Captain Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Gunners Backline – The FPL Squad for the Round
What number of The Reds assets are you able to fit inside your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?
The Merseyside club are coming off two consecutive victories , featuring a in-form striker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a fixture with a struggling Wolves side currently tracking for a historically poor Premier League campaigns in history.
If you've held onto a few of your AFCON wildcards , with the funds to spend after losing the injured Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool players should be your top priority.
This ideal squad is chosen using present Fantasy Premier League costs to fit within a 100 million pound spending limit, mirroring you were playing a one-week wildcard.
A Look Back at Our Recent Squad?
Skipper Erling Haaland (32 points) , alongside the hot duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike led the squad to a handsome 82 points – supplemented by a double-digit cameo from Antonee Robinson off the bench.
This Week's Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper and Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's backline had a minor wobble in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, but they have recorded two shutouts recently and have nine already with less than half the season completed.
Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in only three home games this season. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a late goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).
We're opting for a three-pronged on the Arsenal backline.
Not only are they the best defence statistically, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they host a Brighton team who have not found the net in their last two matches.
The South Coast club have scored just nine goals across eight away games.
The Dutch defender is a reliable option each gameweek , with more attacking upside operating as the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian has collected defensive contribution points in his past four appearances, including two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
One could select six Liverpool assets for this fixture if possible.
Gary O'Neil's team failed to score once again this season in a recent two-nil home loss to Brentford.
The Midlands side have scored just 9 goals all season, including a couple away from home. It represents as safe a clean sheet opportunity imaginable.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Even with the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – highlighted by their striker – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet at home.
This would secure a third in a row , with the Paraguayan defender becoming an outstanding budget defender option. Managers can select him regularly in most games, thanks to his regular 'defcon' points.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder is expected to take on a key responsibility at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
In their last three matches, United registered the best xG statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 against the next best Leeds' 5.68.
They welcome a Newcastle side who have not excelled on the road – with just one win in their last seven.
Mount is likely to assume many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, particularly on set-pieces, and could operate as an attacking midfielder.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
Wirtz is due a major point return , with a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves representing a perfect time for it.
Wirtz has posted points in three of his past four fixtures – two assists plus a defensive contribution performance.
Over that time his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the highest among all his teammates, and his expected goals stands at 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
Boasting 30 points over two matches, Rogers' form is impossible to ignore.
He is Aston Villa's key attacker, who can producing a strike from half a yard of room inside the area.
A fixture to Chelsea might seem a challenging proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious there in two of recent years.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Given his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having notched five goals over three matches, Ekitike receives the captaincy for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to benching the Norwegian goal machine, 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 United, £7.6m