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The quantity of Liverpool assets might you accommodate inside your squad this week?

The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs , with a red-hot forward in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a clash with a struggling Wolves side that are tracking for an abysmal Premier League seasons in history.

Should you have held onto some of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the cash to spend by replacing the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool picks should be the primary focus.

The team of the week is assembled according to current Fantasy Premier League costs to stay under a 100 million pound cap, simulating you were playing a Free Hit chip.

What Was the Performance of Our Recent Selection?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) , combined with the in-form duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Hugo Ekitike guided the team to a handsome score – enhanced by a 10-point performance from Antonee Robinson from the replacements.

The FPL Ideal Squad for Gameweek 18

Keeper and Defenders

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

Arsenal's backline experienced a brief dip following the absence of their Brazilian defender, however, they've kept two shutouts in their past four , boasting nine already with not even the campaign's midpoint played.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in just a handful of home games this season. Those goals came from Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Richarlison and a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

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

As well as being the strongest defensive unit in FPL, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they take on a Brighton side who have not found the net in their last two matches.

The South Coast club have scored just 9 strikes across eight fixtures away from home.

Timber is a reliable pick every week and has more offensive potential operating as right-back.

Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points in his past four appearances, featuring two clean sheets.

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

One could select half a dozen Anfield assets this week if possible.

Wolves were shut out for the tenth occasion this season in a recent two-nil home loss to Brentford.

The Midlands side have a paltry nine strikes all season, including a couple on the road. This is as safe a clean sheet bet available.

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

Even with Leeds United's recent offensive form – and the form of their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.

That would mark their third consecutive and Alderete is cementing himself as the best budget defender option. Managers can start him confidently in most games, thanks to his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

Mount will likely assume a bigger responsibility at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.

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

They welcome a Newcastle side who have been poor away from home – with just one win from seven attempts.

Mount is likely to inherit many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, and could feature as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a significant score , with a fixture at Anfield against Wolves being a perfect opportunity for it.

Wirtz has registered attacking returns in three out of his past four fixtures – two assists and one defensive contribution display.

Over that time he has created 10 chances, the most of any his teammates, and his expected goals is 0.88.

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

After recording 30 points over two matches, Rogers' hot streak cannot be overlooked.

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

A fixture at Chelsea might seem a difficult assignment, the Birmingham club have won at that ground on two occasions in the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, having no rivalry for a starting spot, and having scored five goals over three matches, Ekitike earns the captaincy this week.

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

There's no dropping Haaland, however with him having a more difficult away game in this round, the choice is to pass over him for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m