Skipper Ekitike along with a Triple Arsenal Defence – The FPL Squad for the Round

What number of The Reds assets are you able to accommodate in your team for this round?

The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs and boast a in-form striker in Hugo Ekitike going into a encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers currently heading towards one of the worst Premier League campaigns on record.

For managers who retained a few of your AFCON free transfers and have the budget to upgrade by replacing the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, then assets from Anfield players must be the primary focus.

This weekly selection is assembled using present Fantasy Premier League prices to fit within a 100 million pound cap, mirroring you were playing a Free Hit.

How Did The Previous Squad?

Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) , alongside the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman guided the selection to a solid 82 points – supplemented by a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson from the replacements.

The FPL Selection for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

Arsenal's backline suffered a slight stumble in the wake of an injury to Gabriel, yet they've recorded two clean sheets recently and have nine so far with not even half the season gone.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in all but three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Richarlison , plus a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.

Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs the Seagulls (H).

This week features a three-pronged from the Arsenal defence.

They are the strongest defence in FPL, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have not found the net in their last two games.

The South Coast club have a mere nine goals from eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender is a steady choice each gameweek , possessing more offensive potential operating as right-back.

Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points over his last four starts, featuring two clean sheets.

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

I'd pick half a dozen Anfield assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.

Wolves drew another blank for the 10th time so far during Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Brentford.

They have a paltry 9 strikes all season, including a couple away from home. That makes this one of the safest clean sheet bet available.

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

Even with Leeds United's recent offensive form – including the performances of their striker – the pick is a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.

It would be a third in a row and Alderete establishing himself as a prime budget defensive pick. You can start him with assurance in most games, due to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder should play a bigger responsibility for Manchester United in the next few games, due to Bruno Fernandes out injured.

Recently, Erik ten Hag's team boast the highest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle United team who have been poor away from home – managing one win from seven attempts.

Mount could well assume a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, and might operate in the number 10 role.

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

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

He has registered attacking returns in three out of four recent games – a pair of assists and one 'defcon' display.

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

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

With 30 points in two games, Rogers' current form is impossible to ignore.

He's Villa's key attacker, with an ability to producing a goal with minimal space inside the area.

An away trip to Chelsea might seem a challenging assignment, but Villa have won there in two of the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Due to his fixture, a lack of competition for a starting spot, coupled with notched five goals over three matches, the French striker gets the captaincy for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to benching Haaland, but with him having a more difficult fixture on the road this week, we are opting to look elsewhere for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m