As Fantasy Premier League managers prepare their squads for gameweek seven, several selection dilemmas have emerged around Brighton's defensive duo, Manchester United's misfiring stars, and Chelsea's increasingly potent attack.

Brighton full-back Maxim de Cuyper and midfielder Pascal Gross have established themselves among the game's most sought-after assets, though pundits caution against rushing to bring them in given the fixtures ahead. While Brighton host Crystal Palace this weekend in a favourable derby matchup, the Seagulls then face a daunting run against Liverpool and Manchester City in the following three gameweeks. Between the two, De Cuyper, priced at £5.1m, is viewed as the stronger pick due to his defensive output.

Manchester United's players continue to present a headache for FPL managers. Bruno Fernandes, owned by roughly a third of the player base and the second most expensive asset in the game, has recorded blanks in five of his last six outings, making him a prime candidate for the chopping block. Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Chelsea's Cole Palmer have been floated as sensible replacements given their current form and output.

United's defenders are also considered risky holdings this week. However, there is a case for retaining forward Bryan Mbeumo, who remains affordable at £7.9m and sits joint 10th among all midfielders with 33 points this season. Analysts stress that Mbeumo is more of a player to hold onto rather than one to actively bring in at this stage.

Chelsea's attacking options are generating considerable excitement following a string of encouraging performances under manager Xabi Alonso. With the club free from European commitments this season and enjoying a full week of training, the Blues look increasingly capable of regularly scoring two or three goals per match. Striker Joao Pedro, now regarded as an essential pick at £7.8m, may not provide sufficient coverage on his own for such a potent frontline.

Choosing between Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, both priced at around £9.7m-£7.9m, is proving tricky for managers, with the decision likely hinging on budget constraints and expectations around penalties and set-piece involvement — areas where Palmer tends to benefit most. In open-play situations, the gap between the two attacking midfielders is minimal, though Rogers currently holds a slight edge in underlying statistics and has accumulated marginally more FPL points across the opening six gameweeks.

Elsewhere, Erling Haaland's upcoming fixtures have sparked discussion over using the Triple Captain chip. The Manchester City striker has three strong home fixtures on the horizon — Ipswich this weekend, Fulham in gameweek 11, and Hull in gameweek 16 — with little to separate them in terms of favourability. Ipswich, who have already suffered a 5-2 defeat at Manchester United but secured a 3-2 win at Crystal Palace this season, are not known for sitting deep in away matches, making Saturday's fixture an intriguing option.

For managers seeking reliable long-term defensive assets, De Cuyper remains the standout choice, while Arsenal's defence, marshalled by Mikel Arteta, continues to be regarded as the league's best. Riccardo Calafiori is currently seen as the most effective route into that Arsenal defensive unit. Other defenders worth monitoring for their consistent defensive contribution points include Leeds' Tarik Muharemovic, Brighton's Luka Vuskovic, Bournemouth's Antonio Silva, and Everton's James Tarkowski, all of whom play for teams with strong defensive records.

Based on reporting from BBC Sport.