Captain Ekitike along with a Triple Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week

How many Liverpool players can you squeeze inside your squad in the upcoming gameweek?

The Merseyside club have notched a pair of triumphs and boast a red-hot forward in their French frontman ahead of a clash with a struggling Wolves side who are heading towards an abysmal Premier League seasons on record.

If you've held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the funds to upgrade by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool players should be the primary focus.

The ideal squad is chosen using present FPL costs to fit within a £100m spending limit, mirroring using a Free Hit.

How Did Last Week's Squad?

Captain Erling Haaland (a huge score) , alongside the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike propelled the selection to a respectable total – with a bonus a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender as a substitute.

Our FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Keeper & Defence

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

Arsenal's backline experienced a slight stumble in the wake of the absence of Gabriel, yet they've kept two shutouts in their past four , with nine already with less than half the season gone.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in only three home games this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

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

As well as being the best defensive unit statistically, recording shutouts in the majority of their fixtures, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's side who have not found the net in two consecutive games.

Brighton have scored just nine goals from eight matches on the road.

The Dutch defender is a reliable choice each gameweek , possessing more attacking upside since returning to the full-back role.

Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, including two clean sheets.

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

One could select six Liverpool assets this week if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the tenth occasion this season in Saturday's two-nil home loss to the Bees.

The Midlands side have a paltry 9 strikes this campaign, with only two on the road. That makes this a very secure shutout opportunity possible.

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

Despite Leeds United's improved goalscoring upturn – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Sunderland shutout on home soil.

That would mark their third consecutive and Alderete becoming a prime low-cost defender option. You can start him regularly across many fixtures, thanks to his consistent defensive contribution points.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a key role at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.

In their last three matches, United have generated the greatest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds' 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle United team who have been poor in away matches – with just one win from seven attempts.

The former Chelsea man could well inherit a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, notably on set-pieces, and might play in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is due a big haul , with a home match against Wolves being the prime opportunity for that to happen.

Wirtz has delivered returns in three out of his last four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution display.

During that spell he's made 10 chances, the highest among all Liverpool, while his xG stands at 0.88.

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

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

He is Aston Villa's key attacker, with an ability to creating a strike from minimal room inside the area.

An away trip at Chelsea could be viewed as a difficult assignment, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground twice during the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for his place, coupled with scored five goals in three games, the French striker earns the captain's armband for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to dropping the Norwegian goal machine, however because he has a tricky fixture on the road in this round, the choice is to bet against him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m

Crystal Hartman
Crystal Hartman

A software engineer and tech writer passionate about AI ethics and open-source projects, with over a decade of industry experience.