Captain Hugo Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The FPL Team of the Week

The quantity of Liverpool assets can you accommodate in your lineup for this round?

The Merseyside club have secured back-to-back wins , with a in-form forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a clash with a struggling Wolves side who are heading towards a historically poor top-flight seasons on record.

If you've held onto some of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the cash to upgrade after losing the injured Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool picks ought to be the primary focus.

This ideal squad is constructed based on present Fantasy Premier League prices to fit within a £100m budget, as if you were playing a one-week wildcard.

A Look Back at Last Week's Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the hot pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman led the selection to a solid score – enhanced by a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

This Week's FPL Selection for Matchday 18

Keeper & Defence

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

The North London side's defence 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 so far with not even half the season gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

This week features a triple-up from the Gunners' backline.

As well as being the strongest defensive unit in the game, recording shutouts in over 50% of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has failed to score in their last two games.

The South Coast club have only managed nine goals across eight fixtures away from home.

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

Hincapie has registered 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, including a pair of shutouts.

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

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

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the tenth occasion this season during a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

The Midlands side have scored just 9 goals this campaign, with only a couple on the road. It represents as safe a clean sheet opportunity possible.

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

Even with the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Stadium of Light clean sheet at home.

This would secure their third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender becoming an outstanding low-cost defensive pick. You can field him confidently across many fixtures, due to his regular defensive contribution points.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder should play a key part at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team boast the highest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle United team that has not excelled in away matches – with just a single victory from seven attempts.

The former Chelsea man could well inherit many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, particularly from dead-ball situations, potentially play in the number 10 role.

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

The German playmaker is due a major point return and a fixture at Anfield against Wolves presenting an ideal scenario for that to happen.

He has posted points in three of his past four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' performance.

During that spell he has created 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, while his xG stands at 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points in two games, the midfielder's current form demands attention.

He is Villa's talisman, with an ability to scoring a strike with minimal room inside the area.

An away trip at Stamford Bridge may appear a tough proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there on two occasions in recent years.

Strikers

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

Due to his fixture, having no rivalry for a starting spot, and having scored five goals in three games, Ekitike receives the captain's armband for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting the Norwegian goal machine, but because he has a tougher fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to bet against him with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m

Christopher Peterson
Christopher Peterson

Astrophysicist and science communicator passionate about making space accessible through engaging stories and research.