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The quantity of Liverpool assets can you accommodate inside your team for this round?

The Merseyside club are coming off two consecutive victories , with a in-form attacker in Hugo Ekitike going into a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers who are tracking for a historically poor top-flight seasons on record.

If you've kept a few of your AFCON free transfers , with the funds to reinvest by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, in that case assets from Anfield options must be the main consideration.

This weekly selection is constructed according to latest Fantasy Premier League costs to comply with a £100m budget, as if you were playing a one-week wildcard.

A Look Back at Last Week's Team?

Captain Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman led the team to a respectable score – with a bonus a 10-point performance from Antonee Robinson off the bench.

Our FPL Selection for Matchday 18

Goalkeeper & Defence

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

Arsenal's defence experienced a slight stumble in the wake of the absence of their Brazilian defender, but they have recorded two shutouts over their last four matches and have nine already before half the season gone.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have conceded in just a handful of home games campaign. Those goals were scored by Erling Haaland, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected goal from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a triple selection from the Arsenal backline.

They are the top defence in FPL, recording shutouts in over 50% of their fixtures, they host a Roberto De Zerbi's team that has not found the net in their past two games.

Brighton have a mere 9 strikes across eight away games.

Timber remains a solid choice every week , possessing greater offensive potential since returning to the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has registered 'defcon' points over his last four appearances, including a pair of shutouts.

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

One could select half a dozen Liverpool players for this fixture if the rules permitted.

Wolves were shut out for the tenth occasion in 17 games in a recent two-nil home loss to Brentford.

The Midlands side have only managed 9 strikes in total, including two away from home. That makes this as safe a shutout bet imaginable.

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

Regardless of Leeds United's recent offensive form – including the performances of their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light clean sheet on home soil.

This would secure a third in a row , with Alderete establishing himself as a prime budget defensive pick. You can select him regularly in most games, given his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

Mount is expected to take on a significant responsibility for Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, following their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the greatest expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a comfortable distance – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle side who have not excelled in away matches – with just one win in their last seven.

Mount is likely to assume a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, notably from dead-ball situations, and might feature as an attacking midfielder.

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

Wirtz is due a significant score and a home match versus Wolves representing a perfect time for that to happen.

He has delivered returns in three out of his last four fixtures – two assists plus a 'defcon' display.

Over that time he's made 10 chances, a team-high of any Liverpool, while his xG stands at 0.88.

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

After recording 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' form cannot be overlooked.

He's Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to producing a strike with half a yard of space inside the area.

An away trip at Chelsea might seem a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have won there on two occasions in recent years.

Forwards

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

Given his fixture, having no competition for his place, and having scored five goals over three matches, the French striker gets the captain's armband this week.

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

There's no benching Haaland, but because he has a more difficult fixture on the road in this round, we are opting to bet against him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m