Skipper Ekitike and a Triple Gunners Backline – The FPL Squad for the Round

The quantity of Liverpool players can you accommodate inside your team in the upcoming gameweek?

The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs and boast a red-hot striker in their French frontman going into a clash with a struggling Wolves side currently heading towards a historically poor top-flight seasons on record.

If you've held onto a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the budget to spend by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, in that case Liverpool players ought to be the main consideration.

This ideal squad is chosen according to present FPL costs to fit within a 100 million pound budget, mirroring you were playing a Free Hit.

A Look Back at The Previous Selection?

Skipper Erling Haaland (32 points) , alongside the in-form pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike guided the squad to a handsome 82 points – with a bonus a double-digit performance from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

The FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper & Defenders

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

The North London side's backline suffered a brief dip in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, but they have recorded two shutouts in their past four and have nine so far before the campaign's midpoint completed.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in just a handful of matches at home campaign. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Richarlison and a late goal 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.

They are the strongest defensive unit in FPL, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they face a Brighton team who have not found the net in their last two games.

The South Coast club have a mere 9 strikes across eight away games.

Timber continues to be a steady option each gameweek and has increased offensive potential operating as right-back.

Hincapie has earned defensive contribution points in his past four starts, which included a pair of shutouts.

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

I'd pick half a dozen Liverpool players for this fixture if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the tenth occasion in 17 games in a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have scored just 9 strikes this campaign, including a couple on the road. This is as safe a clean sheet prospect available.

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

Even with Leeds United's improved offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Stadium of Light clean sheet at home.

It would be their third in a row and Alderete becoming a prime value defensive pick. Managers can start him confidently in most games, due to his regular 'defcon' returns.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a significant responsibility at Manchester United in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro out injured.

Recently, United boast the greatest expected goals (xG) in the league by over three goals – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

They face a Newcastle team who have been poor away from home – with just a single victory in seven.

The former Chelsea man is likely to assume a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, and could feature in the number 10 role.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves representing the prime time for that to happen.

He has delivered returns across four recent games – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.

During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, and his expected goals totals 0.88.

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

After recording 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' hot streak is impossible to ignore.

He is Aston Villa's key attacker, capable of creating a goal from minimal space in the box.

An away trip at Stamford Bridge might seem a challenging assignment, but Villa have won at that ground in two of the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having notched five goals over three matches, Ekitike receives the captain's armband this week.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting the Norwegian goal machine, however because he has a tricky fixture on the road this week, the choice is to bet against him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m