Captain Hugo Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Gunners Defence – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round

How many Liverpool selections might you accommodate in your team this week?

The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs , featuring a sizzling forward in their French frontman ahead of a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers currently heading towards one of the worst Premier League campaigns on record.

For managers who retained a few of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers and have the funds to spend after losing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool options must be your top priority.

This weekly selection is assembled according to current Fantasy Premier League valuations to stay under a £100m spending limit, mirroring you were playing a Free Hit.

What Was the Performance of Last Week's Selection?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (32 points) , alongside the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman led the squad to a respectable total – supplemented by a 10-point cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.

This Week's Fantasy Premier League Selection for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper & Defenders

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

The North London side's defence experienced a brief dip after an injury to Gabriel, but they have kept two clean sheets recently and have nine to their name with less than the campaign's midpoint played.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in all but three home games this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular effort from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected header from Wolves' attacker.

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

We're opting for a three-pronged from the Gunners' defence.

Not only are they the strongest defensive unit in FPL, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's side who have not found the net in two consecutive outings.

The South Coast club have only managed 9 strikes in eight matches on the road.

Timber is a solid choice each gameweek and has greater attacking upside operating as right-back.

The Ecuadorian has earned defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, featuring two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love six Anfield assets for this fixture if possible.

Wolves were shut out for the 10th time this season during a recent 2-0 home loss to the Bees.

The Midlands side have scored just 9 goals this campaign, with only two away from home. That makes this as safe a clean sheet opportunity possible.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout at home.

This would secure a third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender becoming a prime value defensive pick. You can field him regularly across many fixtures, given his consistent defensive contribution points.

Midfielders

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

Mount is expected to take on a bigger role for Manchester United in the next few games, with their Portuguese maestro out injured.

Over the past three games, United have generated the best expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds' 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle United team that has not excelled in away matches – with just a single victory in seven.

The former Chelsea man may assume many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, notably from dead-ball situations, potentially operate as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a big haul , with a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves being the prime scenario for that to happen.

He has registered attacking returns in three out of his past four games – two assists plus a defensive contribution performance.

In that period he has created 10 chances, the highest of any Liverpool, and his expected goals is 0.88.

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

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

He's Aston Villa's main goal threat, who can creating a strike with the smallest room in the box.

An away trip at Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there twice during the last three campaigns.

Forwards

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

Due to his fixture, having no rivalry for his place, and having bagged a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike receives the captaincy for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting Haaland, but with him having a tougher away game in this round, we are opting to look elsewhere for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m