Captain Hugo Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Gunners Backline – The FPL Squad for the Round

What number of Liverpool assets can you accommodate into your lineup for this round?

Jurgen Klopp's side have secured a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are heading towards one of the worst Premier League seasons on record.

Should you have held onto a portion of your AFCON transfers , with the cash to upgrade after losing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, consequently assets from Anfield options must be the primary focus.

This weekly selection is chosen based on current Fantasy Premier League prices to stay under a 100 million pound budget, simulating you were playing a one-week wildcard.

How Did Last Week's Selection?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the hot pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman led the squad to a respectable 82 points – with a bonus a double-digit cameo from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

This Week's FPL Selection for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper and Defenders

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

The North London side's backline suffered a brief dip after the absence of their Brazilian defender, however, they've recorded two clean sheets in their past four and have nine already with not even half the season gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in just a handful of home games this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by 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), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H).

This week features a triple selection on the Arsenal backline.

As well as being the best defensive unit in FPL, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has not found the net in two consecutive outings.

The South Coast club have only managed 9 goals from eight matches on the road.

Timber continues to be a steady choice each gameweek , possessing greater goal threat now he is the full-back role.

Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, which included a pair of shutouts.

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

I'd pick half a dozen Anfield assets this week if possible.

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

They have scored just 9 goals all season, including a couple on the road. This is a very secure clean sheet prospect possible.

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

Even with the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – highlighted by their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.

That would mark their third in a row , with Alderete becoming the best value defensive pick. Managers can start him with assurance in most games, given his potential for defensive contribution points.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a key part for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, following their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

In their last three matches, United registered the best expected goals (xG) statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle United team who have been poor on the road – managing one win in their last seven.

Mount is likely to assume many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, particularly on set-pieces, potentially play behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a major point return and a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves presenting the prime opportunity for it.

Wirtz has posted points in three out of four recent fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' performance.

In that period he has created 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, and his xG totals 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's current form cannot be overlooked.

He is Villa's key attacker, who can scoring a strike from the smallest space in the box.

A fixture at Chelsea may appear a challenging proposition, the Birmingham club have won at that ground twice during the last three campaigns.

Forwards

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

Given his fixture, having no rivalry for his place, and having notched a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker earns the captain's armband this week.

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

There's no benching the Norwegian goal machine, but because he has a tougher away game this week, I'm willing to look elsewhere with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m

Walter Carter
Walter Carter

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in casino industry trends and slot machine mechanics.