🔗 Share this article Skipper Ekitike along with a Three-Pronged Arsenal Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week The quantity of The Reds players can you squeeze inside your squad this week? The Merseyside club have secured back-to-back wins and boast a in-form attacker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a clash with a struggling Wolves side who are heading towards a historically poor Premier League campaigns ever. For managers who held onto a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers and have the funds to upgrade by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool players should be your top priority. The team of the week is assembled using current FPL valuations to stay under a 100 million pound budget, mirroring activating a one-week wildcard. How Did The Previous Team? Skipper Manchester City's striker (a huge score) , alongside the in-form pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike guided the squad to a handsome total – with a bonus a double-digit cameo from Fulham's defender from the replacements. The FPL Selection for Gameweek 18 Keeper & Defenders David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H). The North London side's backline experienced a brief dip after the absence of Gabriel, however, they've recorded two clean sheets over their last four matches , boasting 9 so far with not even half the season gone. Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in only three matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a late header from Tolu Arokodare. Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) and Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), Arsenal – vs the Seagulls (H). We're opting for a triple selection on the Gunners' backline. As well as being the strongest defence statistically, recording shutouts in more than half of their fixtures, they host a Brighton team who have drawn a blank in two consecutive outings. The South Coast club have a mere 9 strikes in eight matches on the road. Timber remains a steady pick each gameweek , with more offensive potential now he is the full-back role. Hincapie has earned defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, which included two clean sheets. Virgil van Dijk, the Reds, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H). I'd pick six Anfield assets this week if possible. Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the 10th time this season in Saturday's two-nil defeat at Molineux to Brentford. They have scored just nine strikes this campaign, including a couple away from home. It represents a very secure clean sheet prospect imaginable. Omar Alderete, the Black Cats, £4m – vs Leeds United (H). Despite Leeds United's better goalscoring upturn – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Sunderland clean sheet on home soil. This would secure a third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as the best budget defender option. Managers can select him regularly across many fixtures, due to his consistent defensive contribution points. Midfielders Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle (H). The English midfielder is expected to take on a key responsibility at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, due to Bruno Fernandes being sidelined. Over the past three games, United boast the greatest expected goals (xG) in the league by a comfortable distance – 8.78 against the next best Leeds United's 5.68. They welcome a Newcastle United team that has not excelled on the road – managing a single victory in seven. Mount is likely to inherit a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, especially from dead-ball situations, and might feature behind the striker. Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H). Wirtz is on the verge of a major point return , with a home match against Wolves being an ideal scenario for it. Wirtz has posted points in three of his past four fixtures – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' display. Over that time he has created 10 chances, the most among all Liverpool, and his xG totals 0.88. Morgan Rogers, Villa, £7.2m – vs Chelsea (A). After recording 30 points in two games, the midfielder's hot streak demands attention. He is Villa's talisman, who can scoring a strike with the smallest space in the box. A fixture to Chelsea could be viewed as a challenging assignment, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there in two of recent years. Forwards Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolves (H). Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for a starting spot, and having scored a five-goal haul over three matches, the French striker earns the captaincy for this round. Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A). It is unthinkable to omitting Haaland, however because he has a tougher fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to bet against him for the armband. Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m