FPL Gameweek 18 Scout picks: Ekitike in Liverpool triple-up

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We’ve picked our best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) players for Gameweek 18, ahead of the Boxing Day deadline.

As usual, we are limited by certain restrictions.

• A budget of £83.0 million for our starting XI
• A total selection cap of £100.0 million
• No more than three players per team

GAME WEEK 18 SCOUT SQUAD

Not a standalone Scout Squad article this week, but before we get to the Scout Picks, here’s a look at who our panel has nominated for Gameweek 18.

	NEALE	TOM	SAM	MARC
GK	Jordan Pickford	Jordan Pickford	David Raya	David Raya
	David Raya	David Raya	Jordan Pickford	Jordan Pickford
	Robin Roefs	Robin Roefs	Robin Roefs	Luke Perry
DEF	Jeremy Frimpong	Virgil van Dijk	Virgil van Dijk	Virgil van Dijk
	Michael Keane	James Tarkowski	Jurriën Hout	James Tarkowski
	Jurriën Hout	Jurriën Hout	Nico O’Reilly	Nico O’Reilly
	Nico O’Reilly	Nico O’Reilly	Mark Senesi	Marc Guehi
	Maxence Lacroix	Keane Lewis Potter	Michel Keane	Joachim Andersen
MIDDLE	Bukayo Saka	Phil Foden	Florian Wirtz	Florian Wirtz
	Florian Wirtz	Bukayo Saka	Bukayo Saka	Bukayo Saka
	Phil Foden	Matheus Cunha	Jack Grealish	Jack Grealish
	Anthony Gordon	Florian Wirtz	Phil Foden	Matheus Cunha
	Harry Wilson	To elect	Matthew Fernandes	Harry Wilson
Come on	Hugo Ekitike	Erling Haaland	Hugo Ekitike	Erling Haaland
	Erling Haaland	Hugo Ekitike	Erling Haaland	Hugo Ekitike
	Igor Thiago	Jarrod Bowen	Jarrod Bowen	Jarrod Bowen
	Jarrod Bowen	Igor Thiago	Richarlison	Igor Thiago
	Raul Jimenez	Thierno Barry	Dominic Calvert-Lewin	Dominic Calvert-Lewin

• THE MOST CHOICES: Jordan Pickford, David, Nico O’Reilly, Florian Wirtz, Ska, Horia Ekinake.

GAME WEEK 18 SCOUT PICKS

KEELER

We have chosen Jordan Pickford (£5.5m) in goal as Everton travel to Burnley on Saturday. David Moyes’ men have conceded just three goals in their previous four away games, keeping clean sheets at Bournemouth and Manchester United. In stark contrast, Burnley have failed to find the net in three of their last four home games. They are also bottom for expected goals (xG) at home in 2025/26.

DEFENDERS

We doubled Everton’s defense with Michael Keane (£4.7m), who continues to impress at the back for David Moyes’ side. The centre-back has already found the net twice this season and has earned defensive contribution points (DefCon) in four of his last five appearances. And with the potential for a clean sheet, Keane looks a solid cry for points in Gameweek 18.

Admittedly, there is some concern about Liverpool’s defense at the moment. However, Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m) takes on a Wolverhampton Wanderers team with the lowest xG score in away games, having scored just twice on their travels all season. Furthermore, apart from Pascal Struijk (£4.3m) and Dan Ballard (£4.7m), no defender has scored more headed attempts than Van Dijk, so his threat from set pieces is still very much there.

Above: Defenders sorted by headed goal attempts (H) in 2025/26

A trip to Nottingham Forest offers Nico O’Reilly (£5.3m) the chance of points at both ends of the pitch. The left back scored against Real Madrid earlier this month and has the attacking numbers to back that up. He has been surpassed for big chances by only two FPL defenders since the start of September. Manchester City, meanwhile, have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three games. The signs look good for another shutout against Forest.

William Saliba (£5.9m) is our representative of the Arsenal backline in Gameweek 18, as we are priced out of Jurrien Timber (£6.5m). From a defensive point of view, the Gunners are one of the bookmakers’ favorites for a clean sheet, which isn’t exactly surprising as they can’t be beaten for shut-outs, goals conceded or expected goals conceded (xGC) throughout the season. Opponents Brighton and Hove Albion have found themselves struggling in the absence of Danny Welbeck (£6.4m), having failed to find the net against Sunderland and Liverpool.

MIDFIELDERS

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