Captain Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week

How many The Reds selections might you accommodate in your lineup for this round?

The Merseyside club have secured two consecutive victories , featuring a in-form attacker in their French frontman ahead of a encounter with a struggling Wolves side who are tracking for a historically poor top-flight campaigns on record.

If you've kept some of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , and possess the budget to spend by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool players ought to be your top priority.

This team of the week is assembled according to current FPL costs to fit within a 100 million pound budget, mirroring activating a Free Hit chip.

How Did Last Week's Team?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , alongside the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman propelled the team to a respectable 82 points – supplemented by a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson off the bench.

Our FPL Selection for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper and Defenders

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

Arsenal's defence had a minor wobble in the wake of an injury to Gabriel, yet they've kept two shutouts over their last four matches , boasting 9 to their name before half the season played.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in all but three home games campaign. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a wondrous strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a late goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a triple selection on the Arsenal backline.

As well as being the best defensive unit in the game, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they face a Brighton team who have not found the net in their last two outings.

Brighton have only managed 9 goals in eight matches on the road.

Timber continues to be a solid pick each gameweek , with greater offensive potential operating as right-back.

The Ecuadorian has collected 'defcon' points in his past four starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.

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

Managers would love half a dozen Liverpool players for this fixture if possible.

Wolves were shut out for the 10th time so far during Saturday's two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

They have scored just 9 strikes this campaign, including two away from home. That makes this as safe a shutout prospect available.

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

Regardless of Leeds United's recent goalscoring upturn – including the performances of their striker – we're selecting a Stadium of Light shutout at home.

This would secure a third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as the best low-cost defender option. Managers can field him with assurance across many fixtures, given his regular 'defcon' returns.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder should play a significant responsibility for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with Bruno Fernandes out injured.

Recently, Erik ten Hag's team boast the highest xG across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They face a Newcastle side who have been poor on the road – managing one win in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man may take over many of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, and might feature in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is poised for a major point return , with a fixture at Anfield against Wolves being an ideal time for that to happen.

He has delivered returns in three out of his past four fixtures – a pair of assists and one 'defcon' display.

During that spell he's made 10 chances, a team-high among all Liverpool, while his xG is 0.88.

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

With 30 points in two games, Rogers' hot streak is impossible to ignore.

He is Villa's talisman, with an ability to scoring a goal with the smallest room in the box.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge might seem a tough assignment, the Birmingham club have won there on two occasions in the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Due to his fixture, having no competition for his place, and having notched a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike gets the double-points role for this round.

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

There's no omitting the Norwegian goal machine, although with him having a tougher away game in this round, we are opting to bet against him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m