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How many Liverpool players are you able to accommodate in your team this week?

The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs , featuring a sizzling attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a fixture with a struggling Wolves side who are heading towards one of the worst top-flight campaigns in history.

If you've held onto a portion of your AFCON free transfers and have the budget to reinvest by replacing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, consequently assets from Anfield picks ought to be your top priority.

This ideal squad is assembled according to present FPL prices to comply with a 100 million pound budget, as if you were playing a one-week wildcard.

How Did Our Recent Team?

Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) , combined with the productive pair of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman guided the squad to a handsome score – enhanced by a double-digit performance from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

This Week's Fantasy Premier League Ideal Squad for Matchday 18

Keeper and Defenders

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

The North London side's backline suffered a slight stumble in the wake of the absence of their Brazilian defender, yet they've kept two shutouts recently , boasting 9 already with less than the campaign's midpoint completed.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in just a handful of fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a wondrous effort from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

This week features a three-pronged from the Gunners' defence.

As well as being the top defensive unit in the game, with a clean sheet in more than half of their fixtures, they host a Brighton team that has drawn a blank in their past two matches.

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

The Dutch defender is a solid choice every week , with more attacking upside now he is right-back.

The Ecuadorian has registered 'defcon' points in four consecutive starts, which included two clean sheets.

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

Managers would love six Liverpool players this week if allowed.

Wolves drew another blank once again in 17 games during a recent 2-0 home loss to the Bees.

They have a paltry 9 goals this campaign, including two away from home. That makes this as safe a clean sheet prospect possible.

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

Even with Leeds United's recent goalscoring upturn – 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 establishing himself as a prime budget defender option. You can select him confidently in most games, given his potential for defensive contribution points.

Midfielders

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

The English midfielder will likely assume a bigger role for Manchester United in the next few games, following Bruno Fernandes out injured.

Over the past three games, United registered the best expected goals (xG) in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds' 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle team who have been poor on the road – managing one win in seven.

The former Chelsea man could well take over a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, especially on set-pieces, and could operate in the number 10 role.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a major point return and a home match versus Wolves being an ideal opportunity for that to happen.

Wirtz has posted points in three of his past four fixtures – two assists plus a 'defcon' display.

In that period he's made 10 chances, the highest among all Liverpool, while his expected goals totals 0.88.

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

After recording 30 points across two gameweeks, the midfielder's form cannot be overlooked.

He is Aston Villa's talisman, capable of scoring a strike from the smallest space inside the area.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge may appear a tough assignment, the Birmingham club have won there twice during recent years.

Forwards

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

Due to his fixture, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, coupled with notched five goals in three games, Ekitike receives the captain's armband this week.

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

There's no benching the Norwegian goal machine, however with him having a tougher fixture on the road in this round, I'm willing to look elsewhere with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m