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What number of Liverpool players can you squeeze in your squad in the upcoming gameweek?

The Merseyside club are coming off two consecutive victories , featuring a sizzling attacker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are heading towards a historically poor top-flight campaigns ever.

For managers who kept a few of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the cash to upgrade after losing the injured Bruno Fernandes, consequently assets from Anfield players should be the main consideration.

The team of the week is chosen according to present FPL valuations to fit within a 100 million pound spending limit, as if you were playing a Free Hit chip.

What Was the Performance of Last Week's Selection?

Skipper Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , combined with the productive pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman guided the team to a respectable 82 points – enhanced by a 10-point performance from Antonee Robinson as a substitute.

The Fantasy Premier League Selection for Gameweek 18

Keeper & Defence

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

The North London side's backline had a brief dip in the wake of the absence of Gabriel, but they have secured two shutouts over their last four matches and have 9 already with not even half the season gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in just a handful of 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 Tolu Arokodare.

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

This week features a triple-up on the Gunners' backline.

They are the strongest defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in more than half of their fixtures, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has failed to score in two consecutive games.

Brighton have scored just nine goals from eight away games.

The Dutch defender continues to be a reliable pick each gameweek , possessing more goal threat operating as the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has registered 'defcon' points in his past four starts, including two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love six Anfield players this week if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team were shut out once again so far in Saturday's two-nil defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

They have only managed nine goals in total, with only two away from home. This is one of the safest shutout prospect available.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – highlighted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Sunderland clean sheet at home.

That would mark their third consecutive and Alderete becoming the best budget defender option. Managers can select him with assurance in most games, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution points.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder should play a key part for Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

In their last three matches, United boast the greatest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to the next best Leeds United's 5.68.

They face a Newcastle United side that has not excelled in away matches – with just one win in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man is likely to inherit a large share of the injured star's playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, potentially play behind the striker.

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

Wirtz is on the verge of a major point return and a home match versus Wolves presenting the prime scenario for it.

Wirtz has posted points in three out of his last four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' display.

In that period 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 Chelsea (A).

After recording 30 points in two games, the midfielder's hot streak is impossible to ignore.

He is Aston Villa's talisman, capable of producing a goal from half a yard of space inside the area.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge might seem a tough assignment, but Villa have won at that ground in two of the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Due to his fixture, having no rivalry for his place, and having notched five goals over three matches, the French striker earns the captain's armband this week.

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

There's no dropping the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tricky fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to pass over him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m