Skipper Hugo Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round

What number of The Reds players might you fit in your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?

The Merseyside club have secured two consecutive victories and boast a red-hot forward in their French frontman preparing for a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers currently tracking for a historically poor top-flight campaigns on record.

If you've retained a few of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers and have the budget to reinvest after losing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool players must be your top priority.

This ideal squad is assembled based on latest Fantasy Premier League valuations to fit within a 100 million pound cap, as if you were playing a Free Hit.

A Look Back at Our Recent Squad?

Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) and the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike guided the team to a handsome score – with a bonus a double-digit performance from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

This Week's Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper & Defence

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

Arsenal's backline experienced a slight stumble in the wake of the absence of Gabriel, but they have secured two clean sheets in their past four and have nine to their name with not even half the season completed.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in just a handful of fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a spectacular effort from Tottenham's forward and a late goal from Wolves' attacker.

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

This week features a triple-up from the Gunners' defence.

As well as being the best defence in the game, recording shutouts in the majority of their fixtures, they take on a Brighton team who have failed to score in their last two matches.

The South Coast club have a mere nine goals across eight away games.

Timber continues to be a solid choice every week , possessing greater goal threat now he is right-back.

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

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

I'd pick half a dozen Liverpool players for this fixture if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the tenth occasion in 17 games during a recent two-nil home loss to Brentford.

They have scored just nine strikes in total, with only a couple away from home. It represents as safe a clean sheet prospect available.

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

Even with the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Sunderland shutout at home.

That would mark their third in a row and the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as the best budget defensive pick. Managers can start him regularly across many fixtures, thanks to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder should play a key role at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.

In their last three matches, United boast the highest xG in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 against second-best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle team that has been poor away from home – managing one win in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man may inherit many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially on set-pieces, and could operate as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score and a home match versus Wolves representing an ideal time for it.

Wirtz has posted points across his last four games – a pair of assists and one 'defcon' display.

Over that time his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, and his xG stands at 0.88.

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

With 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's form demands attention.

He's Aston Villa's key attacker, who can scoring a goal with the smallest room inside the area.

An away trip to Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious at that ground twice during the last three campaigns.

Forwards

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no competition for a starting spot, and having notched a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike gets the captain's armband for this round.

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

One cannot consider benching the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tougher away game this week, the choice is to pass over him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m