Skipper Ekitike along with a Triple Arsenal Backline – The FPL Team of the Week

How many Liverpool players might you accommodate into your squad for this round?

Jurgen Klopp's side have notched two consecutive victories and boast a sizzling attacker in their French frontman preparing for a clash with Wolves that are heading towards an abysmal Premier League campaigns in history.

For managers who retained some of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers , and possess the budget to spend following the injury to the injured Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool players should be the primary focus.

This weekly selection is constructed based on latest Fantasy Premier League prices to stay under a 100 million pound cap, simulating you were playing a Free Hit chip.

What Was the Performance of Last Week's Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a huge score) , alongside the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike led the selection to a solid total – enhanced by a 10-point cameo from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

The FPL Team of the Week for Gameweek 18

Keeper and Defence

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

The North London side's backline suffered a brief dip following the absence of Gabriel, yet they've kept two clean sheets in their past four , boasting nine so far with less than half the season completed.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in only three home games campaign. Those goals came from Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected header from Wolves' attacker.

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

This week features a triple-up on the Arsenal defence.

Not only are they the best defensive unit in the game, recording shutouts in more than half of their matches, they take on a Brighton side that has drawn a blank in their last two games.

Brighton have scored just 9 goals from eight matches on the road.

The Dutch defender remains a solid choice every week , with greater goal threat since returning to right-back.

The Ecuadorian has registered defensive contribution points in his past four appearances, which included two clean sheets.

Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (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 a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to the Bees.

The Midlands side have only managed nine strikes in total, with only a couple away from home. It represents one of the safest shutout opportunity imaginable.

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

Despite Leeds United's better offensive form – and the form of their striker – we're selecting a Sunderland shutout at home.

It would be their third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender becoming a prime value defensive pick. Managers can field him regularly in most games, due to his regular 'defcon' points.

Midfield

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

Mount will likely assume a key responsibility at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, with their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.

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

They face a Newcastle side who have been poor in away matches – with just a single victory in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man is likely to assume a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, especially from dead-ball situations, and might feature as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a major point return and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves representing the prime opportunity for it.

Wirtz has posted points across his last four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution display.

In that period he's made 10 chances, the highest of any his teammates, and his xG stands at 0.88.

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

With 30 points in two games, Rogers' hot streak cannot be overlooked.

He is Villa's talisman, with an ability to scoring a strike from the smallest space inside the area.

An away trip to Chelsea may appear a tough assignment, but Villa have won at that ground twice during recent years.

Forwards

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no competition for his place, and having scored a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike earns the captaincy for this round.

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

One cannot consider dropping the Norwegian goal machine, although with him having a tricky fixture on the road this week, the choice is to look elsewhere with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m