Captain Ekitike along with a Triple Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round

What number of The Reds assets might you fit inside your squad for this round?

Jurgen Klopp's side have notched back-to-back wins , featuring a sizzling forward in their French frontman ahead of a fixture with Wolves currently heading towards an abysmal top-flight seasons on record.

Should you have retained a few of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , with the funds to reinvest by replacing the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool picks must be the primary focus.

The ideal squad is chosen according to current Fantasy Premier League costs to comply with a £100m budget, simulating activating a one-week wildcard.

How Did The Previous Selection?

Skipper Erling Haaland (a massive haul) and the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike led the team to a respectable total – supplemented by a 10-point cameo from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

The FPL Selection for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).

Arsenal's backline had a brief dip following an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've secured two clean sheets in their past four , boasting 9 so far before half the season played.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in only three matches at home campaign. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a wondrous strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a three-pronged from the Gunners' backline.

As well as being the strongest defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in the majority of their matches, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has drawn a blank in two consecutive outings.

Brighton have a mere 9 goals in eight matches on the road.

Timber is a reliable option each gameweek and has more offensive potential now he is the full-back role.

Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points over his last four starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.

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

One could select six Anfield players this week if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the tenth occasion so far in Saturday's two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have scored just 9 goals this campaign, including two away from home. It represents as safe a clean sheet opportunity possible.

Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds (H).

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's recent goalscoring upturn – highlighted by their striker – the pick is a Sunderland shutout on home soil.

That would mark a third in a row and the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as a prime budget defender option. Managers can field him with assurance across many fixtures, given his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

Mount will likely assume a key responsibility at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.

In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team boast the greatest xG statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They face a Newcastle United side who have not excelled in away matches – with just a single victory in seven.

Mount could well assume many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, notably from dead-ball situations, and could feature behind the striker.

Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).

Wirtz is on the verge of a significant score and a home match against the struggling Wolves being a perfect time for that to happen.

He has registered attacking returns across his past four games – a pair of assists and one 'defcon' performance.

In that period he's made 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, and his xG totals 0.88.

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

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

He's Aston Villa's key attacker, with an ability to creating a goal from the smallest space inside the area.

An away trip to Chelsea could be viewed as a difficult proposition, but Villa have won there in two of recent years.

Strikers

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no competition for his place, and having bagged five goals in three games, Ekitike receives the captaincy this week.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting Haaland, although with him having a more difficult fixture on the road this week, I'm willing to look elsewhere with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m

Ryan Melendez
Ryan Melendez

Mikael is a seasoned casino gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine mechanics and online gambling trends.