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What number of Liverpool assets are you able to accommodate into your team for this round?

Jurgen Klopp's side are coming off two consecutive victories , featuring a red-hot forward in their French frontman ahead of a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers that are tracking for one of the worst top-flight seasons in history.

Should you have held onto a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the budget to spend after losing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool picks should be the main consideration.

The team of the week is chosen based on current FPL costs to fit within a £100m cap, mirroring you were playing a Free Hit chip.

What Was the Performance of Last Week's Squad?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a huge score) , combined with the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Liverpool's frontman propelled the selection to a solid total – supplemented by a double-digit contribution from Fulham's defender as a substitute.

Our Fantasy Premier League Selection for Gameweek 18

Goalkeeper & Defenders

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

The North London side's backline suffered a brief dip following the absence of their Brazilian defender, however, they've recorded two clean sheets recently , boasting 9 to their name with less than half the season completed.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in only three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a spectacular strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected header from Wolves' attacker.

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

We're opting for a triple selection on the Arsenal backline.

As well as being the top defensive unit in FPL, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's side who have drawn a blank in their past two matches.

The South Coast club have only managed 9 goals from eight fixtures away from home.

The Dutch defender remains a solid choice every week , with increased offensive potential now he is right-back.

Hincapie has registered defensive contribution points over his last four starts, featuring two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love six Anfield assets this week if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team were shut out once again in 17 games in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

They have only managed nine goals all season, including a couple away from home. This is one of the safest shutout prospect imaginable.

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

Regardless of Leeds United's improved offensive form – and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Sunderland clean sheet at home.

That would mark a third in a row , with Alderete is cementing himself as the best budget defender option. Managers can start him with assurance in most games, due to his regular 'defcon' points.

Midfield

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

The English midfielder should play a significant role for Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, due to their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

Recently, United registered the greatest expected goals (xG) statistically by over three goals – 8.78 versus second-best Leeds United's 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle team that has been poor in away matches – managing one win in seven.

Mount could well take over many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, notably on set-pieces, and might operate as an attacking midfielder.

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

Wirtz is on the verge of a major point return and a home match against the struggling 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 display.

Over that time his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the highest among all his teammates, while his xG totals 0.88.

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

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

He is Aston Villa's key attacker, with an ability to scoring a goal with minimal space in the box.

A fixture at Chelsea may appear a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have won at that ground in two of recent years.

Forwards

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

Due to his fixture, a lack of competition for his place, coupled with notched a five-goal haul in three games, Ekitike earns the double-points role for this round.

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

There's no dropping Haaland, although with him having a tricky away game in this round, I'm willing to pass over him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m