Skipper Hugo Ekitike along with a Triple Arsenal Defence – The FPL Team of the Week

What number of The Reds assets can you squeeze into your lineup this week?

Jurgen Klopp's side are coming off a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot striker in their French frontman preparing for a fixture with a struggling Wolves side that are on course for a historically poor Premier League campaigns on record.

For managers who held onto a portion of your AFCON wildcards , and possess the funds to spend following the injury to the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, in that case assets from Anfield picks must be the main consideration.

The ideal squad is constructed using current Fantasy Premier League prices to stay under a £100m budget, simulating you were playing a one-week wildcard.

How Did Last Week's Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a huge score) and the productive duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman led the team to a handsome score – supplemented by a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson off the bench.

This Week's FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

Arsenal's defence suffered a brief dip in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, but they have kept two shutouts over their last four matches , with 9 to their name with not even half the season completed.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in just a handful of home games this season. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous strike from Tottenham's forward and a surprise goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

We're opting for a three-pronged from the Arsenal backline.

They are the strongest defence in FPL, with a clean sheet in the majority of their matches, they take on a Brighton side who have drawn a blank in two consecutive games.

The South Coast club have scored just 9 goals in eight away games.

The Dutch defender remains a reliable pick each gameweek and has increased goal threat operating as the full-back role.

Hincapie has collected defensive contribution points over his last four starts, including a pair of shutouts.

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

Managers would love six Liverpool players this week if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time in 17 games in Saturday's two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have only managed 9 strikes in total, with only a couple on the road. That makes this one of the safest clean sheet opportunity possible.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – highlighted by their striker – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.

This would secure their third in a row , with the Paraguayan defender establishing himself as an outstanding low-cost defender option. Managers can select him regularly across many fixtures, due to his regular defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a significant responsibility at Manchester United in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team boast the best xG statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle team that has struggled away from home – managing a single victory from seven attempts.

Mount is likely to take over many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, and might operate behind the striker.

Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolves (H).

Wirtz is on the verge of a major point return , with a home match against Wolves presenting a perfect time for it.

He has registered attacking returns across his past four games – two assists and one defensive contribution display.

In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, while his expected goals totals 0.88.

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

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

He is Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to scoring a goal from the smallest room in the box.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge might seem a tough proposition, but Villa have won at that ground on two occasions in the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no competition for his place, and having scored a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker receives the captaincy for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to benching the Norwegian goal machine, but because he has a tougher fixture on the road this week, we are opting to pass over him with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m

Abigail Rose
Abigail Rose

A seasoned strategist and writer passionate about sharing winning techniques and motivational advice to help readers succeed.

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