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            <p>Fantasy Football Hub's AI unveils the best FPL team for Gameweek 18 as well as the optimum Wildcard squad for those who still have the chip in hand.</p>
<p>Our brilliant <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/my-team/pick"><strong>My Team tool</strong></a> produces two optimum squads for Hub members each week - the best <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/my-team/ai-teams">Wildcard and team of the week</a>.</p>
<p>In this special combined article for the festive season, we take an early look at both sides, as well as the upcoming fixtures and <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">predicted points</a>.</p>
<p>Hub members can check the predicted points and My Team nearer the time for a better indication of the best 11s, as it can change regularly.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>👉 <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join"><strong>Join the Hub - Christmas offer</strong></a> 👈</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">🤖 <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/ai-team-rating?"><strong>AI-recommended transfers for your FPL team </strong></a>🤖</p>
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<h2>FPL Gameweek 18: The fixtures</h2>
<p>Liverpool and Arsenal have the best fixture match-ups of Gameweek 18, providing plenty of optimism for fantasy returns. Opponents Leicester and Ipswich have the worst expected goals conceded (xGC) records away from home.</p>
<p>Southampton are under new management and Ivan Juric has a favourable fixture to start, at home to West Ham.</p>
<p>Manchester City have won just one league game since Gameweek 10, however Everton at home starts a strong run of matches.</p>
<div id="attachment_69522" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69522" class="size-large wp-image-69522" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Best-fixtures-GW18-1024x316.jpg" alt="The best fixtures for Gameweek 18 " width="1024" height="316" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-69522" class="wp-caption-text">The best fixtures for Gameweek 18</p>
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<h3>Longer-term fixtures</h3>
<p>Looking at the next five gameweeks, it's City who top the ticker alongside Chelsea.</p>
<p>Both teams have some enticing home games, with Chelsea playing at Stamford Bridge three times.</p>
<p>Crystal Palace sit third, with Gameweek 19 looking the best entry point for their players.</p>
<p>Many managers jumped on Fulham defenders in Gameweek 17 for their home game against Southampton, however they continue to have potential. The Cottagers rank fourth on the ticker.</p>
<p>Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester United all make the top 10, as do high-flying Nottingham Forest who are fourth in the league table.</p>
<p>Wolves, Ipswich and Brentford make up the bottom three.</p>
<div id="attachment_69521" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69521" class="size-large wp-image-69521" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fixtures-GW18-22-1024x370.jpg" alt="The top of the Hub fixture ticker for Gameweek 18-22" width="1024" height="370" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-69521" class="wp-caption-text">The top of the Hub fixture ticker for Gameweek 18-22</p>
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<h2>FPL Gameweek 18 best players: Predicted points</h2>
<p>The last couple of gameweeks have seen the top players closely matched for predicted points, however there's no contest this week.</p>
<p><strong>Mohamed Salah </strong>is the runaway leader, with a massive forecast of 9.0 - 1.5 points ahead of <strong>Cole Palmer </strong>in second.</p>
<p>Opponents Leicester have conceded 14 goals in their last five matches - more than any other team.</p>
<p>On current form, the most likely thing to prevent another haul from the Egyptian is a surprise Boxing Day benching.</p>
<p>A defender makes a rare appearance in the top five, with the highest predicted scorers usually solely attackers.</p>
<p><strong>Gabriel </strong>and Arsenal have the best odds of a clean sheet this week, leading to Hub AI's high confidence in the centre-back.</p>
<div id="attachment_69520" style="width: 810px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69520" class="size-full wp-image-69520" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Predicted-points-GW18.jpg" alt="Predicted points for Gameweek 18" width="800" height="650" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-69520" class="wp-caption-text">Predicted points for Gameweek 18</p>
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<h3>Longer-term predicted points</h3>
<p>Salah also retains his lead over a longer period, with no one matching his prediction for the next five gameweeks.</p>
<p>A clear top three emerges over this time, with Salah, Palmer and <strong>Erling Haaland </strong>a few predicted points clear of their rivals.</p>
<p>The premium midfield trio of Salah, Palmer and <strong>Bukayo Saka </strong>has been a mainstay of the AI teams for the last few weeks, with the pricier Haaland frozen out.</p>
<p>The injury to Saka will force a rethink, although whether Haaland fights his way back in remains to be seen.</p>
<p><strong>Alexander Isak</strong> could be key in the AI's decision making. The Newcastle striker trails Haaland by four predicted points and comes in at £5.9m cheaper.</p>
<p>It's worth noting however that the next best premium options - <strong>Son Heung-min </strong>and <strong>Bruno Fernandes </strong>- are about 10 points shy of Haaland's estimated total up to Gameweek 22.</p>
<div id="attachment_69519" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-69519" class="size-large wp-image-69519" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GW18-Wildcard-predicted-points-1024x602.jpg" alt="Gameweek 18-22 predicted points" width="1024" height="602" /></p>
<p id="caption-attachment-69519" class="wp-caption-text">Gameweek 18-22 predicted points</p>
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<h2>Best FPL team for Gameweek 18</h2>
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