Skipper Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week

How many Liverpool selections can you accommodate inside your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?

The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs and boast a sizzling striker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are heading towards one of the worst top-flight campaigns in history.

If you've retained some of your AFCON transfers and have the funds to upgrade following the injury to the injured Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool options must be your top priority.

The weekly selection is assembled according to present FPL prices to comply with a £100m cap, simulating activating a Free Hit.

How Did Our Recent Squad?

Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) and the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a handsome total – with a bonus a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

This Week's FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

Arsenal's backline suffered a minor wobble following the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have recorded two clean sheets recently , boasting 9 already with less than half the season gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular effort from Richarlison , plus a surprise goal from Wolves' attacker.

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

It's a triple-up on the Gunners' defence.

They are the top defensive unit in FPL, recording shutouts in more than half of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has failed to score in their past two outings.

Brighton have scored just nine goals across eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender is a solid option every week , possessing increased attacking upside operating as right-back.

The Ecuadorian has registered 'defcon' points over his last four appearances, which included two clean sheets.

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

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

Wolves drew another blank for the 10th time in 17 games during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have only managed nine goals in total, with only two on the road. It represents a very secure clean sheet bet imaginable.

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

Regardless of Leeds United's improved goalscoring upturn – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light clean sheet at home.

This would secure their third in a row , with Alderete establishing himself as a prime budget defensive pick. You can field him with assurance across many fixtures, given his potential for defensive contribution points.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder should play a bigger role for Old Trafford in the next few games, with Bruno Fernandes out injured.

In their last three matches, United have generated the best xG across the Premier League by over three goals – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds' 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle United team that has been poor in away matches – with just one win in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man is likely to assume a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, notably on set-pieces, and could play behind the striker.

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

Wirtz is due a major point return , with a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves being an ideal scenario for it.

Wirtz has registered attacking returns in three of his past four fixtures – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.

During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, while his expected goals totals 0.88.

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

With 30 points in two games, the midfielder's form demands attention.

He's Villa's key attacker, with an ability to creating a strike from the smallest room in the box.

A fixture at Chelsea might seem a difficult assignment, but Villa have won at that ground on two occasions in the last three campaigns.

Forwards

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

Because of his fixture, having no rivalry for a starting spot, coupled with scored five goals in three games, the French striker gets the captain's armband this week.

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

One cannot consider omitting Haaland, although with him having a tricky away game in this round, the choice is to pass over him with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m

Erin Mcgrath
Erin Mcgrath

A tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and startup consulting across Europe.