Skipper Hugo Ekitike and a Triple Gunners Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round

The quantity of The Reds selections might you fit in your squad this week?

Jurgen Klopp's side are coming off two consecutive victories and boast a sizzling 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.

For managers who held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the cash to reinvest following the injury to the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, in that case assets from Anfield options must be the primary focus.

The weekly selection is assembled using current Fantasy Premier League prices to comply with a £100m spending limit, simulating you were playing a Free Hit chip.

A Look Back at Last Week's Squad?

Captain Erling Haaland (a huge score) , alongside the hot duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman led the team to a handsome 82 points – enhanced by a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.

Our FPL Team of the Week for Matchday 18

Keeper & Defenders

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

The North London side's defence had a brief dip in the wake of an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've kept two shutouts in their past four , boasting 9 so far with not even half the season completed.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in all but three home games this season. Those goals came from Erling Haaland, a wondrous strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected header from Wolves' attacker.

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

We're opting for a triple selection on the Gunners' backline.

As well as being the strongest defence in the game, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they take on a Brighton team who have failed to score in their last two outings.

The South Coast club have only managed 9 goals from eight away games.

The Dutch defender remains a solid pick each gameweek and has more goal threat since returning to the full-back role.

Hincapie has collected defensive contribution points in his past four appearances, featuring two clean sheets.

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

I'd pick six Liverpool players this week if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank once again so far in a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have only managed 9 goals this campaign, including two away from home. That makes this one of the safest shutout bet imaginable.

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

Even with the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – I'm backing a Sunderland shutout at home.

That would mark their third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender becoming a prime value defensive pick. Managers can select him regularly across many fixtures, given his potential for 'defcon' points.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a key part at Manchester United in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

Over the past three games, United have generated the greatest xG in the league by a comfortable distance – 8.78 against the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle United team who have not excelled in away matches – managing a single victory from seven attempts.

The former Chelsea man is likely to assume a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, notably from dead-ball situations, and could feature in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is poised for a major point return and a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves representing the prime time for that to happen.

He has delivered returns across his past four games – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution performance.

Over that time he's made 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, and his expected goals stands at 0.88.

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

After recording 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's current form demands attention.

He's Villa's talisman, capable of producing a goal from half a yard of space in the box.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge might seem a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground twice during recent years.

Strikers

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

Due to his fixture, having no rivalry for a starting spot, and having bagged five goals over three matches, Ekitike earns the captaincy for this round.

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

There's no omitting the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tricky away game this week, the choice is to bet against him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m