🔗 Share this article

What number of Liverpool selections are you able to accommodate inside your team for this round?

Jurgen Klopp's side have secured two consecutive victories and boast a sizzling striker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a fixture with a struggling Wolves side that are tracking for an abysmal Premier League campaigns in history.

Should you have kept some of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards , and possess the cash to reinvest by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently assets from Anfield players must be the primary focus.

The team of the week is assembled according to current Fantasy Premier League costs to fit within a 100 million pound cap, as if you were playing a Free Hit chip.

How Did Our Recent Team?

Captain Erling Haaland (32 points) , combined with the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike propelled the selection to a respectable 82 points – supplemented by a double-digit performance from Fulham's defender off the bench.

Our FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Keeper and Defenders

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

The North London side's defence suffered a minor wobble following an injury to their Brazilian defender, but they have kept two clean sheets in their past four and have 9 to their name with less than half the season played.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in only three matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a spectacular effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise header from Wolves' attacker.

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

It's a triple-up from the Gunners' defence.

Not only are they the top defensive unit in FPL, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they face a Brighton team who have failed to score in their past two matches.

The South Coast club have scored just nine strikes across eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender is a reliable choice every week and has increased goal threat since returning to right-back.

Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.

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

One could select six Liverpool assets for this fixture if allowed.

Wolves were shut out for the 10th time this season in Saturday's two-nil home loss to the Bees.

The Midlands side have scored just 9 strikes all season, including a couple away from home. This is a very secure clean sheet bet available.

Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds United (H).

Despite the Yorkshire club's improved offensive form – and the form of their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.

This would secure their third consecutive and Alderete is cementing himself as a prime low-cost defensive pick. You can field him regularly in most games, thanks to his regular defensive contribution points.

Midfield

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

Mount is expected to take on a significant part at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, with their Portuguese maestro out injured.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the highest xG across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle side that has not excelled in away matches – with just a single victory in their last seven.

Mount is likely to assume many of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, and could operate as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a big haul and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves presenting a perfect time for it.

Wirtz has posted points across four recent fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' display.

During that spell he has created 10 chances, a team-high among all Liverpool, and his expected goals stands at 0.88.

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

After recording 30 points in two games, the midfielder's current form is impossible to ignore.

He is Aston Villa's main goal threat, who can producing a goal from half a yard of room inside the area.

An away trip to Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a difficult proposition, but Villa have won there in two of recent years.

Forwards

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

Given his fixture, having no competition for a starting spot, coupled with bagged five goals in three games, Ekitike gets the captain's armband for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting Haaland, but because he has a more difficult away game in this round, the choice is to bet against him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m