Skipper Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round

The quantity of The Reds assets can you squeeze into your team for this round?

Jurgen Klopp's side have secured back-to-back wins , with a red-hot striker in their French frontman preparing for a clash with Wolves who are heading towards one of the worst Premier League seasons on record.

Should you have retained a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , with the cash to upgrade following the injury to the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, then assets from Anfield options must be the main consideration.

The weekly selection is chosen according to present FPL prices to stay under a £100m budget, simulating you were playing a Free Hit.

How Did Our Recent Selection?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (32 points) , combined with the productive duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a handsome 82 points – with a bonus a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

Our Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Keeper and Defenders

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

The North London side's defence had a brief dip in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, however, they've recorded two clean sheets in their past four , with nine so far before the campaign's midpoint played.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in only three home games this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Richarlison , plus a unexpected goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a triple selection from the Gunners' backline.

As well as being the strongest defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their fixtures, they take on a Brighton team who have failed to score in their past two matches.

Brighton have a mere nine strikes across eight away games.

The Dutch defender continues to be a reliable option every week , possessing increased goal threat now he is the full-back role.

Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, including two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love half a dozen Anfield assets for this fixture if possible.

Wolves drew another blank for the 10th time so far in a recent 2-0 home loss to Brentford.

They have a paltry 9 goals all season, including two away from home. That makes this as safe a shutout bet imaginable.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's better offensive form – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.

That would mark their third consecutive and Alderete establishing himself as an outstanding budget defensive pick. You can select him with assurance in most games, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution points.

Midfield

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

Mount will likely assume a bigger responsibility for Old Trafford in the next few games, due to Bruno Fernandes out injured.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team registered the highest xG in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.

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

The former Chelsea man could well inherit many of the injured star's playmaking duties, notably from dead-ball situations, and could feature as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is due a significant score and a home match against Wolves presenting a perfect scenario for that to happen.

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

In that period he has created 10 chances, the most of any his teammates, and his xG stands at 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points in two games, Rogers' hot streak is impossible to ignore.

He is Aston Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to producing a goal from the smallest room in the box.

An away trip at Chelsea could be viewed as a tough assignment, but Villa have won at that ground on two occasions in recent years.

Forwards

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

Given his fixture, having no rivalry for his place, and having notched a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker earns the double-points role this week.

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

It is unthinkable to dropping the Norwegian goal machine, however because he has a more difficult fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to bet against him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m

Timothy Guerra
Timothy Guerra

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