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

What number of The Reds selections are you able to squeeze inside your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?

The Merseyside club have notched two consecutive victories , featuring a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike going into a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers currently heading towards one of the worst top-flight seasons in history.

For managers who held onto a portion of your AFCON wildcards , and possess the funds to reinvest after losing the injured Manchester United's playmaker, in that case Liverpool players must be the primary focus.

The ideal squad is constructed based on latest Fantasy Premier League valuations to comply with a 100 million pound cap, mirroring you were playing a Free Hit.

A Look Back at Our Recent Squad?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the hot pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike guided the selection to a respectable score – with a bonus a 10-point performance from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

Our Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Keeper and Defence

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

Arsenal's backline suffered a minor wobble in the wake of an injury to Gabriel, but they have recorded two shutouts over their last four matches , boasting nine already with not even half the season played.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in only three matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward and a surprise goal from Wolves' attacker.

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

We're opting for a triple-up on the Arsenal defence.

As well as being the best defensive unit in FPL, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they take on a Brighton side that has failed to score in their last two outings.

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

The Dutch defender remains a solid option every week and has increased attacking upside operating as right-back.

The Ecuadorian has collected 'defcon' points in four consecutive appearances, including two clean sheets.

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

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

Wolves drew another blank for the tenth occasion this season during Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Brentford.

They have scored just nine strikes in total, including two away from home. This is as safe a shutout bet available.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – including the performances of their striker – we're selecting a Stadium of Light shutout at home.

It would be their third in a row , with Alderete establishing himself as a prime low-cost defender option. You can start him regularly across many fixtures, due to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

Mount is expected to take on a key responsibility for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.

In their last three matches, United have generated the greatest expected goals (xG) in the league by a comfortable distance – 8.78 against the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

They face a Newcastle team who have not excelled on the road – managing one win from seven attempts.

Mount could well take over a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, particularly from dead-ball situations, and could operate behind the striker.

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

Wirtz is on the verge of a significant score and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves presenting the prime scenario for that to happen.

Wirtz has posted points across his past four fixtures – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.

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

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

With 30 points in two games, the midfielder's current form is impossible to ignore.

He is Villa's key attacker, capable of scoring a strike with the smallest space in the box.

An away trip at Chelsea might seem a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have won there twice during recent years.

Strikers

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for a starting spot, coupled with notched five goals in three games, the French striker gets the captain's armband for this round.

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

One cannot consider omitting Haaland, but because he has a tougher away game in this round, we are opting to pass over him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m

Brian Rose
Brian Rose

A tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and enterprise solutions, passionate about simplifying complex tech concepts.