FPL Tilt · Team talk · Captaincy · Gameweek 7
Maresca says Haaland will need a rest. Does that change the armband?
Enzo Maresca says Haaland will need days off at some point. His form and record against Ipswich, the alternatives' problems, and what Ipswich bring.
On the eve of Ipswich's visit to the Etihad, Enzo Maresca said Erling Haaland will need some days off at some point.
Haaland has scored in five Gameweeks running. Ipswich are the side he scored a hat-trick against the last time they came to the Etihad.
For this week, I'd still captain him. But the case against is stronger than one quote, and one of the alternatives has outscored him in each of the last two Gameweeks and plays in the same match on Saturday.
Five names, no date
Maresca didn't single Haaland out. He named five players who have been busy for club and country: Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernández, Marc Guéhi and Rúben Dias.
"At some point we probably need to give him rest, some days off," he said.
Haaland has ten goals in nine games for City this season. The international break brought him more games for Norway.
Haaland against Ipswich
Haaland (Manchester City, £15.6m) has scored in both of his Premier League games against Ipswich. After the hat-trick in a 4-1 win in August 2024, he scored again in a 6-0 win at Portman Road.
The chance of a rest is already part of his projection. He is still projected for 7.4 points, almost two clear of anyone else.
| GW1 | GW2 | GW3 | GW4 | GW5 | GW6 | Projected GW7 | Premier League record against this weekend's opponent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haaland | 2 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7.4 (Ipswich, H) | 4 goals in 2 games |
| Saka | 9 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5.5 (Forest, A) | 3 goals, 2 assists in 6 games |
| Cherki | 8 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 5.1 (Ipswich, H) | Never faced them |
| Bruno Fernandes | 2 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4.9 (Leeds, A) | 6 goals, 3 assists in 7 games |
FPL points in Gameweeks 1 to 6, projected points for Gameweek 7, and Premier League record against this weekend's opponent. Sources: Fantasy Premier League; FPL Tilt's estimates, run of 16 October 2026; StatMuse.
Figures read on 16 October 2026. The projections are updated daily: Captain picks shows today's figures.
Is Saturday the day?
City play AEK Athens in the Champions League on Tuesday, so a rest on Saturday is possible. Phil Foden is back from his ban, and Maresca has yet to decide whether he starts.
Saka, Cherki or Bruno
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, £9.6m) is projected second, at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. He has scored in three of his six games against Forest, but Arsenal drew 0-0 on both of their last two visits to the City Ground. His own form has dipped, with 2 points in each of the last two Gameweeks. He had been ill before Tuesday, then came off the bench against Lille and scored.
Rayan Cherki (Manchester City, £7.9m) is the one in form. He has scored in each of the last two Gameweeks, including at Anfield, and has started the last five. He has never played Ipswich in the Premier League. Foden's return could cost him his place.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, £11.9m) sits high in the projections on years of output, not this season. Since his hat-trick against Ipswich in Gameweek 2 he has 7 points from four games. His six goals in seven games against Leeds all came in the first four meetings, and Leeds won the last one 2-1 at Old Trafford in April. I wouldn't captain him on the strength of his number.
Ipswich's side of it
Gary O'Neil expects a full squad at the Etihad, with a couple of checks still to do. Abdul Fatawu is back from suspension, and three players are back from injuries picked up in pre-season.
Lead or chase
Protecting a lead? Haaland, who is in three of every four teams.
Chasing? Cherki. He is scoring now, plays in the same match and is owned by a third of managers, for about two projected points less. Saka is the longer shot.
Put together, Saturday is a striker in form against a side he has scored against every time, a manager who has named no date for his rest, and an opponent expecting a full squad. Cherki is the way to be different in the same match. For this week, none of it is a reason to take the armband off Haaland.
The Gameweek 7 deadline is .
Enzo Maresca was speaking at his press conference before Ipswich on Friday 16 October, as reported by Yahoo Sports; the one quotation is his. Haaland's goals in all competitions and City's fixture against AEK Athens are from the same report. Gary O'Neil's comments are from the East Anglian Daily Times, 16 October. Saka's illness and his goal against Lille are from LiveScore, citing Football London, and the Associated Press. Points, goals, starts, ownership and fixtures this season are Fantasy Premier League's, read on 16 October 2026. Records against this weekend's opponents are from StatMuse and Fantasy Premier League's past-season data, checked against match reports. Projected points are FPL Tilt's estimates, read from the run of 16 October 2026.
Figures read on 16 October 2026. The projections are updated daily: Captain picks shows today's figures.