Captain Hugo Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round
The quantity of The Reds players are you able to squeeze into your lineup for this round?
The Merseyside club have notched a pair of triumphs and boast a red-hot striker in their French frontman going into a encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers currently on course for one of the worst top-flight campaigns ever.
For managers who retained a portion of your AFCON transfers , and possess the funds to upgrade by replacing the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, in that case assets from Anfield players ought to be the main consideration.
This ideal squad is assembled according to current FPL costs to stay under a £100m budget, as if activating a Free Hit.
What Was the Performance of The Previous Team?
Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) , alongside the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike led the selection to a solid score – supplemented by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender off the bench.
The Fantasy Premier League Selection for Matchday 18
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya, the Gunners, keeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
Arsenal's defence suffered a brief dip in the wake of the absence of their Brazilian defender, yet they've recorded two shutouts over their last four matches and have 9 already with not even the campaign's midpoint completed.
The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in just a handful of matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a wondrous effort from Richarlison , plus a late goal from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).
We're opting for a triple selection on the Gunners' defence.
Not only are they the top defensive unit statistically, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they face a Brighton side who have failed to score in their past two outings.
Brighton have only managed 9 strikes in eight away games.
Timber continues to be a reliable pick each gameweek and has more attacking upside since returning to the full-back role.
Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points over his last four starts, which included a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Managers would love six Liverpool players this week if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank once again this season in a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to Brentford.
They have only managed 9 strikes this campaign, including a couple away from home. That makes this as safe a shutout prospect available.
Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Even with Leeds United's better goalscoring upturn – including the performances of their striker – the pick is a Stadium of Light clean sheet at home.
This would secure their third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender becoming the best low-cost defensive pick. You can start him with assurance in most games, given his consistent defensive contribution points.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
The English midfielder is expected to take on a key role for Manchester United in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.
In their last three matches, United have generated the best expected goals (xG) statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds United's 5.68.
They welcome a Newcastle United team that has been poor away from home – with just one win from seven attempts.
The former Chelsea man could well inherit many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, potentially play in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, the Reds, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is poised for a big haul and a fixture at Anfield against Wolves presenting the prime time for that to happen.
Wirtz has delivered returns across his past four games – two assists plus a 'defcon' display.
During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the highest among all Liverpool, while his xG totals 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points in two games, the midfielder's form demands attention.
He's Aston Villa's talisman, with an ability to scoring a strike with half a yard of room in the box.
An away trip to Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a tough proposition, the Birmingham club have won at that ground twice during recent years.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Given his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having notched a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker gets the captain's armband for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
There's no omitting the Norwegian goal machine, but with him having a tricky away game this week, the choice is to pass over him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m