🔗 Share this article

The quantity of The Reds selections might you fit inside your squad this week?

The Merseyside club have secured two consecutive victories , featuring a in-form forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a fixture with a struggling Wolves side that are on course for an abysmal Premier League seasons ever.

If you've held onto some of your AFCON transfers , and possess the budget to spend following the injury to the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, in that case Liverpool picks should be the main consideration.

This weekly selection is constructed based on current FPL costs to fit within a £100m spending limit, simulating using a one-week wildcard.

What Was the Performance of Our Recent Selection?

Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , alongside the productive pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike led the selection to a handsome 82 points – with a bonus a double-digit contribution from Antonee Robinson off the bench.

The Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

The North London side's backline had a slight stumble after the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have recorded two clean sheets in their past four , boasting nine to their name before half the season completed.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in only three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a wondrous strike from Richarlison , plus a unexpected goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a triple-up from the Arsenal backline.

They are the top defence in FPL, recording shutouts in more than half of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has not found the net in their past two outings.

The South Coast club have only managed nine goals in eight matches on the road.

The Dutch defender remains a steady choice each gameweek and has increased offensive potential now he is right-back.

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

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

Managers would love six Anfield assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.

Wolves failed to score for the 10th time this season in Saturday's two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

They have only managed nine goals in total, including two away from home. It represents one of the safest clean sheet opportunity possible.

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

Despite Leeds United's improved goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – the pick is a Sunderland shutout at home.

That would mark their third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as the best value defender option. You can select him regularly in most games, due to his regular 'defcon' points.

Midfield

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

Mount is expected to take on a significant part at Manchester United in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.

Recently, United have generated the highest xG across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle team that has been poor on the road – managing a single victory in their last seven.

Mount could well inherit many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, especially from dead-ball situations, and might operate behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is due a big haul , with a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves representing the prime opportunity for that to happen.

He has posted points in three of his last four games – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution display.

In that period he has created 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, while his xG stands at 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's hot streak demands attention.

He's Villa's talisman, who can scoring a goal with minimal space in the box.

A fixture to Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have won there in two of recent years.

Forwards

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

Because of his fixture, having no rivalry for his place, coupled with scored a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker receives the captaincy this week.

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

There's no omitting the Norwegian goal machine, but with him having a more difficult away game in this round, I'm willing to look elsewhere with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m