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How many The Reds selections are you able to squeeze into your lineup in the upcoming gameweek?

The Merseyside club have secured a pair of triumphs , featuring a sizzling attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a clash with Wolves currently heading towards an abysmal top-flight seasons in history.

For managers who kept a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the cash to spend by replacing the unavailable Bruno Fernandes, consequently Liverpool players should be your top priority.

The weekly selection is chosen based on current FPL valuations to stay under a 100 million pound budget, simulating activating a one-week wildcard.

How Did Last Week's Squad?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (32 points) , combined with the in-form duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Hugo Ekitike guided the selection to a handsome 82 points – with a bonus a 10-point performance from Antonee Robinson off the bench.

Our FPL Selection for Matchday 18

Keeper & Defence

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

Arsenal's backline experienced a minor wobble in the wake of the absence of Gabriel, yet they've secured two shutouts in their past four and have nine so far before half the season played.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in only three fixtures at the Emirates this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a long-range strike from Tottenham's forward , plus a surprise header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

We're opting for a triple selection on the Gunners' backline.

Not only are they the best defence in FPL, with a clean sheet in the majority of their matches, they host a Brighton side that has not found the net in two consecutive games.

The South Coast club have only managed 9 strikes across eight matches on the road.

Timber remains a steady choice every week and has more goal threat since returning to the full-back role.

Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points over his last four starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.

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

Managers would love half a dozen Anfield assets for this fixture if possible.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score once again this season in a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

They have only managed nine goals in total, including two away from home. It represents a very secure clean sheet opportunity available.

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

Despite Leeds United's improved goalscoring upturn – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Stadium of Light shutout at home.

That would mark their third in a row and the Paraguayan defender establishing himself as a prime budget defensive pick. Managers can select him regularly in most games, given his regular 'defcon' returns.

Midfielders

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

Mount will likely assume a key responsibility at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with their Portuguese maestro suffering an injury.

Recently, Erik ten Hag's team registered the best expected goals (xG) across the Premier League by a significant margin – 8.78 against the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They welcome a Newcastle side who have been poor in away matches – with just one win in seven.

The former Chelsea man could well assume many of the injured star's playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, and might feature in the number 10 role.

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

The German playmaker is on the verge of a significant score , with a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves presenting a perfect time for it.

Wirtz has delivered returns in three of his last four games – a pair of assists plus a 'defcon' display.

Over that time he's made 10 chances, a team-high of any his teammates, while his expected goals totals 0.88.

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

With 30 points in two games, the midfielder's form cannot be overlooked.

He's Villa's talisman, who can producing a goal from the smallest room inside the area.

A fixture at Chelsea might seem a difficult proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there twice during the last three campaigns.

Strikers

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

Due to his fixture, a lack of competition for his place, and having bagged five goals in three games, Ekitike receives the captain's armband for this round.

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

It is unthinkable to benching the Norwegian goal machine, although because he has a tougher fixture on the road in this round, the choice is to look elsewhere with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m