches on the road.
Timber is a solid choice every week , possessing more goal threat since returning to the full-back role.
Hincapie has collected defensive contribution points in his past four starts, including a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love six Liverpool players for this fixture if the rules permitted.
Wolves failed to score for the 10th time so far during a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
They have scored just nine strikes all season, including two away from home. This is as safe a shutout opportunity possible.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Even with Leeds United's better offensive form – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet at home.
This would secure their third consecutive , with Alderete is cementing himself as the best budget defender option. Managers can select him confidently in most games, thanks to his regular 'defcon' points.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
The English midfielder will likely assume a significant part for Old Trafford in the next few games, following Bruno Fernandes out injured.
Over the past three games, United boast the highest xG across the Premier League by over three goals – 8.78 against second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle United team that has not excelled on the road – managing one win from seven attempts.
Mount could well inherit many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, particularly from dead-ball situations, and could feature as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is poised for a significant score and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves being a perfect time for that to happen.
Wirtz has registered attacking returns in three of his last four games – two assists and one defensive contribution performance.
During that spell he has created 10 chances, the highest among all his teammates, and his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's hot streak demands attention.
He is Villa's key attacker, with an ability to producing a strike from the smallest room inside the area.
An away trip at Stamford Bridge may appear a tough assignment, the Birmingham club have won at that ground on two occasions in the last three campaigns.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Given his fixture, a lack of competition for his place, and having scored five goals in three games, the French striker gets the captaincy this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
There's no benching Haaland, however with him having a tougher away game in this round, I'm willing to bet against him with the captain's role.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m