🔗 Share this article

What number of Liverpool assets can you squeeze in your team this week?

The Merseyside club have notched back-to-back wins , with a in-form striker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are tracking for one of the worst Premier League seasons ever.

For managers who held onto some of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers and have the cash to reinvest following the injury to the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool picks should be the main consideration.

This team of the week is chosen according to current FPL valuations to comply with a £100m budget, simulating activating a Free Hit chip.

How Did Last Week's Selection?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , combined with the hot pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike propelled the squad to a solid score – with a bonus a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.

Our Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper & Defenders

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

Arsenal's defence experienced a minor wobble following an injury to Gabriel, however, they've recorded two clean sheets recently and have nine so far with less than the campaign's midpoint played.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in all but three home games campaign. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward and a late header from Wolves' attacker.

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

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

They are the best defence in the game, recording shutouts in more than half of their matches, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have failed to score in their last two games.

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

The Dutch defender continues to be a solid pick every week , possessing greater attacking upside now he is the full-back role.

Hincapie has collected 'defcon' points in four consecutive appearances, featuring a pair of shutouts.

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

I'd pick half a dozen Liverpool players this week if allowed.

Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the tenth occasion in 17 games in a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

They have a paltry 9 goals this campaign, with only a couple on the road. It represents one of the safest clean sheet opportunity available.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's improved goalscoring upturn – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.

It would be a third in a row and the Paraguayan defender becoming an outstanding value defender option. You can select him regularly in most games, thanks to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder should play a key part for Old Trafford in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the highest xG statistically by over three goals – 8.78 against the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle United team that has not excelled in away matches – managing one win in their last seven.

Mount may assume a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, and could feature behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a big haul , with a home match against the struggling Wolves being the prime opportunity for that to happen.

He has delivered returns in three out of his last four games – two assists and one defensive contribution performance.

During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, and his expected goals is 0.88.

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

With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's current form is impossible to ignore.

He is Villa's key attacker, who can scoring a strike with half a yard of space inside the area.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a difficult assignment, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground on two occasions in the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Because of his fixture, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, and having bagged five goals over three matches, Ekitike receives the captaincy this week.

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

One cannot consider benching Haaland, although because he has a tricky fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to bet against him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m