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Are De Cuyper and Gross essential? FPL gameweek seven dilemmas

Fantasy Premier League managers face tough decisions ahead of Gameweek 7, with Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper and Pascal Gross presenting a tricky dilemma. While both players are near must-have selections, their upcoming fixtures—including away trips to Liverpool and Manchester City—raise concerns about consistency.

De Cuyper’s home clash against Crystal Palace this weekend offers a brighter short-term outlook, but his £5.1m price tag and defensive role make him the more reliable pick between the two. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (£11.9m) remains a liability after five blanks in six games, making him an easy sell, with Bukayo Saka (£9.6m) and Cole Palmer (£9.7m) as strong alternatives.

United defenders should also be reviewed, though Bryan Mbeumo (£7.9m) offers a budget-friendly midfield option with 33 points so far this season. Chelsea’s attack, bolstered by Xabi Alonso’s system, could yield two or three goals per game, making Joao Pedro (£7.8m) a near-certainty but potentially insufficient coverage.

Deciding between Palmer and Morgan Rogers (£7.9m) hinges on penalty and set-piece expectations, with Rogers holding a slight edge in open-play performance. Erling Haaland’s triple-captain potential looms, given his upcoming home fixtures against Ipswich, Fulham, and Hull, though Ipswich’s defensive record suggests a cautious approach.

For long-term defenders, Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori (£5.9m) and Leeds’ Tarik Muharemovic (£5m) stand out, alongside Brighton’s Luka Vuskovic (£5.1m) and Everton’s James Tarkowski (£6.2m) for defensive contribution points.

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