Skipper Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Backline – The FPL Squad for the Round

How many The Reds selections are you able to squeeze in your team for this round?

Jurgen Klopp's side are coming off two consecutive victories , with a red-hot forward in their French frontman going into a encounter with a struggling Wolves side that are tracking for an abysmal top-flight campaigns in history.

For managers who kept a few of your AFCON free transfers , and possess the cash to spend after losing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool players should be your top priority.

The ideal squad is chosen using current Fantasy Premier League valuations to fit within a £100m budget, as if you were playing a Free Hit.

What Was the Performance of Our Recent Selection?

Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) and the hot pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike led the team to a handsome total – supplemented by a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.

This Week's FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Keeper & Defence

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

The North London side's defence had a minor wobble following an injury to Gabriel, but they have kept two clean sheets recently , boasting 9 to their name before half the season played.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in just a handful of fixtures at the Emirates this season. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Richarlison , plus a surprise header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

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

They are the top defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has drawn a blank in their past two matches.

The South Coast club have scored just 9 strikes across eight fixtures away from home.

Timber continues to be a solid choice each gameweek and has greater offensive potential operating as the full-back role.

Hincapie has registered 'defcon' points over his last four appearances, which included two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love six Anfield assets this week if allowed.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score once again so far in Saturday's 2-0 home loss to the Bees.

The Midlands side have scored just nine strikes in total, including two away from home. This is a very secure clean sheet bet available.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.

This would secure a third in a row , with Alderete is cementing himself as a prime value defender option. Managers can select him confidently across many fixtures, given his consistent defensive contribution points.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder should play a bigger responsibility for Old Trafford in the next few games, due to Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.

In their last three matches, United registered the greatest xG in the league by over three goals – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle side who have not excelled on the road – managing one win in seven.

Mount could well take over many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, and could operate behind the striker.

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

Wirtz is due a significant score and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves being the prime time for it.

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

During that spell he's made 10 chances, the highest among all his teammates, and his expected goals is 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points in two games, the midfielder's form demands attention.

He's Aston Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to creating a goal from half a yard of room inside the area.

A fixture to Chelsea could be viewed as a challenging proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground in two of the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for a starting spot, and having bagged a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker gets the captain's armband this week.

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

There's no benching Haaland, but with him having a more difficult fixture on the road this week, we are opting to pass over him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m

Juan Kelley
Juan Kelley

Mikael Voss is a seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casino reviews and slot game strategy development.