Skipper Ekitike along with a Triple Gunners Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round

What number of Liverpool selections can you fit into your lineup this week?

Jurgen Klopp's side have notched a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot striker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a encounter with Wolves who are heading towards an abysmal top-flight seasons on record.

If you've kept a portion of your AFCON wildcards , with the cash to reinvest by replacing the injured Bruno Fernandes, in that case assets from Anfield players should be the main consideration.

This team of the week is chosen based on present Fantasy Premier League valuations to stay under a 100 million pound budget, simulating using a one-week wildcard.

A Look Back at Last Week's Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) , alongside the hot pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman led the selection to a handsome 82 points – supplemented by a 10-point performance from Fulham's defender off the bench.

Our Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper & Defenders

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

Arsenal's defence suffered a brief dip in the wake of the absence of their Brazilian defender, yet they've secured two clean sheets in their past four , boasting 9 to their name with less than the campaign's midpoint played.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in only three matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous strike from Richarlison and a late header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

This week features a triple-up on the Arsenal defence.

As well as being the strongest defensive unit statistically, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they face a Brighton side who have failed to score in their past two games.

The South Coast club have only managed nine goals from eight matches on the road.

Timber continues to be a steady choice each gameweek , possessing increased goal threat operating as the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has earned defensive contribution points over his last four appearances, which included a pair of shutouts.

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

I'd pick half a dozen Liverpool players for this fixture if allowed.

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 all season, with only two away from home. It represents a very secure shutout opportunity imaginable.

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

Even with Leeds United's better goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – we're selecting a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.

That would mark a third consecutive and Alderete is cementing himself as the best budget defensive pick. Managers can field him regularly in most games, due to his potential for 'defcon' returns.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder should play a significant part at Old Trafford in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team registered the greatest expected goals (xG) statistically by over three goals – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle team that has not excelled on the road – managing one win from seven attempts.

The former Chelsea man is likely to take over many of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially on set-pieces, and might operate behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a big haul , with a home match against the struggling Wolves presenting an ideal time for it.

Wirtz has delivered returns across his past four fixtures – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution performance.

During that spell he has created 10 chances, the highest of any Liverpool, and his xG stands at 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 talisman, who can creating a goal with half a yard of room in the box.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge may appear a difficult proposition, but Villa have won at that ground twice during recent years.

Strikers

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

Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for a starting spot, and having scored five goals in three games, the French striker gets the double-points role this week.

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

There's no omitting Haaland, however with him having a more difficult fixture on the road in this round, we are opting to look elsewhere with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m

Patrick Wright
Patrick Wright

Elena Moss is a seasoned online gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in the iGaming industry.