Captain Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
The quantity of Liverpool players might you accommodate inside your team this week?
Jurgen Klopp's side have secured two consecutive victories and boast a red-hot striker in their French frontman going into a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers that are on course for an abysmal top-flight campaigns ever.
For managers who kept a few of your AFCON wildcards , and possess the funds to reinvest by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently assets from Anfield players ought to be the primary focus.
This weekly selection is chosen according to current Fantasy Premier League costs to stay under a £100m budget, mirroring activating a Free Hit chip.
What Was the Performance of Our Recent Team?
Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , combined with the in-form pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike led the squad to a respectable total – enhanced by a double-digit contribution from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.
This Week's Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18
Keeper & Defenders
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
The North London side's backline had a brief dip following the absence of Gabriel, but they have recorded two clean sheets over their last four matches , with 9 to their name before half the season played.
Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in all but three home games campaign. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
We're opting for a three-pronged from the Arsenal backline.
As well as being the top defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they take on a Brighton side that has failed to score in two consecutive matches.
Brighton have only managed nine goals in eight fixtures away from home.
Timber continues to be a reliable pick each gameweek , possessing greater attacking upside since returning to the full-back role.
Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, which included two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
Managers would love six Liverpool assets this week if possible.
Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the tenth occasion this season in a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.
The Midlands side have only managed nine strikes in total, including a couple on the road. This is one of the safest clean sheet prospect available.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's better offensive form – and the form of their striker – we're selecting a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.
This would secure a third consecutive , with Alderete becoming the best value defensive pick. You can field him with assurance across many fixtures, given his regular 'defcon' points.
Midfield
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount should play a bigger responsibility at Manchester United in the next few games, with their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.
Recently, Erik ten Hag's team registered the best xG across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds' 5.68.
Their opponents are a Newcastle side that has been poor on the road – with just one win in their last seven.
Mount could well assume a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, notably on set-pieces, and could play in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).
The German playmaker is due a major point return , with a home match versus Wolves presenting a perfect scenario for it.
Wirtz has delivered returns across his last four fixtures – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.
During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, a team-high among all Liverpool, and his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's form cannot be overlooked.
He is Villa's key attacker, with an ability to producing a strike with the smallest space in the box.
A fixture at Stamford Bridge might seem a tough proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground twice during recent years.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for his place, and having scored a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike gets the captaincy for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to dropping Haaland, although with him having a more difficult fixture on the road in this round, the choice is to bet against him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m