Captain Ekitike and a Triple Gunners Defence – The FPL Squad for the Round

What number of Liverpool selections might you accommodate in your lineup for this round?

The Merseyside club have notched a pair of triumphs , featuring a red-hot striker in their French frontman ahead of a clash with Wolves that are on course for an abysmal top-flight campaigns in history.

If you've retained a few of your AFCON wildcards and have the cash to reinvest after losing the injured Manchester United's playmaker, in that case Liverpool options ought to be the main consideration.

This weekly selection is chosen using current FPL costs to fit within a 100 million pound budget, mirroring activating a one-week wildcard.

How Did Last Week's Selection?

Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) , combined with the in-form pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman propelled the selection to a handsome total – enhanced by a double-digit contribution from Fulham's defender off the bench.

Our Fantasy Premier League Selection for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper & Defenders

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

Arsenal's backline had a minor wobble after the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have recorded two shutouts over their last four matches , with 9 to their name with less than the campaign's midpoint gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. The strikes they conceded were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a late header from Wolves' attacker.

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

We're opting for a triple selection from the Gunners' backline.

As well as being the top defence in the game, recording shutouts in the majority of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have not found the net in their last two matches.

Brighton have only managed nine goals in eight away games.

The Dutch defender continues to be a steady option each gameweek , possessing greater goal threat operating as right-back.

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

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

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

Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the tenth occasion this season in a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

They have only managed nine strikes all season, including two away from home. That makes this as safe a clean sheet bet possible.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – including the performances of their striker – the pick is a Sunderland clean sheet at home.

This would secure a third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender becoming a prime value defensive pick. Managers can start him confidently in most games, due to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder is expected to take on a key part for Old Trafford in the next few games, with Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.

Recently, Erik ten Hag's team boast the greatest xG across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 against the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

They face a Newcastle team that has struggled away from home – managing a single victory from seven attempts.

The former Chelsea man could well inherit many of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, and might feature in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is on the verge of a big haul and a home match versus Wolves being the prime opportunity for it.

Wirtz has delivered returns across four recent fixtures – two assists plus a 'defcon' performance.

In that period he has created 10 chances, a team-high of any his teammates, and his xG is 0.88.

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

With 30 points over two matches, Rogers' hot streak is impossible to ignore.

He's Aston Villa's key attacker, who can scoring a strike with the smallest space inside the area.

An away trip at Chelsea may appear a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground in two of the last three campaigns.

Strikers

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

Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, coupled with scored five goals over three matches, Ekitike earns the captain's armband this week.

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

There's no dropping Haaland, although with him having a more difficult fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to bet against him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m

Leslie Kirby
Leslie Kirby

A passionate mountaineer and landscape photographer who documents high-altitude expeditions and shares insights on sustainable outdoor exploration.