Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week

The quantity of Liverpool assets can you accommodate in your squad in the upcoming gameweek?

Jurgen Klopp's side have secured a pair of triumphs and boast a in-form forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a fixture with a struggling Wolves side currently tracking for a historically poor top-flight campaigns on record.

If you've retained a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the funds to upgrade after losing the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool options ought to be the primary focus.

The ideal squad is constructed according to current Fantasy Premier League costs to comply with a 100 million pound budget, mirroring you were playing a one-week wildcard.

A Look Back at Last Week's Squad?

Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) , combined with the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike propelled the squad to a solid score – enhanced by a double-digit cameo from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

The Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

The North London side's backline experienced a brief dip following the absence of their Brazilian defender, however, they've secured two clean sheets recently , boasting 9 to their name with less than the campaign's midpoint completed.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in just a handful of matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

We're opting for a triple-up from the Arsenal backline.

Not only are they the strongest defence in the game, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they host a Brighton side that has failed to score in their past two games.

The South Coast club have scored just nine strikes in eight fixtures away from home.

Timber is a reliable option every week and has increased goal threat now he is the full-back role.

Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, featuring two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love six Anfield players this week if allowed.

Wolves drew another blank for the 10th time in 17 games during a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have a paltry nine goals this campaign, with only two on the road. It represents a very secure shutout opportunity imaginable.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.

It would be a third consecutive , with Alderete is cementing himself as the best value defensive pick. You can select him with assurance in most games, thanks to his consistent defensive contribution points.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a bigger part at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, following their Portuguese maestro out injured.

Over the past three games, United have generated the highest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.

They face a Newcastle side who have been poor away from home – managing one win in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man could well inherit a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially on set-pieces, and could feature in the number 10 role.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score and a home match versus Wolves representing a perfect opportunity for that to happen.

Wirtz has delivered returns in three out of his last four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' performance.

In that period he's made 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, while his xG totals 0.88.

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

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

He is Villa's main goal threat, who can scoring a goal from half a yard of room in the box.

A fixture to Chelsea could be viewed as a tough proposition, the Birmingham club have won at that ground in two of the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no competition for his place, and having bagged five goals over three matches, Ekitike earns the captaincy for this round.

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

One cannot consider dropping the Norwegian goal machine, however because he has a tougher fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to pass over him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m

Donald Nguyen
Donald Nguyen

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