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

The quantity of The Reds selections are you able to squeeze into your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?

The Merseyside club are coming off two consecutive victories and boast a in-form forward in their French frontman ahead of a encounter with a struggling Wolves side that are tracking for one of the worst top-flight seasons ever.

Should you have held onto a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the budget to spend following the injury to the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, in that case Liverpool players should be the main consideration.

This weekly selection is constructed based on latest FPL costs to stay under a £100m spending limit, mirroring using a Free Hit chip.

What Was the Performance of Our Recent Selection?

Skipper Erling Haaland (a massive haul) and the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman guided the selection to a solid 82 points – with a bonus a double-digit contribution from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

Our FPL Selection for Matchday 18

Keeper and Defence

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

Arsenal's defence suffered a brief dip after an injury to Gabriel, yet they've recorded two clean sheets recently , boasting 9 so far with less than half the season completed.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in only three matches at home this season. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a wondrous strike from Richarlison , plus a unexpected goal from Wolves' attacker.

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

We're opting for a triple-up from the Gunners' backline.

Not only are they the best defence in FPL, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they take on a Brighton side who have drawn a blank in two consecutive outings.

Brighton have scored just nine goals in eight away games.

The Dutch defender is a reliable option each gameweek , possessing increased offensive potential now he is the full-back role.

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

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

Managers would love six Anfield assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time in 17 games in a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have scored just 9 goals all season, including two away from home. It represents as safe a shutout prospect possible.

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

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

That would mark a third consecutive and Alderete becoming an outstanding low-cost defender option. Managers can field him with assurance in most games, due to his potential for defensive contribution points.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a bigger responsibility for Manchester United in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro out injured.

Over the past three games, United boast the highest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They face a Newcastle United side that has been poor on the road – managing one win in seven.

The former Chelsea man could well take over many of the injured star's playmaking duties, notably on set-pieces, potentially play behind the striker.

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

Wirtz is poised for a major point return and a home match versus Wolves presenting a perfect opportunity for it.

Wirtz has delivered returns across four recent games – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.

In that period he's made 10 chances, the highest of any Liverpool, and his xG stands at 0.88.

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

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

He's Villa's key attacker, with an ability to creating a strike from half a yard of space inside the area.

A fixture to Stamford Bridge might seem a challenging assignment, but Villa have won there on two occasions in the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Because of his fixture, a lack of rivalry for his place, and having bagged a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike receives the captain's armband for this round.

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

One cannot consider omitting Haaland, however because he has a tougher away game in this round, the choice is to look elsewhere for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m