Brighton FPL Gameweek 7: Rutter ready to make impact for Albion

There was not much to cheer for Albion supporters during their 4-2 defeat Chelsea. But FPL managers were at least given two relatively new Brighton assets to consider investing in after good individual performances from Georginio Rutter and Carlos Baleba.

Rutter opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge with his first goal in Albion colours since a club-record £40 million move from Leeds United.

Baleba meanwhile has burst onto the scene in recent weeks with Fabian Hurzeler having to cope without a number of first choice central midfielders.

There were signs of promise from Baleba last season under Roberto De Zerbi. But he was never consistent enough to put together a good run of games.

Now a year older and with a season in England under his belt, Baleba has shown he can become a key player for Hurzeler’s aggressive pressing tactics.

Brighton host Spurs in Gameweek 7. With goals seemingly guaranteed between two high-line defences, Rutter and Baleba represent interesting FPL picks.

Georginio Rutter (£5.5 million)

Rutter has started the last three Albion games in the absence of Joao Pedro (£5.8 million). With no timeline put on when Pedro might return from injury, the French forward seems certain to maintain his place in Hurzeler’s starting XI.

Over the Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea matches, Rutter’s 11 shots rank joint-fourth for most across the Premier League. Eight of those took place inside the box.

His goal last weekend was admittedly bizarre. A defensive error led to Baleba charging down an attempted clearance. The ball looped high in the air, where Rutter beat the onrushing Robert Sanchez (£4.7 million) to head into the back of the net.

It meant Rutter secured his FPL owners welcome returns on a day when more popular Brighton picks like Danny Welbeck (£5.8 million) and Kaoru Mitoma (£6.6 million) drew blanks.

Rutter is listed as a midfielder in FPL. Hurzeler uses him as an advanced number 10, hence why so many opportunities have come his way.

The 22-year-old’s promising underlying stats make him a very worthy option around the £5.5 million price point.

Carlos Baleba (£5.0 million)

Yet Rutter was outscored at Stamford Bridge by Baleba. The midfield admittedly benefited from being awarded a somewhat fortunate assist for Rutter’s goal.

His block of Levi Colwill’s attempted clearance could have gone anywhere. Luck though was shining on Brighton – at least early on – as Rutter picked up the pieces.

There was no doubting Baleba’s strike which earned him his first Premier League goal, however. Another mistake from ex-Seagull Sanchez saw him pass the ball straight to Baleba.

The Cameroon international punished Sanchez by clinically firing home at the near post. Not a great day for the former Albion number one.

Of all midfielders beginning at £5.0 million or below, only Tomas Soucek (£5.0 million) and Adama Traore (£5.1 million) have racked up more goal attempts (12) than Baleba this season.

That means Baleba has a higher shot total than more expensive options like Morgan Rogers (£5.2m) and Amad Diallo (£5.0m).

Captaincy

For the majority, last week’s armband debate revolved around Erling Haaland (£15.3 million) and Bukayo Saka (£10.1 million). Naturally, both decided to then blank for the first time this season.

Faith should not be lost in either, though. Manchester City host Fulham this weekend, where last season’s equivalent meeting brought Haaland a hat-trick, an assist and 20 points.

As for Saka, Arsenal welcome a Southampton side sitting 19th in the table and already looking doomed to relegation to the Emirates Stadium.

Wolves are the only team below the Saints at this stage and are the not-so-proud owners of the leakiest defence in the Premier League.

Brentford will therefore be looking forward to welcoming Wolves to the Gtech Stadium. Another captaincy idea might be to put the armband on Bees forward Bryan Mbeumo (£7.4 million). Mbeumo has five goals in his past six matches.

You can pick up expert advice throughout the 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League season with Fantasy Football Scout