🔗 Share this article

What number of Liverpool selections can you squeeze in your team for this round?

The Merseyside club have notched two consecutive victories and boast a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a clash with Wolves who are tracking for a historically poor Premier League seasons in history.

For managers who kept a portion of your AFCON wildcards and have the cash to spend by replacing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, then assets from Anfield players ought to be your top priority.

The ideal squad is chosen according to present Fantasy Premier League costs to stay under a £100m cap, mirroring you were playing a Free Hit.

How Did Our Recent Squad?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike propelled the selection to a handsome score – supplemented by a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson off the bench.

Our Fantasy Premier League Selection for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper & Defence

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

Arsenal's defence had a brief dip in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've secured two clean sheets over their last four matches , boasting 9 to their name before the campaign's midpoint gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in only three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Richarlison , plus a late header from Wolves' attacker.

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

This week features a three-pronged on the Gunners' defence.

As well as being the best defence in FPL, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their matches, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have drawn a blank in their past two matches.

Brighton have scored just 9 goals in eight away games.

Timber is a solid choice each gameweek , possessing increased attacking upside operating as the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has collected defensive contribution points in his past four starts, featuring two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love six Anfield assets for this fixture if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the tenth occasion so far during a recent 2-0 home loss to the Bees.

The Midlands side have only managed 9 strikes this campaign, including a couple away from home. That makes this as safe a clean sheet prospect imaginable.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's better offensive form – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout at home.

This would secure a third in a row and the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as an outstanding budget defensive pick. You can start him with assurance across many fixtures, given his potential for 'defcon' points.

Midfield

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

Mount is expected to take on a significant responsibility at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes out injured.

In their last three matches, United boast the best expected goals (xG) statistically by a comfortable distance – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds United's 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle side that has been poor in away matches – with just one win in seven.

The former Chelsea man is likely to assume a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably on set-pieces, potentially feature as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score , with a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves being a perfect scenario for that to happen.

He has registered attacking returns across his last four fixtures – two assists and one 'defcon' performance.

During that spell he's made 10 chances, the most among all his teammates, while his xG totals 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's hot streak cannot be overlooked.

He is Villa's talisman, who can producing a strike with minimal space inside the area.

A fixture at Chelsea could be viewed as a challenging assignment, but Villa 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 competition for a starting spot, and having bagged a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike gets the captain's armband this week.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting Haaland, however because he has a more difficult fixture on the road this week, we are opting to pass over him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m