🔗 Share this article

The quantity of The Reds players are you able to squeeze in your team this week?

Jurgen Klopp's side have secured a pair of triumphs , featuring a sizzling forward in their French frontman preparing for a encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers that are on course for an abysmal Premier League seasons in history.

Should you have held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations transfers and have the cash to upgrade after losing the injured Bruno Fernandes, then assets from Anfield players ought to be your top priority.

This team of the week is chosen using current Fantasy Premier League valuations to comply with a £100m cap, as if you were playing a Free Hit chip.

What Was the Performance of Our Recent Selection?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the productive duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike guided the team to a solid total – enhanced by a double-digit contribution from Antonee Robinson from the replacements.

Our Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Keeper & Defence

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

Arsenal's defence suffered a minor wobble following an injury to Gabriel, but they have recorded two clean sheets over their last four matches , with nine already before half the season played.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in just a handful of home games this season. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular strike from Tottenham's forward and a late goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

We're opting for a three-pronged from the Arsenal defence.

They are the best defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has not found the net in their last two outings.

The South Coast club have scored just 9 goals in eight matches on the road.

Timber remains a solid choice every week , possessing greater goal threat since returning to 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).

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

Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the 10th time so far in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

The Midlands side have only managed 9 goals this campaign, with only two away from home. That makes this as safe a shutout bet available.

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

Even with the Yorkshire club's improved goalscoring upturn – including the performances of their striker – the pick is a Stadium of Light shutout at home.

It would be their third in a row and Alderete is cementing himself as the best value defender option. Managers can field him with assurance across many fixtures, thanks to his potential for defensive contribution points.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder is expected to take on a significant responsibility for Old Trafford in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro being sidelined.

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

Their opponents are a Newcastle team who have struggled on the road – managing one win in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man could well assume a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, notably on set-pieces, and could play behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a significant score and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves presenting a perfect scenario for it.

He has registered attacking returns across four recent games – a pair of assists plus a defensive contribution performance.

In that period he's made 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, while his xG totals 0.88.

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

With 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's form is impossible to ignore.

He is Aston Villa's key attacker, who can producing a strike from the smallest space in the box.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge may appear a difficult proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious there on two occasions in the past three seasons.

Strikers

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for a starting spot, and having bagged five goals in three games, the French striker gets the captaincy this week.

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

One cannot consider benching the Norwegian goal machine, but with him having a more difficult fixture on the road this week, I'm willing to bet against him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m