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How many Liverpool assets might you squeeze inside your squad for this round?

The Merseyside club have notched a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a encounter with a struggling Wolves side who are on course for a historically poor top-flight campaigns ever.

Should you have held onto some of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the funds to upgrade following the injury to the injured Manchester United's playmaker, then Liverpool options must be the main consideration.

The weekly selection is assembled based on present Fantasy Premier League valuations to fit within a £100m budget, mirroring you were playing a one-week wildcard.

A Look Back at Last Week's Selection?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the hot pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike led the squad to a respectable 82 points – with a bonus a 10-point contribution from Antonee Robinson off the bench.

Our FPL Selection for Matchday 18

Keeper and Defence

David Raya, the Gunners, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H).

Arsenal's defence suffered a brief dip following the absence of Gabriel, yet they've recorded two clean sheets over their last four matches , with nine to their name with not even the campaign's midpoint gone.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in all but three matches at home campaign. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

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

They are the top defensive unit statistically, recording shutouts in more than half of their matches, they face a Brighton side who have failed to score in two consecutive matches.

Brighton have only managed 9 strikes in eight away games.

Timber remains a solid option each gameweek and has increased offensive potential operating as the full-back role.

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

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

Managers would love six Liverpool assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time in 17 games in Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Brentford.

They have scored just 9 goals in total, with only two on the road. That makes this as safe a clean sheet prospect available.

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

Regardless of Leeds United's improved goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – the pick is a Sunderland shutout at home.

That would mark a third in a row and Alderete becoming a prime low-cost defender option. Managers can select him with assurance in most games, thanks to his consistent 'defcon' returns.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a key role for Manchester United in the next few games, following Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.

Over the past three games, United boast the highest expected goals (xG) in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 against the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle side who have not excelled in away matches – with just a single victory in seven.

The former Chelsea man may assume a large share of the injured star's creative responsibilities, especially from dead-ball situations, and might operate as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a big haul and a fixture at Anfield against the struggling Wolves being a perfect opportunity for it.

He has registered attacking returns in three of his past four fixtures – two assists plus a 'defcon' performance.

In that period he has created 10 chances, a team-high among all Liverpool, and his xG stands at 0.88.

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

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

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

An away trip at Chelsea may appear a difficult assignment, but Villa have won at that ground twice during the last three campaigns.

Strikers

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

Because of his fixture, a lack of competition for a starting spot, and having scored a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker receives the captaincy this week.

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

There's no omitting the Norwegian goal machine, however because he has a more difficult away game in this round, I'm willing to pass over him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m