🔗 Share this article

What number of Liverpool selections are you able to squeeze in your squad for this round?

The Merseyside club have secured back-to-back wins , with a red-hot striker in Hugo Ekitike going into a encounter with Wolves who are tracking for an abysmal top-flight seasons on record.

For managers who retained a portion of your AFCON transfers and have the budget to spend after losing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool options should be your top priority.

This weekly selection is chosen using current Fantasy Premier League prices to comply with a 100 million pound spending limit, as if activating a one-week wildcard.

What Was the Performance of Last Week's Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the productive pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike guided the team to a handsome total – supplemented by a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson from the replacements.

The Fantasy Premier League Selection for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper and Defenders

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

The North London side's defence had a slight stumble after the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have secured two shutouts over their last four matches , with nine to their name with less than half the season gone.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in all but three matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Tottenham's forward and a late goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

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

As well as being the best defence in FPL, recording shutouts in over 50% of their matches, they host a Brighton team who have failed to score in their last two outings.

The South Coast club have a mere nine goals from eight matches on the road.

The Dutch defender remains a steady option every week and has increased offensive potential operating as the full-back role.

Hincapie has collected defensive contribution points in his past four appearances, which included a pair of shutouts.

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

I'd pick six Anfield players this week if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time so far in Saturday's 2-0 home loss to the Bees.

They have a paltry nine strikes in total, including a couple on the road. This is a very secure shutout bet possible.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – highlighted by their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light clean sheet at home.

It would be a third consecutive and Alderete establishing himself as a prime budget defensive pick. Managers can start him regularly in most games, given his potential for defensive contribution points.

Midfield

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

Mount is expected to take on a significant part for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.

Recently, Erik ten Hag's team registered the greatest xG across the Premier 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 away from home – with just a single victory in seven.

The former Chelsea man could well assume a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, notably on set-pieces, potentially play in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is due a big haul and a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves representing the prime opportunity for that to happen.

Wirtz has delivered returns in three out of four recent fixtures – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution display.

During that spell he has created 10 chances, the most of any his teammates, while his xG totals 0.88.

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

With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's form is impossible to ignore.

He is Aston Villa's talisman, with an ability to scoring a goal with minimal space inside the area.

An away trip at Chelsea could be viewed as a tough proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious there in two of the last three campaigns.

Strikers

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

Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for his place, coupled with bagged five goals in three games, the French striker earns the captaincy for this round.

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

There's no dropping the Norwegian goal machine, but because he has a tricky away game this week, I'm willing to look elsewhere for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m