The 2026/27 Premier League season continues this weekend, with FPL managers facing some important decisions ahead of Gameweek 7.
Manchester City welcome Ipswich Town after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, while Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest following their European victory over Lille. Liverpool also return to domestic action after scoring six goals against LASK, but face a tougher test away to Brentford.
There are several other fixtures worth targeting, with Chelsea travelling to Everton and Brighton hosting Crystal Palace. Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, welcome Coventry City on Monday after another difficult start to their league campaign.
With European commitments, fitness concerns and some interesting changes in form to consider, managers need to look beyond the fixtures alone.
The FPL Gameweek 7 deadline is Saturday, October 17 at 11:00 BST. Here are the key fixtures, players and team news to consider before finalising your squad.
FPL Gameweek 7 Fixtures
All times BST
Saturday, October 17
- Everton vs Chelsea (12:30)
- Brentford vs Liverpool (15:00)
- Fulham vs Hull City (15:00)
- Manchester City vs Ipswich Town (15:00)
- Newcastle United vs Aston Villa (17:30)
Sunday, October 18
- Bournemouth vs Sunderland (14:00)
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace (14:00)
- Leeds United vs Manchester United (14:00)
- Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal (16:30)
Monday, October 19
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City (20:00)
Injury Updates, Suspensions and Key Team News
The return of European football has added to the workload for several Premier League sides, but the main concern for FPL managers is whether any key players have picked up injuries or are at risk of rotation ahead of Gameweek 7.
Chelsea have suffered a significant setback, with Reece James undergoing minor knee surgery that will keep him out until 2027. Jamie Gittens is also expected to miss a few weeks with an ankle injury.
Liverpool have several fitness concerns ahead of their trip to Brentford. Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo were all being assessed, with their availability dependent on the latest training updates.
Arsenal are monitoring Martin Zubimendi after he picked up an ankle injury during a training session following their last league match. Piero Hincapie has also suffered an injury and is expected to miss several weeks. Zubimendi’s condition appears more encouraging, but his availability should be checked before the deadline.
Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte remain out, with Noussair Mazraoui also unavailable as Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are being assessed. Lisandro Martinez, meanwhile, is in the squad for the Leeds match.
There is better news for Bournemouth, with Justin Kluivert and Amine Adli returning to action in midweek. Alex Scott is also making progress in his recovery, although he is not expected to be ready for the Sunderland fixture.
Manchester City have no fresh injury concerns to report, and Phil Foden is available again after serving his domestic suspension.
Check the final press conference updates before the FPL Gameweek 7 deadline for news on doubtful players and any late changes to expected starting line-ups.
Must-Have FPL Picks
Manchester City’s home fixture against Ipswich stands out as one of the strongest opportunities of the round.
Erling Haaland (£15.6m) remains the leading captaincy candidate, having scored six goals in the opening six gameweeks. Man City have scored in every league match so far, and their attacking numbers make Haaland difficult to ignore despite Wednesday’s defeat.
Rayan Cherki (£7.9m) is another City player worth considering. However, competition from Doku and Foden means his minutes need monitoring. And following PSG, player rotations are likely.
Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper (£5.1m) and Pascal Gross (£6.0m) are also worth attention ahead of their home meeting with Crystal Palace. De Cuyper has been one of the standout defenders in FPL, combining defensive potential with attacking contributions, while Gross offers a route into Brighton’s midfield. Their European victory provides a confidence boost, although Palace have enough quality to make this a competitive fixture.
Joao Pedro (£7.8m) has scored five league goals this season, putting him among the leading forwards in the division. He is an attractive option for managers seeking a forward with consistent goal threat. Pedro, Cole Palmer (£9.6m) and Morgan Rogers (£7.7m) are among the Premier League’s most exciting front-threes, making them each individually good FPL choices.
However, Everton’s home form and Chelsea’s defensive issues make this less straightforward. Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£6.6m) is another player to consider for this fixture.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (£9.6m) remains a strong option despite the trip to Nottingham Forest, while Riccardo Calafiori (£5.9m) offers another route into a defence that has the quality to produce clean sheets.
For FPL Gameweek 7, prioritise players with secure minutes, favourable fixtures and consistent attacking involvement as we continue to settle into the 2026/27 season.
FPL Captaincy Picks
The FPL Gameweek 7 captaincy decision centres on Manchester City, who host Ipswich after losing to PSG in midweek. Haaland remains the standout option after scoring in each of the last five Premier League gameweeks, although managers should keep the possibility of rotation in mind.
- Erling Haaland – (Man City vs Ipswich Town)
- Bukayo Saka – (Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal)
- Rayan Cherki – (Man City vs Ipswich Town)
- Joao Pedro – (Everton vs Chelsea)
- Pascal Gross – (Brighton vs Crystal Palace)
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Extra Time Notes
FPL Gameweek 7 presents a good opportunity to target Manchester City, with Ipswich visiting a side that has scored in every league match so far. Haaland remains the standout captaincy option, while Cherki offers an attractive alternative for managers looking to strengthen their midfield.
Brighton’s attacking players also deserve attention, although Crystal Palace could make that fixture more difficult than it first appears. Chelsea’s trip to Everton is another interesting match, particularly with Joao Pedro and Dewsbury-Hall offering different routes to attacking returns.
The European results should influence decisions, but they should not dictate them. Liverpool’s six goals against LASK do not guarantee another high-scoring performance against Brentford, just as Manchester City’s defeat to PSG does not suddenly make their players poor FPL options. The quality of the opposition and the likelihood of playing time remain more important than one result.
Check the latest injury updates before the 11:00 BST deadline, avoid chasing points from midweek performances and think carefully before making transfers that could weaken your squad over the next few gameweeks.
Apply these FPL Gameweek 7 tips carefully, and you will give yourself a strong foundation for the next round of Premier League fixtures.
Good luck!
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