Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Triple Arsenal Backline – The FPL Squad for the Round

How many Liverpool selections can you squeeze into your lineup this week?

The Merseyside club have notched a pair of triumphs , with a sizzling attacker in Hugo Ekitike going into a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers that are heading towards an abysmal top-flight campaigns on record.

If you've held onto a few of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the cash to upgrade after losing the sidelined Manchester United's playmaker, in that case Liverpool options should be the main consideration.

This ideal squad is constructed using present FPL valuations to stay under a £100m cap, as if using a one-week wildcard.

How Did Last Week's Team?

Skipper Manchester City's striker (32 points) and the hot pair of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) as well as Liverpool's frontman led the team to a respectable total – enhanced by a double-digit contribution from Fulham's defender off the bench.

This Week's Fantasy Premier League Selection for the Upcoming Round

Goalkeeper and Defence

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

The North London side's backline experienced a slight stumble in the wake of an injury to Gabriel, but they have recorded two clean sheets in their past four , boasting nine so far with less than the campaign's midpoint played.

Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in all but three matches at home this season. The strikes they conceded came from Erling Haaland, a long-range effort from Tottenham's forward and a unexpected header from Tolu Arokodare.

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

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

Not only are they the strongest defensive unit in the game, recording shutouts in the majority of their matches, they take on a Brighton side who have drawn a blank in two consecutive games.

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

Timber continues to be a reliable choice each gameweek , possessing increased goal threat since returning to the full-back role.

Hincapie has earned defensive contribution points in four consecutive appearances, including two clean sheets.

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

I'd pick six Anfield players for this fixture if possible.

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

They have scored just nine strikes all season, with only two on the road. It represents a very secure clean sheet bet available.

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

Even with Leeds United's better goalscoring upturn – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the pick is a Sunderland shutout on home soil.

It would be their third in a row , with Alderete becoming the best value defender option. Managers can field him regularly in most games, given his consistent defensive contribution returns.

Midfield

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

Mount is expected to take on a bigger role at Manchester United over the coming fixtures, with Bruno Fernandes suffering an injury.

Over the past three games, Erik ten Hag's team boast the greatest xG across the Premier League by over three goals – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.

Their opponents are a Newcastle United team that has struggled in away matches – managing one win in their last seven.

The former Chelsea man could well assume a large share of Fernandes' playmaking duties, particularly on set-pieces, potentially operate in the number 10 role.

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

Wirtz is due a big haul and a fixture at Anfield versus the struggling Wolves being a perfect scenario for that to happen.

He has delivered returns in three out of four recent games – two assists and one defensive contribution display.

Over that time he has created 10 chances, the most of any Liverpool, and his expected goals stands at 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points over two matches, the midfielder's form is impossible to ignore.

He is Villa's key attacker, capable of scoring a strike with half a yard of space inside the area.

An away trip at Stamford Bridge might seem a difficult assignment, the Birmingham club have won there twice during recent years.

Forwards

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

Given facing an abysmal Wolves side, a lack of rivalry for a starting spot, and having bagged five goals in three games, Ekitike receives the double-points role this week.

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

There's no dropping Haaland, but because he has a tricky away game this week, the choice is to pass over him with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m