Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Triple Gunners Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
The quantity of Liverpool assets might you accommodate inside your squad this week?
The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs , with a in-form striker in their French frontman ahead of a clash with a struggling Wolves side who are tracking for one of the worst top-flight seasons ever.
If you've held onto a portion of your AFCON wildcards , and possess the budget to spend following the injury to the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, then assets from Anfield options ought to be the primary focus.
This ideal squad is chosen using current Fantasy Premier League valuations to comply with a £100m spending limit, as if using a Free Hit chip.
What Was the Performance of Our Recent Squad?
Skipper Erling Haaland (32 points) , combined with the hot pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman led the team to a respectable score – supplemented by a 10-point cameo from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.
Our FPL Selection for Gameweek 18
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
Arsenal's defence suffered a brief dip after the absence of their Brazilian defender, yet they've recorded two clean sheets over their last four matches and have nine so far with less than the campaign's midpoint gone.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in only three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous strike from Richarlison , plus a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs Brighton (H).
This week features a triple selection on the Arsenal backline.
As well as being the strongest defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they host a Brighton team that has not found the net in their past two outings.
The South Coast club have a mere nine strikes from eight matches on the road.
The Dutch defender remains a reliable pick every week , possessing more goal threat since returning to the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian 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).
One could select six Liverpool assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the tenth occasion this season in Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Brentford.
They have a paltry nine strikes this campaign, including two away from home. This is as safe a shutout prospect imaginable.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's improved goalscoring upturn – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland shutout at home.
This would secure a third consecutive and Alderete becoming an outstanding value defender option. Managers can field him regularly in most games, given his regular 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H).
The English midfielder is expected to take on a key responsibility at Manchester United in the next few games, with their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.
In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team boast the highest expected goals (xG) statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle United side that has struggled in away matches – with just one win in their last seven.
The former Chelsea man could well assume a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, potentially feature in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
The German playmaker is on the verge of a major point return , with a home match versus the struggling Wolves presenting an ideal time for that to happen.
Wirtz has posted points in three out of his past four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' performance.
In that period he has created 10 chances, the highest of any his teammates, and his xG totals 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' form cannot be overlooked.
He's Aston Villa's talisman, with an ability to creating a strike from minimal space in the box.
A fixture at Chelsea might seem a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have won there on two occasions in recent years.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having scored a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker receives the captain's armband for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
One cannot consider benching Haaland, but with him having a more difficult fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to bet against him for the armband.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m