🔗 Share this article

How many The Reds assets can you fit inside your squad for this round?

Jurgen Klopp's side are coming off a pair of triumphs and boast a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a clash with Wolves who are heading towards an abysmal Premier League seasons in history.

If you've kept some of your AFCON transfers , with the budget to reinvest after losing the unavailable Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool picks ought to be your top priority.

The weekly selection is assembled based on latest Fantasy Premier League valuations to fit within a £100m budget, simulating activating a Free Hit.

What Was the Performance of Our Recent Team?

Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , combined with the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a solid score – supplemented by a double-digit cameo from Fulham's defender off the bench.

The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

Arsenal's defence experienced a slight stumble after an injury to Gabriel, however, they've recorded two shutouts over their last four matches and have nine to their name with less than half the season completed.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in all but three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a spectacular strike from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected header from Wolves' attacker.

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

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

As well as being the top defence in the game, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's side who have failed to score in their last two outings.

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

Timber continues to be a steady pick each gameweek , with increased attacking upside operating as the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has earned defensive contribution points in his past four starts, including 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 were shut out once again in 17 games in a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

They have scored just nine goals in total, with only a couple away from home. That makes this one of the safest shutout opportunity possible.

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

Even with the Yorkshire club's better offensive form – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.

That would mark their third consecutive , with the Paraguayan defender becoming a prime budget defender option. You can field him regularly across many fixtures, thanks to his consistent 'defcon' points.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder is expected to take on a bigger responsibility at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with their Portuguese maestro out injured.

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

Their opponents are a Newcastle United side that has struggled on the road – with just a single victory in their last seven.

Mount may inherit a large share of the injured star's creative responsibilities, particularly on set-pieces, and could operate behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a big haul , with a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves being an ideal time for that to happen.

He has registered attacking returns in three out of four recent games – two assists plus a 'defcon' display.

In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, while his expected goals is 0.88.

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

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

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

An away trip at Chelsea might seem a difficult assignment, but Villa have won at that ground in two of the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for a starting spot, and having bagged five goals over three matches, Ekitike earns the captaincy this week.

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

One cannot consider dropping Haaland, but because he has a tougher away game this week, we are opting to pass over him with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m