🔗 Share this article

The quantity of The Reds assets might you squeeze inside your lineup this week?

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

For managers who held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , with the funds to spend following the injury to the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool options must be the primary focus.

This team of the week is constructed according to current FPL prices to fit within a 100 million pound spending limit, simulating you were playing a one-week wildcard.

How Did The Previous Squad?

Skipper Erling Haaland (32 points) and the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman propelled the team to a respectable score – enhanced by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender as a substitute.

The FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Keeper & Defence

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

The North London side's defence had a slight stumble after an injury to their Brazilian defender, however, they've secured two shutouts in their past four , with nine to their name before the campaign's midpoint played.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in all but three fixtures at the Emirates this season. Those goals were scored by a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward and a surprise goal from Wolves' attacker.

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

It's a three-pronged from the Arsenal backline.

Not only are they the best defence in FPL, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has failed to score in two consecutive games.

Brighton have only managed nine goals from eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender remains a steady option each gameweek and has increased attacking upside operating as right-back.

The Ecuadorian has earned defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, which included a pair of shutouts.

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

Managers would love six Anfield players for this fixture if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank for the 10th time this season during a recent 2-0 home loss to the Bees.

The Midlands side have a paltry nine goals in total, with only two away from home. That makes this as safe a shutout opportunity imaginable.

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

Even with Leeds United's improved offensive form – including the performances of their striker – I'm backing a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil.

This would secure their third in a row and Alderete establishing himself as the best value defensive pick. You can field him regularly across many fixtures, thanks to his regular 'defcon' returns.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder is expected to take on a key responsibility at Manchester United in the next few games, with Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.

Recently, United have generated the highest expected goals (xG) in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds' 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle team that has not excelled in away matches – with just a single victory in seven.

Mount could well take over a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, potentially play in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is due a major point return and a fixture at Anfield against Wolves presenting a perfect opportunity for that to happen.

He has delivered returns in three of his last four games – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution performance.

In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, a team-high of any his teammates, and his expected goals totals 0.88.

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

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

He is Aston Villa's key attacker, capable of producing a strike with minimal space in the box.

A fixture to Chelsea could be viewed as a tough proposition, the Birmingham club have won at that ground on two occasions in recent years.

Strikers

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

Because of facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, and having scored five goals in three games, Ekitike gets the captaincy for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting Haaland, although because he has a tricky fixture on the road this week, I'm willing to bet against him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m