Captain Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
How many The Reds assets might you fit into your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?
Jurgen Klopp's side have secured a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a fixture with a struggling Wolves side currently heading towards an abysmal top-flight campaigns ever.
Should you have retained a few of your AFCON free transfers , with the cash to reinvest following the injury to the injured Bruno Fernandes, in that case assets from Anfield players must be the primary focus.
The ideal squad is chosen based on current FPL valuations to fit within a 100 million pound budget, simulating you were playing a Free Hit.
What Was the Performance of Our Recent Squad?
Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , combined with the hot duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a handsome 82 points – enhanced by a double-digit cameo from Fulham's defender as a substitute.
Our FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).
Arsenal's backline had a minor wobble following an injury to Gabriel, yet they've secured two shutouts over their last four matches , boasting 9 already with not even half the season gone.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in just a handful of matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range effort from Richarlison , plus a late header from Tolu Arokodare.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
This week features a three-pronged from the Arsenal backline.
They are the strongest defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has failed to score in their past two outings.
The South Coast club have a mere nine strikes from eight fixtures away from home.
Timber is a steady pick each gameweek and has greater attacking upside since returning to the full-back role.
The Ecuadorian has collected defensive contribution points over his last four starts, featuring two clean sheets.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love half a dozen Liverpool assets this week if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the 10th time so far during Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Brentford.
They have scored just 9 goals all season, with only two on the road. It represents as safe a shutout opportunity possible.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).
Regardless of Leeds United's recent offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Sunderland clean sheet at home.
This would secure their third in a row and the Paraguayan defender becoming the best low-cost defensive pick. Managers can field him confidently in most games, given his potential for 'defcon' returns.
Midfield
Mason Mount, United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount will likely assume a bigger responsibility at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, with their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.
Recently, Erik ten Hag's team registered the highest xG statistically by over three goals – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle United team that has been poor away from home – with just a single victory in their last seven.
The former Chelsea man may take over many of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially on set-pieces, potentially feature behind the striker.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is on the verge of a major point return , with a home match against Wolves representing the prime time for it.
He has registered attacking returns in three out of his past four games – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' performance.
Over that time he has created 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, and his expected goals totals 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A).
After recording 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's form is impossible to ignore.
He's Aston Villa's key attacker, with an ability to scoring a goal from half a yard of room inside the area.
An away trip to Stamford Bridge may appear a difficult assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there in two of the last three campaigns.
Strikers
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), the Reds, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, and having scored a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike gets the captain's armband this week.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to omitting the Norwegian goal machine, however because he has a tricky away game this week, I'm willing to pass over him for the armband.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m