🔗 Share this article

How many The Reds assets might you squeeze into your team for this round?

The Merseyside club are coming off back-to-back wins , with a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike going into a encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are on course for an abysmal top-flight seasons in history.

Should you have held onto a portion of your AFCON wildcards and have the cash to spend following the injury to the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, in that case assets from Anfield options must be your top priority.

This team of the week is chosen according to current FPL costs to comply with a 100 million pound spending limit, mirroring activating a Free Hit.

A Look Back at Last Week's Team?

Skipper Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , alongside the hot pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike led the selection to a handsome score – with a bonus a double-digit performance from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

The Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Keeper and Defenders

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

Arsenal's defence suffered a slight stumble following the absence of Gabriel, yet they've kept two shutouts in their past four , with 9 so far with not even the campaign's midpoint played.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in just a handful of fixtures at the Emirates this season. Those goals were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a triple-up from the Gunners' defence.

They are the strongest defence statistically, recording shutouts in more than half of their matches, they face a Brighton side who have failed to score in their past two games.

Brighton have a mere 9 goals from eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender is a reliable pick every week , possessing more offensive potential now he is right-back.

The Ecuadorian has earned defensive contribution points over his last four appearances, featuring two clean sheets.

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

One could select half a dozen Liverpool assets this week if possible.

Wolves drew another blank once again so far in a recent two-nil defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have only managed nine strikes in total, including a couple on the road. That makes this one of the safest shutout bet possible.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's better offensive form – 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 , with Alderete becoming a prime budget defender option. Managers can field him confidently in most games, given his potential for 'defcon' returns.

Midfielders

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

Mount will likely assume a bigger responsibility at Old Trafford in the next few games, with their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team registered the best xG across the Premier League by over three goals – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.

They face a Newcastle United side that has not excelled in away matches – with just one win from seven attempts.

The former Chelsea man may take over many of the injured star's creative responsibilities, especially on set-pieces, potentially play behind the striker.

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

Wirtz is due a major point return and a home match versus the struggling Wolves presenting an ideal time for that to happen.

He has posted points in three out of four recent games – a pair of assists and one 'defcon' performance.

In that period he's made 10 chances, a team-high among all Liverpool, and his expected goals totals 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points over two matches, Rogers' form is impossible to ignore.

He's Villa's key attacker, with an ability to creating a goal from minimal room inside the area.

An away trip at Stamford Bridge might seem a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there on two occasions in recent years.

Strikers

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

Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no competition for a starting spot, coupled with notched a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker gets the captaincy for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to benching the Norwegian goal machine, but because he has a more difficult fixture on the road in this round, the choice is to bet against him with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m