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

The quantity of The Reds players can you fit into your squad this week?

The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot striker in Hugo Ekitike going into a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers currently heading towards an abysmal Premier League campaigns ever.

Should you have held onto a few of your AFCON transfers and have the cash to upgrade after losing the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool picks ought to be your top priority.

This team of the week is constructed according to present FPL prices to stay under a 100 million pound spending limit, as if you were playing a Free Hit.

What Was the Performance of Our Recent Selection?

Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) , combined with the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman guided the selection to a respectable total – supplemented by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender off the bench.

The Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

The North London side's defence had a slight stumble after an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've kept two shutouts recently and have 9 already with less than half the season completed.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in only three fixtures at the Emirates this season. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular strike from Richarlison , plus a surprise header from Wolves' attacker.

Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs Brighton (H).

It's a triple selection on the Gunners' defence.

Not only are they the strongest defensive unit statistically, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they face a Brighton team that has not found the net in two consecutive games.

Brighton have only managed 9 strikes from eight matches on the road.

The Dutch defender continues to be a solid pick every week and has more goal threat operating as right-back.

Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points over his last four starts, including two clean sheets.

Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).

I'd pick six Anfield assets for this fixture if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the tenth occasion in 17 games during a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

The Midlands side have only managed 9 strikes in total, with only two away from home. This is a very secure clean sheet bet possible.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland shutout at home.

This would secure a third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender establishing himself as a prime low-cost defender option. Managers can select him regularly across many fixtures, thanks to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder should play a bigger role at Manchester United in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro out injured.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the highest expected goals (xG) in the league by over three goals – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.

They face a Newcastle United side that has struggled away from home – managing one win from seven attempts.

The former Chelsea man could well assume a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, potentially feature in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is poised for a major point return , with a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves being the prime opportunity for that to happen.

He has registered attacking returns in three of his past four games – two assists and one 'defcon' performance.

During that spell he has created 10 chances, the highest of any his teammates, and his xG totals 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points in two games, the midfielder's hot streak cannot be overlooked.

He is Aston Villa's key attacker, who can producing a strike from the smallest room inside the area.

An away trip at Chelsea may appear a challenging proposition, the Birmingham club have won at that ground in two of recent years.

Forwards

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

Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, and having bagged a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker receives the double-points role for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to benching Haaland, but because he has a more difficult fixture on the road in this round, the choice is to pass over him with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m

Benjamin Porter
Benjamin Porter

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing online casinos and developing winning strategies.