Skipper Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Backline – The FPL Team of the Week

The quantity of The Reds assets can you fit into your squad this week?

The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs , featuring a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike going into a fixture with a struggling Wolves side currently on course for an abysmal top-flight campaigns on record.

If you've kept some of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards , and possess the cash to upgrade by replacing the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool players ought to be the primary focus.

This team of the week is chosen according to current Fantasy Premier League prices to fit within a 100 million pound budget, simulating activating a Free Hit chip.

A Look Back at Last Week's Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the hot duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman led the squad to a solid score – with a bonus a double-digit contribution from Antonee Robinson from the replacements.

Our Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Keeper and Defenders

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

Arsenal's defence experienced a slight stumble following an injury to their Brazilian defender, yet they've kept two clean sheets in their past four , boasting nine so far with not even half the season gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in just a handful of fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Tottenham's forward and a late header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

We're opting for a triple selection from the Gunners' defence.

As well as being the strongest defence in the game, recording shutouts in over 50% of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's side who have not found the net in their last two outings.

The South Coast club have a mere nine goals from eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender remains a solid option each gameweek , with increased offensive potential since returning to the full-back role.

Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, including a pair of shutouts.

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

I'd pick half a dozen Liverpool assets this week if allowed.

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

The Midlands side have only managed nine strikes this campaign, with only two on the road. It represents a very secure clean sheet prospect available.

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

Despite Leeds United's better goalscoring upturn – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Sunderland shutout on home soil.

That would mark their third in a row , with Alderete establishing himself as a prime low-cost defensive pick. Managers can select him confidently across many fixtures, due to his regular 'defcon' points.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a bigger responsibility at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, due to their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.

Over the past three games, United registered the best expected goals (xG) in the league by over three goals – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.

They face a Newcastle side who have been poor in away matches – with just a single victory in seven.

The former Chelsea man could well assume a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, and could operate behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score and a home match against Wolves representing a perfect scenario for it.

He has delivered returns in three out of his last four fixtures – two assists and one defensive contribution display.

During that spell he has created 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, while his expected goals totals 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' form is impossible to ignore.

He's Aston Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to creating a strike with the smallest room inside the area.

An away trip to Stamford Bridge could be viewed as a difficult proposition, but Villa have won at that ground twice during the last three campaigns.

Strikers

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for his place, coupled with scored five goals over three matches, Ekitike receives the double-points role for this round.

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

There's no benching Haaland, but with him having a more difficult fixture on the road this week, the choice is to pass over him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m