Captain Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week

How many The Reds selections might you squeeze into your lineup this week?

The Merseyside club have notched a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot attacker in their French frontman going into a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are heading towards one of the worst Premier League seasons ever.

For managers who held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the budget to spend following the injury to the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, in that case assets from Anfield players should be the main consideration.

This weekly selection is assembled based on current Fantasy Premier League costs to comply with a 100 million pound spending limit, as if you were playing a Free Hit chip.

How Did Our Recent Selection?

Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , alongside the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman led the team to a solid 82 points – supplemented by a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

The Fantasy Premier League Selection for Gameweek 18

Keeper and Defenders

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

Arsenal's defence had a minor wobble in the wake of the absence of their Brazilian defender, however, they've secured two clean sheets over their last four matches and have 9 already before half the season gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in all but three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous effort from Richarlison , plus a unexpected goal from Wolves' attacker.

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

We're opting for a triple selection on the Arsenal defence.

They are the strongest defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their fixtures, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has drawn a blank in two consecutive games.

The South Coast club have a mere nine goals across eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender continues to be a reliable choice each gameweek and has greater attacking upside now he is right-back.

Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points in his past four starts, including a pair of shutouts.

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

One could select half a dozen Liverpool players this week if allowed.

Wolves failed to score for the 10th time so far in a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have scored just 9 strikes in total, including a couple away from home. This is as safe a clean sheet opportunity available.

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

Regardless of Leeds United's recent offensive form – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.

It would be a third in a row and Alderete is cementing himself as a prime budget defender option. Managers can field him regularly in most games, given his consistent defensive contribution points.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a key role at Old Trafford in the next few games, with their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the greatest xG in the league by over three goals – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle United team who have been poor on the road – with just a single victory in their last seven.

Mount is likely to take over a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably on set-pieces, 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 , with a home match versus Wolves presenting the prime scenario for it.

Wirtz has posted points in three of his past four games – a pair of assists and one 'defcon' display.

Over that time he has created 10 chances, the highest of any his teammates, and his expected goals stands at 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's form cannot be overlooked.

He's Aston Villa's talisman, who can creating a goal from minimal room inside the area.

A fixture at Chelsea may appear a tough proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground twice during the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for his place, coupled with notched five goals in three games, the French striker receives the captain's armband for this round.

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

One cannot consider benching the Norwegian goal machine, although with him having a tougher fixture on the road this week, I'm willing to bet against him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m

Andrea Vega
Andrea Vega

A data scientist and writer passionate about AI ethics and digital transformation, sharing insights from industry experience.