Skipper Ekitike along with a Triple Gunners Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week

How many The Reds players can you fit inside your team for this round?

The Merseyside club have notched back-to-back wins , featuring a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a fixture with a struggling Wolves side who are tracking for a historically poor top-flight seasons on record.

Should you have kept a portion of your AFCON free transfers , with the cash to spend following the injury to the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool players ought to be the primary focus.

This weekly selection is chosen based on current FPL costs to fit within a £100m spending limit, simulating you were playing a one-week wildcard.

What Was the Performance of Last Week's Squad?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (a huge score) and the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike propelled the team to a handsome total – with a bonus a double-digit cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.

Our Fantasy Premier League Selection for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

The North London side's defence experienced a minor wobble following the absence of Gabriel, but they have kept two clean sheets over their last four matches , with 9 already with less than the campaign's midpoint played.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in only three matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected goal from Wolves' attacker.

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

This week features a triple selection on the Arsenal backline.

As well as being the top defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in the majority of their fixtures, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has drawn a blank in two consecutive matches.

Brighton have a mere nine goals across eight fixtures away from home.

Timber remains a steady pick every week , possessing more offensive potential now he is the full-back role.

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

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

I'd pick half a dozen Anfield players this week if possible.

Wolves failed to score for the 10th time this season during Saturday's 2-0 home loss to the Bees.

They have scored just 9 goals in total, with only two away from home. This is a very secure shutout opportunity available.

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

Despite Leeds United's recent offensive form – including the performances of their striker – I'm backing a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.

That would mark a third consecutive , with Alderete establishing himself as the best value defensive pick. Managers can start him confidently across many fixtures, due to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfielders

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

Mount will likely assume a key responsibility for Manchester United in the next few games, with Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.

In their last three matches, United have generated the best expected goals (xG) in the league by a comfortable distance – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds United's 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle team that has been poor on the road – managing a single victory in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man may inherit a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, and might feature in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is on the verge of a significant score , with a home match versus Wolves representing the prime scenario for that to happen.

He has registered attacking returns across four recent fixtures – two assists plus a 'defcon' display.

In that period he has created 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, while his expected goals is 0.88.

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

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

He is Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to producing a strike with minimal room in the box.

An away trip at Chelsea could be viewed as a tough assignment, but Villa have won at that ground twice during the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Given his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having bagged five goals in three games, the French striker earns the captaincy for this round.

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

One cannot consider omitting Haaland, but with him having a tricky fixture on the road this week, the choice is to look elsewhere for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m