Skipper Hugo Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Backline – The FPL Squad for the Round
The quantity of The Reds players might you accommodate in your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?
The Merseyside club have secured back-to-back wins , featuring a sizzling forward in Hugo Ekitike going into a fixture with a struggling Wolves side currently on course for an abysmal top-flight seasons ever.
For managers who held onto a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards , and possess the cash to reinvest following the injury to the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool picks should be the primary focus.
This ideal squad is constructed based on latest Fantasy Premier League costs to comply with a £100m spending limit, simulating you were playing a Free Hit chip.
A Look Back at Last Week's Squad?
Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , alongside the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman propelled the selection to a solid score – enhanced by a double-digit cameo from Antonee Robinson off the bench.
The FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Keeper and Defenders
David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
Arsenal's defence experienced a minor wobble in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've recorded two shutouts recently , with nine to their name with less than half the season gone.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in all but three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Richarlison and a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
This week features a triple-up on the Arsenal backline.
Not only are they the top defence statistically, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they face a Brighton side who have drawn a blank in two consecutive outings.
The South Coast club have a mere nine goals across eight away games.
Timber continues to be a solid choice every week and has increased goal threat operating as right-back.
The Ecuadorian has collected defensive contribution points over his last four starts, which included a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Managers would love six Liverpool assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the tenth occasion in 17 games during a recent two-nil home loss to the Bees.
They have only managed 9 goals all season, including a couple on the road. This is one of the safest shutout bet imaginable.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Even with the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – highlighted by their striker – the pick is a Stadium of Light shutout at home.
That would mark their third in a row , with Alderete is cementing himself as the best value defender option. You can field him with assurance across many fixtures, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount is expected to take on a bigger part at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
Recently, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the greatest xG in the league by over three goals – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle side who have struggled in away matches – with just one win from seven attempts.
Mount may assume many of the injured star's playmaking duties, notably from dead-ball situations, potentially play behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
Wirtz is poised for a big haul and a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves being the prime time for it.
He has posted points in three out of his last four fixtures – two assists and one defensive contribution display.
In that period he has created 10 chances, a team-high of any his teammates, while his xG is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
With 30 points over two matches, Rogers' current form is impossible to ignore.
He's Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to creating a strike with half a yard of room inside the area.
A fixture to Chelsea may appear a challenging proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious there on two occasions in the past three seasons.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Because of his fixture, having no rivalry for a starting spot, coupled with notched a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker receives the captain's armband this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Nottingham Forest (A).
One cannot consider dropping the Norwegian goal machine, 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