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

How many Liverpool selections can you accommodate into your lineup this week?

Jurgen Klopp's side have secured a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike going into a encounter with Wolves that are heading towards an abysmal Premier League seasons ever.

Should you have retained some of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the funds to upgrade by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently assets from Anfield options ought to be your top priority.

This ideal squad is assembled according to latest FPL prices to comply with a 100 million pound spending limit, simulating activating a one-week wildcard.

What Was the Performance of Our Recent Squad?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a respectable 82 points – with a bonus a 10-point performance from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

This Week's FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper & Defenders

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

The North London side's backline experienced a minor wobble after an injury to their Brazilian defender, however, they've secured two clean sheets in their past four and have nine to their name before half the season played.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in just a handful of matches at home this season. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Richarlison and a surprise goal from Wolves' attacker.

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

This week features a triple-up on the Arsenal backline.

Not only are they the strongest defensive unit statistically, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they face a Brighton team that has failed to score in their last two matches.

Brighton have a mere 9 goals from eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender is a solid option each gameweek and has more offensive potential now he is right-back.

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

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

I'd pick six Liverpool players this week if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time this season in Saturday's two-nil home loss to Brentford.

The Midlands side have only managed nine strikes all season, with only two away from home. That makes this a very secure clean sheet bet available.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's recent goalscoring upturn – highlighted by their striker – the pick is a Sunderland shutout at home.

This would secure a third in a row and Alderete establishing himself as a prime low-cost defender option. You can select him regularly in most games, thanks to his regular defensive contribution points.

Midfield

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

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

In their last three matches, United have generated the greatest xG across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle United side who have not excelled in away matches – with just a single victory from seven attempts.

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

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

Wirtz is due a significant score , with a fixture at Anfield against Wolves being an ideal scenario for that to happen.

He has registered attacking returns in three out of his last four fixtures – two assists plus a defensive contribution performance.

During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the highest among all his teammates, and his expected goals is 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' form demands attention.

He's Aston Villa's talisman, who can producing a goal from the smallest space inside the area.

A fixture to Chelsea might seem a difficult assignment, but Villa have emerged victorious there in two of the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Given his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, coupled with notched a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike earns the captain's armband for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to dropping the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tougher fixture on the road in this round, the choice is to pass over him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m