Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Gunners Defence – The FPL Team of the Week

What number of The Reds players might you accommodate inside your squad for this round?

The Merseyside club are coming off two consecutive victories , featuring a in-form striker in their French frontman preparing for a fixture with a struggling Wolves side who are tracking for one of the worst top-flight seasons in history.

If you've kept a few of your AFCON transfers , with the budget to spend after losing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently assets from Anfield options ought to be the main consideration.

The ideal squad is constructed based on latest Fantasy Premier League prices to stay under a £100m budget, simulating using a one-week wildcard.

A Look Back at Last Week's Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , alongside the in-form pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman led the selection to a solid 82 points – enhanced by a 10-point cameo from Antonee Robinson from the replacements.

The FPL Selection for Matchday 18

Keeper & Defenders

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

The North London side's backline suffered a minor wobble in the wake of the absence of Gabriel, but they have secured two clean sheets in their past four , boasting 9 so far with not even the campaign's midpoint gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in only three home games campaign. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Richarlison , plus a late header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a triple-up from the Arsenal backline.

As well as being the strongest defence in FPL, with a clean sheet in more than half of their fixtures, they host a Brighton team who have failed to score in their past two games.

The South Coast club have scored just nine strikes from eight matches on the road.

The Dutch defender continues to be a solid pick each gameweek , possessing increased goal threat now he is the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has earned 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, which included a pair of shutouts.

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

One could select six Anfield assets for this fixture if allowed.

Wolves were shut out for the tenth occasion this season in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

The Midlands side have only managed nine goals in total, including a couple on the road. It represents a very secure clean sheet prospect available.

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

Regardless of Leeds United's recent goalscoring upturn – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Stadium of Light clean sheet at home.

That would mark their third consecutive and Alderete establishing himself as a prime budget defender option. Managers can start him with assurance in most games, given his regular defensive contribution points.

Midfield

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

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

In their last three matches, United registered the best xG in the league by over three goals – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle team who have struggled away from home – managing a single victory in seven.

Mount may inherit many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, especially from dead-ball situations, and could play behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a big haul and a home match versus the struggling Wolves presenting the prime time for that to happen.

Wirtz has delivered returns across four recent fixtures – two assists plus a defensive contribution display.

In that period he has created 10 chances, the highest of any his teammates, while his xG totals 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points in two games, Rogers' form is impossible to ignore.

He is Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to producing a strike with minimal room inside the area.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a tough proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground in two of recent years.

Strikers

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

Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for his place, coupled with bagged a five-goal haul in three games, the French striker gets the double-points role for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting Haaland, however with him having a more difficult away game in this round, we are opting to bet against him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m