Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The FPL Squad for the Round

The quantity of The Reds assets can you accommodate inside your team for this round?

The Merseyside club have secured back-to-back wins , with a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike going into a fixture with a struggling Wolves side currently tracking for a historically poor Premier League campaigns on record.

If you've held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the cash to spend by replacing the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, consequently assets from Anfield players ought to be the main consideration.

This ideal squad is chosen according to latest Fantasy Premier League prices to fit within a 100 million pound cap, as if activating a Free Hit chip.

How Did Our Recent Team?

Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) and the hot pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike propelled the selection to a handsome total – enhanced by a double-digit cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.

The FPL Selection for Gameweek 18

Keeper and Defenders

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

The North London side's backline experienced a minor wobble following the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have kept two shutouts recently , boasting nine so far with less than half the season completed.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in all but three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a late header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

This week features a triple selection on the Arsenal defence.

As well as being the strongest defence in FPL, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their matches, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have failed to score in two consecutive matches.

Brighton have a mere nine strikes from eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender remains a solid option every week and has greater offensive potential operating as the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has collected defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, featuring two clean sheets.

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

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

Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the tenth occasion this season in a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have a paltry 9 goals this campaign, with only two away from home. It represents a very secure shutout opportunity imaginable.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.

This would secure their third consecutive , with Alderete becoming the best low-cost defender option. Managers can select him confidently in most games, given his regular 'defcon' returns.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder should play a bigger responsibility for Manchester United in the next few games, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.

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

Their opponents are a Newcastle United side who have been poor on the road – managing a single victory in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man could well take over a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, and could play behind the striker.

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

Wirtz is poised for a major point return and a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves presenting an ideal opportunity for it.

Wirtz has delivered returns in three out of his last four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution performance.

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

Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).

After recording 30 points in two games, the midfielder's hot streak is impossible to ignore.

He's Aston Villa's talisman, who can producing a goal from half a yard of room inside the area.

An away trip to Stamford Bridge may appear a challenging proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground on two occasions in the last three campaigns.

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 over three matches, Ekitike gets the captain's armband for this round.

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

One cannot consider benching the Norwegian goal machine, although with him having a tricky away game this week, the choice is to look elsewhere for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m