🔗 Share this article

The quantity of The Reds players can you fit inside your team for this round?

The Merseyside club have notched back-to-back wins , with a sizzling attacker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a encounter with Wolves that are on course for one of the worst Premier League campaigns in history.

For managers who retained some of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , with the budget to upgrade following the injury to the injured Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool picks should be the primary focus.

This weekly selection is assembled according to current FPL prices to stay under a £100m cap, as if you were playing a Free Hit.

A Look Back at The Previous Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the productive duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike guided the selection to a handsome total – enhanced by a 10-point contribution from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

This Week's Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper & Defence

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

Arsenal's defence suffered a minor wobble after the absence of Gabriel, but they have kept two clean sheets in their past four , with 9 already before half the season played.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in all but three matches at home this season. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a spectacular strike from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a triple selection on the Arsenal backline.

Not only are they the strongest defence in the game, with a clean sheet in the majority of their matches, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has drawn a blank in their last two outings.

Brighton have only managed nine strikes from eight away games.

Timber continues to be a solid pick every week , possessing greater attacking upside since returning to the full-back role.

Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, featuring two clean sheets.

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

I'd pick half a dozen Anfield assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team were shut out once again in 17 games in a recent 2-0 home loss to the Bees.

They have a paltry 9 strikes in total, including two away from home. That makes this as safe a clean sheet prospect imaginable.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.

That would mark their third in a row and the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as a prime budget defensive pick. Managers can select him confidently across many fixtures, due to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder should play a significant role for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.

Over the past three games, United boast the best xG across the Premier League by over three goals – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle side who have not excelled away from home – with just one win in their last seven.

Mount could well inherit a large share of the injured star's creative responsibilities, particularly on set-pieces, potentially play in the number 10 role.

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

The German playmaker is due a big haul , with a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves representing a perfect opportunity for it.

He has posted points across his past four fixtures – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.

Over that time he has created 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, and his xG is 0.88.

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

After recording 30 points in two games, the midfielder's form demands attention.

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

An away trip to Chelsea could be viewed as a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground twice during the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for his place, coupled with scored a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker earns the captain's armband for this round.

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

There's no benching the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tougher fixture on the road in this round, we are opting to pass over him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m