Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Backline – The FPL Squad for the Round

How many The Reds players can you accommodate inside your squad this week?

The Merseyside club have secured back-to-back wins , featuring a in-form forward in Hugo Ekitike going into a encounter with a struggling Wolves side currently on course for an abysmal top-flight seasons ever.

Should you have retained some of your AFCON transfers , with the cash to reinvest by replacing the injured Bruno Fernandes, consequently assets from Anfield players ought to be the main consideration.

The ideal squad is constructed using latest FPL valuations to stay under a 100 million pound cap, as if you were playing a Free Hit.

How Did Last Week's Squad?

Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) , combined with the in-form pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman led the team to a respectable 82 points – supplemented by a double-digit contribution from Antonee Robinson from the replacements.

Our FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

The North London side's backline suffered a brief dip following an injury to Gabriel, but they have recorded two clean sheets over their last four matches , with nine so far before the campaign's midpoint gone.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in just a handful of matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a triple-up from the Gunners' backline.

Not only are they the best defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in more than half of their fixtures, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have not found the net in their past two outings.

Brighton have scored just nine goals across eight away games.

Timber remains a reliable pick each gameweek , with increased attacking upside since returning to right-back.

The Ecuadorian has earned 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, including a pair of shutouts.

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

I'd pick six Liverpool players for this fixture if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the 10th time so far during a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have a paltry nine goals all season, including a couple away from home. This is one of the safest shutout prospect possible.

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

Even with Leeds United's better offensive form – highlighted by their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.

It would be their third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender becoming an outstanding value defensive pick. You can start him confidently in most games, due to his consistent 'defcon' points.

Midfield

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

Mount should play a key role for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, due to Bruno Fernandes out injured.

In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team registered the greatest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 against the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle United team who have struggled in away matches – managing one win in seven.

Mount is likely to take over many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, especially on set-pieces, and could operate in the number 10 role.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score , with a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves representing a perfect time for it.

Wirtz has posted points across his past four fixtures – two assists and one defensive contribution performance.

During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, a team-high of any his teammates, and his expected goals is 0.88.

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

With 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' form is impossible to ignore.

He is Villa's main goal threat, capable of producing a strike with half a yard of space in the box.

A fixture to Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a tough assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground in two of the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, and having scored five goals over three matches, Ekitike receives the captaincy for this round.

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

There's no dropping the Norwegian goal machine, although with him having a tougher fixture on the road this week, the choice is to look elsewhere for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m

Beth Little
Beth Little

A creative director with over a decade of experience in print media and digital design, passionate about helping brands tell their stories.