Captain Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Gunners Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Squad for the Round

The quantity of Liverpool assets can you squeeze into your team for this round?

The Merseyside club have notched two consecutive victories , featuring a in-form striker in their French frontman going into a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers currently heading towards one of the worst top-flight campaigns ever.

For managers who retained a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations wildcards and have the budget to upgrade by replacing the injured Bruno Fernandes, then assets from Anfield picks ought to be the primary focus.

The ideal squad is constructed using current FPL costs to stay under a £100m cap, as if you were playing a one-week wildcard.

What Was the Performance of Last Week's Selection?

Captain Manchester City's striker (a massive haul) and the hot duo of Antoine Semenyo (10 points) and Hugo Ekitike guided the team to a handsome total – enhanced by a 10-point contribution from Fulham's defender off the bench.

The FPL Ideal Squad for the Upcoming Round

Goalkeeper & Defence

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

Arsenal's backline had a brief dip following the absence of Gabriel, but they have kept two clean sheets over their last four matches , with 9 to their name with less than half the season completed.

The Emirates Stadium outfit have let in goals in all but three home games campaign. The strikes they conceded came from a Manchester City superstar, a spectacular strike from Richarlison and a late goal from Wolves' attacker.

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

We're opting for a three-pronged from the Gunners' defence.

Not only are they the top defence in the game, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they face a Brighton team who have drawn a blank in two consecutive matches.

Brighton have only managed 9 goals in eight away games.

Timber remains a solid pick each gameweek and has increased attacking upside now he is the full-back role.

The Ecuadorian has collected defensive contribution points over his last four starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.

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

I'd pick half a dozen Anfield assets for this fixture if the rules permitted.

Gary O'Neil's team failed to score for the tenth occasion this season in a recent two-nil home loss to the Bees.

The Midlands side have a paltry 9 strikes this campaign, with only a couple on the road. This is a very secure clean sheet opportunity possible.

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

Regardless of the Yorkshire club's better goalscoring upturn – including the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin – I'm backing a Sunderland shutout on home soil.

That would mark their third in a row and the Paraguayan defender is cementing himself as an outstanding low-cost defender option. Managers can field him regularly across many fixtures, thanks to his potential for 'defcon' returns.

Midfield

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

Mount is expected to take on a key role for Manchester United in the next few games, due to their Portuguese maestro out injured.

In their last three matches, Erik ten Hag's team registered the best xG statistically by over three goals – 8.78 versus the next best Leeds' 5.68.

They face a Newcastle United side that has been poor in away matches – managing a single victory in seven.

Mount may assume many of the injured star's playmaking duties, notably on set-pieces, potentially play as an attacking midfielder.

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

The German playmaker is poised for a significant score , with a home match against the struggling Wolves representing an ideal time for that to happen.

He has posted points in three out of four recent games – two assists plus a defensive contribution display.

Over that time he's made 10 chances, a team-high among all Liverpool, and his xG is 0.88.

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

Boasting 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' form is impossible to ignore.

He's Aston Villa's key attacker, capable of scoring a strike from minimal space inside the area.

A fixture at Stamford Bridge may appear a tough assignment, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground twice during the past three seasons.

Forwards

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

Due to his fixture, having no competition for his place, coupled with scored five goals over three matches, Ekitike receives the double-points role this week.

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

One cannot consider omitting the Norwegian goal machine, but with him having a tougher fixture on the road in this round, we are opting to look elsewhere with the captain's role.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m