Skipper Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Gunners Defence – The FPL Squad for the Round

How many Liverpool assets might you accommodate into your lineup for this round?

The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot striker in their French frontman ahead of a clash with a struggling Wolves side that are on course for an abysmal Premier League campaigns in history.

Should you have held onto some of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the cash to spend by replacing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool players must be the primary focus.

This ideal squad is constructed based on current FPL valuations to comply with a £100m cap, mirroring activating a Free Hit chip.

A Look Back at The Previous Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , alongside the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a respectable score – supplemented by a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

The FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Keeper & Defenders

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

The North London side's defence had a brief dip after an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've recorded two clean sheets over their last four matches and have 9 so far with less than half the season gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three home games this season. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward and a late goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

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

As well as being the strongest defence in the game, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their fixtures, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has not found the net in two consecutive outings.

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

Timber remains a steady pick each gameweek , with greater goal threat since returning to right-back.

Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points in four consecutive appearances, which included two clean sheets.

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

I'd pick six Liverpool assets this week if allowed.

Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the tenth occasion so far in a recent 2-0 home loss to Brentford.

They have only managed 9 goals in total, with only a couple away from home. That makes this as safe a clean sheet prospect available.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's better offensive form – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.

This would secure a third consecutive and Alderete becoming a prime low-cost defender option. Managers can start him regularly in most games, thanks to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder is expected to take on a bigger part at Old Trafford in the next few games, with their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team boast the best xG statistically by over three goals – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle team who have been poor on the road – with just one win from seven attempts.

Mount is likely to inherit many of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, potentially play as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a major point return and a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves being an ideal time for that to happen.

He has delivered returns in three of his past four fixtures – two assists and one defensive contribution performance.

Over that time his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, and his xG is 0.88.

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

With 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' current form cannot be overlooked.

He's Aston Villa's key attacker, capable of producing a goal from half a yard of room in the box.

A fixture at Chelsea might seem a tough assignment, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground on two occasions in the last three campaigns.

Forwards

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

Given his fixture, having no competition for his place, and having scored five goals over three matches, the French striker gets the captain's armband this week.

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

It is unthinkable to dropping the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tricky away game this week, I'm willing to pass over him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m