Is triple Chelsea attack worth it? FPL gameweek four dilemmas
September 11, 2026 06:28
Fantasy Premier League managers face several selection dilemmas ahead of gameweek four, with Chelsea's attacking assets dominating ownership and discussion. Joao Pedro is the most-owned player in FPL (72.5%), while team-mates Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers impressed off the bench in Chelsea's midweek Carabao Cup win over Leeds.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo has been heavily transferred in for the weekend but picked up an adductor problem and was omitted from Liverpool's Champions League squad for the Atletico Madrid match, leaving his availability uncertain. Elsewhere, form and fixture-driven moves are focusing attention on Arsenal's defence, Manchester United midfielders, and a handful of budget options.
KEY CONTEXT
- Chelsea have scored eight Premier League goals so far and host newly promoted Hull City next, which fuels the case for increasing Chelsea coverage in FPL squads.
- In the Carabao Cup tie versus Leeds: Palmer (£9.6m) and Rogers (£7.6m) came on at half‑time; Palmer scored twice, one of them a penalty, while Rogers provided three assists. Palmer is also confirmed to remain Chelsea's penalty taker.
- Gakpo (£7.3m) was the most-bought player ahead of gameweek four, with over 500,000 managers bringing him in for the Fulham home fixture, but he missed the Champions League squad due to an adductor issue and is now a doubt.
- Alexander Isak (£9.1m) has three goals in the last two gameweeks and is the second-highest scoring forward in the game.
- Arsenal's defence has kept two clean sheets, conceded one goal and allowed just one big chance; Ezri Konsa (£4.4m), David Raya (£6m), Gabriel (£8m) and Riccardo Calafiori (£5.7m) are singled out as defensive options.
- Erling Haaland (£15.5m) has five goals in his past three competitive matches and remains a key consideration despite an away fixture at Manchester United.
- Brighton's Maxime de Cuyper (£4.8m) started the season in a wide role and has one goal and two assists from the opening three gameweeks; his position could change when Kaoru Mitoma returns from a hamstring problem.
WHY IT MATTERS
- High ownership of Joao Pedro and strong recent showings from Chelsea substitutes create a concrete tactical choice: whether to double or even triple up on one team's attackers. A triple-up is highlighted as a possible wildcard strategy but requires the selected team to consistently score multiple goals to justify the investment.
- Gakpo's doubtful status changes the transfer landscape for many managers who bought him for a favourable fixture, increasing the appeal of alternatives such as Palmer, Rogers or Joao Pedro for those targeting Chelsea's home game.
- Defensive stability at Arsenal makes their backline attractive for season-long investment, affecting both goalkeeper and defender transfer decisions.
- Budget flexibility matters: midfielders like Pascal Gross (£5.6m) and defenders like De Cuyper present cheaper routes to squad strength, which can influence broader transfer plans.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Confirmed team news on Cody Gakpo’s fitness and whether he plays against Fulham.
- Final Chelsea starting XI for the Hull City match, and any indication of Palmer’s and Rogers’ roles following their Carabao Cup contributions.
- Man‑City v Manchester United team selections and how that affects Haaland fantasy returns.
- Any updates on Kaoru Mitoma’s recovery timeline that would affect De Cuyper’s position in Brighton’s setup.
KEY FACTS
- Joao Pedro owned by 72.5% of FPL teams.
- Chelsea have scored eight Premier League goals so far this season.
- Palmer scored two (including a penalty) and Rogers provided three assists after entering at half‑time in the Carabao Cup tie with Leeds.
- Gakpo was brought into 500,000+ teams for GW4 but missed Liverpool’s Champions League squad due to an adductor issue.
- Isak has three goals in the last two gameweeks; Haaland has five goals in his last three competitive matches.
- Maxime de Cuyper has one goal and two assists from Brighton’s opening three gameweeks while deployed as a winger.