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What number of Liverpool players are you able to fit in your team for this round?

The Merseyside club are coming off back-to-back wins and boast a sizzling forward in Hugo Ekitike going into a encounter with Wolves that are tracking for an abysmal Premier League campaigns on record.

Should you have held onto some of your AFCON free transfers and have the cash to upgrade by replacing the sidelined Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool players ought to be the primary focus.

The ideal squad is chosen according to latest FPL costs to stay under a 100 million pound cap, mirroring you were playing a Free Hit.

How Did The Previous Team?

Skipper Erling Haaland (a massive haul) and the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a solid score – with a bonus a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender as a substitute.

Our FPL Team of the Week for Matchday 18

Keeper and Defence

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

The North London side's backline suffered a minor wobble in the wake of the absence of their Brazilian defender, however, they've kept two shutouts over their last four matches , boasting 9 so far with not even the campaign's midpoint completed.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in only three fixtures at the Emirates campaign. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a spectacular effort from Richarlison , plus a late header from Wolves' attacker.

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

It's a triple selection on the Gunners' backline.

They are the top defensive unit statistically, recording shutouts in the majority of their fixtures, they face a Brighton side who have failed to score in two consecutive outings.

Brighton have a mere nine strikes from eight matches on the road.

Timber is a solid option every week , possessing increased goal threat since returning to the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has registered 'defcon' points in his past four starts, including two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love six Liverpool assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team drew another blank once again so far in Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Brentford.

They have only managed nine strikes in total, including a couple on the road. That makes this as safe a shutout prospect available.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's recent offensive form – including the performances of their striker – we're selecting a Stadium of Light shutout on home soil.

It would be a third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as an outstanding value defensive pick. Managers can select him regularly in most games, thanks to his regular defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

Mount will likely assume a key responsibility for Old Trafford in the next few games, following Bruno Fernandes out injured.

In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team have generated the highest xG in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds' 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle United side that has not excelled in away matches – with just one win from seven attempts.

The former Chelsea man could well assume many of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, especially from dead-ball situations, potentially feature behind the striker.

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

Wirtz is due a major point return and a home match versus the struggling Wolves presenting the prime opportunity for it.

He has delivered returns in three out of four recent games – a pair of assists and one defensive contribution performance.

In that period his chance creation stands at 10 chances, the most of any his teammates, and his xG is 0.88.

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

With 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's current form demands attention.

He is Villa's main goal threat, with an ability to producing a goal with the smallest space in the box.

An away trip at Stamford Bridge might seem a tough proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious there in two of the last three campaigns.

Strikers

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

Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of competition for a starting spot, coupled with bagged a five-goal haul over three matches, Ekitike gets the double-points role for this round.

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

One cannot consider benching the Norwegian goal machine, but because he has a more difficult fixture on the road this week, I'm willing to look elsewhere for captaincy.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m