🔗 Share this article

The quantity of The Reds assets might you squeeze into your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?

The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs , featuring a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a clash with a struggling Wolves side that are tracking for a historically poor top-flight seasons on record.

Should you have held onto a few of your AFCON free transfers , with the budget to upgrade after losing the injured Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool picks should be the main consideration.

The team of the week is chosen according to latest Fantasy Premier League costs to stay under a £100m spending limit, simulating activating a one-week wildcard.

What Was the Performance of The Previous Squad?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (a huge score) , alongside the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike propelled the selection to a solid total – supplemented by a double-digit cameo from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

This Week's Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Keeper & Defenders

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

Arsenal's backline experienced a slight stumble following an injury to Gabriel, but they have kept two shutouts in their past four , boasting nine so far with not even the campaign's midpoint gone.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in only three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward and a late goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

This week features a triple selection on the Gunners' backline.

They are the best defensive unit in the game, recording shutouts in more than half of their fixtures, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have drawn a blank in two consecutive games.

Brighton have only managed 9 strikes from eight fixtures away from home.

Timber continues to be a steady choice every week , with greater goal threat now he is the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has earned 'defcon' points in his past four appearances, featuring a pair of shutouts.

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

Managers would love six Anfield players this week if allowed.

Wolves drew another blank for the tenth occasion in 17 games during Saturday's two-nil home loss to Brentford.

The Midlands side have scored just 9 strikes this campaign, including a couple on the road. It represents a very secure shutout prospect possible.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's improved offensive form – and the form of their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout at home.

It would be their third in a row , with the Paraguayan defender establishing himself as the best budget defender option. Managers can start him confidently in most games, thanks to his consistent 'defcon' returns.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder should play a key role for Old Trafford in the next few games, following their Portuguese maestro out injured.

Recently, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the highest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle team that has not excelled on the road – with just one win from seven attempts.

The former Chelsea man could well take over a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, notably on set-pieces, and could play behind the striker.

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

Wirtz is poised for a major point return , with a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves being the prime scenario for that to happen.

He has delivered returns in three of his last four fixtures – a pair of assists and one 'defcon' display.

In that period he's made 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, and his xG is 0.88.

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

With 30 points in two games, Rogers' hot streak demands attention.

He is Villa's key attacker, capable of producing a strike from half a yard of space in the box.

A fixture to Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a tough proposition, the Birmingham club have won there in two of the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for his place, coupled with bagged a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike earns the captaincy this week.

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

There's no dropping Haaland, however because he has a tricky away game in this round, I'm willing to bet against him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m