🔗 Share this article

What number of The Reds assets might you fit inside your squad this week?

The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs and boast a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a clash with Wolves currently tracking for an abysmal top-flight seasons on record.

Should you have held onto some of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , and possess the cash to spend by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool options must be the primary focus.

The weekly selection is assembled based on latest Fantasy Premier League costs to stay under a 100 million pound spending limit, as if you were playing a Free Hit chip.

What Was the Performance of Our Recent Team?

Skipper Erling Haaland (32 points) , alongside the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman propelled the team to a solid score – supplemented by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender as a substitute.

Our FPL Selection for Gameweek 18

Keeper & Defenders

David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).

Arsenal's backline had a minor wobble after the absence of Gabriel, but they have kept two shutouts over their last four matches , with nine already with less than the campaign's midpoint gone.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in only three home games campaign. Those goals were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

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

As well as being the best defence in FPL, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they host a Brighton side that has drawn a blank in two consecutive outings.

The South Coast club have only managed 9 strikes across eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender is a steady option each gameweek and has more offensive potential operating as the full-back role.

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

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

I'd pick six Liverpool players for this fixture if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the tenth occasion this season in Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Brentford.

The Midlands side have a paltry nine goals this campaign, including a couple away from home. That makes this one of the safest clean sheet opportunity possible.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – we're selecting a Sunderland shutout at home.

That would mark their third in a row , with Alderete establishing himself as a prime budget defensive pick. Managers can field him confidently in most games, thanks to his consistent 'defcon' points.

Midfielders

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

Mount should play a bigger part at Old Trafford in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the greatest expected goals (xG) in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.

They face a Newcastle side that has been poor on the road – managing a single victory in their last seven.

Mount is likely to inherit many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, especially from dead-ball situations, and might play behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a significant score , with a home match versus Wolves being the prime scenario for it.

Wirtz has posted points in three of his past four games – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution display.

During that spell he has created 10 chances, the highest among all Liverpool, and his expected goals totals 0.88.

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

After recording 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's current form cannot be overlooked.

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

An away trip at Chelsea may appear a difficult proposition, but Villa have won at that ground twice during the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Given his fixture, a lack of competition for a starting spot, coupled with scored five goals in three games, Ekitike receives the double-points role for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting the Norwegian goal machine, although with him having a tougher fixture on the road this week, I'm willing to look elsewhere for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m