🔗 Share this article

How many The Reds assets might you accommodate into your team for this round?

Jurgen Klopp's side have secured a pair of triumphs , featuring a in-form attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers currently tracking for a historically poor top-flight campaigns ever.

Should you have kept a portion of your AFCON wildcards , with the budget to spend following the injury to the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, consequently Liverpool options should be the primary focus.

This ideal squad is chosen based on latest Fantasy Premier League costs to fit within a 100 million pound spending limit, as if you were playing a Free Hit chip.

How Did Our Recent Squad?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman led the squad to a handsome 82 points – with a bonus a double-digit contribution from Antonee Robinson off the bench.

This Week's Fantasy Premier League Selection for Gameweek 18

Keeper and Defenders

David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).

Arsenal's defence had a minor wobble following an injury to Gabriel, but they have kept two clean sheets over their last four matches , with 9 so far with less than the campaign's midpoint completed.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in all but three home games campaign. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a late header from Wolves' attacker.

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

It's a three-pronged on the Gunners' defence.

They are the best defence in the game, recording shutouts in more than half of their matches, they host a Brighton side who have not found the net in two consecutive matches.

Brighton have only managed 9 goals in eight away games.

Timber is a reliable option every week , possessing more goal threat since returning to right-back.

The Ecuadorian has collected 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, which included a pair of shutouts.

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

I'd pick six Anfield players this week if the rules permitted.

Wolves failed to score for the 10th time in 17 games during a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

They have a paltry 9 goals in total, with only a couple on the road. This is as safe a clean sheet bet imaginable.

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

Even with the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Stadium of Light shutout at home.

This would secure a third consecutive , with Alderete establishing himself as a prime low-cost defender option. You can start him with assurance across many fixtures, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

Mount should play a key role for Manchester United in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team registered the highest expected goals (xG) statistically by over three goals – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle team that has been poor in away matches – with just a single victory in seven.

Mount may take over many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, notably on set-pieces, potentially operate in the number 10 role.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a big haul , with a home match against Wolves being the prime time for that to happen.

Wirtz has delivered returns across his past four fixtures – two assists plus a 'defcon' display.

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

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

With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's current form demands attention.

He's Villa's talisman, with an ability to producing a strike from minimal space in the box.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge might seem a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have won at that ground on two occasions in the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Due to his fixture, having no competition for a starting spot, and having notched a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike gets the captain's armband for this round.

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

One cannot consider dropping Haaland, but with him having a tougher fixture on the road this week, I'm willing to bet against him with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m