Captain Ekitike and a Triple Gunners Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week

What number of Liverpool selections are you able to fit in your team this week?

The Merseyside club are coming off a pair of triumphs and boast a red-hot attacker in Hugo Ekitike ahead of a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers that are heading towards one of the worst top-flight campaigns in history.

For managers who kept a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers and have the funds to upgrade following the injury to the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, in that case assets from Anfield picks should be your top priority.

This weekly selection is constructed based on present FPL costs to comply with a 100 million pound spending limit, mirroring activating a one-week wildcard.

How Did Last Week's Squad?

Skipper Erling Haaland (a huge score) , alongside the hot duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike guided the team to a solid score – enhanced by a double-digit contribution from Fulham's defender from the replacements.

Our Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week for the Upcoming Round

Goalkeeper & Defenders

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

The North London side's backline suffered a minor wobble in the wake of the absence of their Brazilian defender, yet they've kept two shutouts recently and have 9 to their name with not even the campaign's midpoint gone.

Mikel Arteta's side have conceded in just a handful of home games campaign. Those goals came from a Manchester City superstar, a long-range effort from Tottenham's forward , plus a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

It's a triple-up from the Arsenal defence.

Not only are they the best defensive unit statistically, with a clean sheet in over 50% of their matches, they take on a Roberto De Zerbi's side that has failed to score in their past two games.

The South Coast club have scored just 9 goals in eight away games.

The Dutch defender is a reliable pick every week and has greater attacking upside operating as the full-back role.

Hincapie has collected defensive contribution points in four consecutive starts, featuring two clean sheets.

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

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

Wolves failed to score for the 10th time this season in a recent 2-0 defeat at Molineux to Brentford.

They have only managed 9 strikes in total, with only a couple on the road. That makes this as safe a shutout opportunity possible.

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

Despite the Yorkshire club's recent goalscoring upturn – and the form of their striker – I'm backing a Stadium of Light shutout at home.

That would mark a third consecutive and the Paraguayan defender becoming an outstanding low-cost defensive pick. You can start him with assurance in most games, due to his regular 'defcon' points.

Midfielders

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

Mount should play a bigger part at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, due to Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.

Recently, United have generated the highest expected goals (xG) in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 against the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They face a Newcastle United side that has struggled on the road – with just one win from seven attempts.

Mount could well take over many of Fernandes' playmaking duties, especially from dead-ball situations, and could feature behind the striker.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a significant score , with a home match against Wolves presenting the prime time for that to happen.

He has posted points across four recent games – two assists and one defensive contribution display.

During that spell his chance creation stands at 10 chances, a team-high among all Liverpool, while his xG is 0.88.

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

With 30 points in two games, Rogers' current form is impossible to ignore.

He is Villa's talisman, with an ability to scoring a goal from half a yard of space inside the area.

A fixture to Chelsea might seem a challenging proposition, the Birmingham club have emerged victorious there in two of the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Due to facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, and having bagged five goals in three games, Ekitike earns the captain's armband this week.

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

It is unthinkable to omitting Haaland, however because he has a tricky away game in this round, I'm willing to pass over him for the armband.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United, £7.6m