EPL Week 28 Preview - Tuesday/Wednesday
It was a weekend to remember for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, as they captured their first silverware of the season by defeating Spurs 2-0 at Wembley. A few hours earlier, thanks to the help of Liverpool beating Man City, the Blues also saw their chances of winning the league title become a mere formality.
Let’s take a look at some of the things to watch for the midweek fixtures taking place Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday’s slate of three matches leaves a little to be desired, but Wednesday features seven games, including intriguing battles for top four positioning.
Southampton vs. Crystal Palace
Southampton Form – LWDLL – 6th EPL
Crystal Palace Form – LWDLW – 12th EPL
Key Stat: Southampton have not scored in their last three Premier League matches
It is becoming difficult to put much faith in Southampton given their run of form the last six weeks. Furthermore, Ronald Koeman has tinkered with their starting XI each week, making it unpredictable who he might choose (especially with their attacking players). Crystal Palace picked up a massive win at West Ham last weekend and have played well in recent weeks. Jason Puncheon $5,000, with seven assists in all competitions, can deliver a mean dead ball and looks to be a decent play on DraftKings. Consider that Palace is tied for the league lead with 12 set piece goals. Ryan Bertrand $5,100 returned from suspension last week, and by and large, played to his average of 9-10 FPTS per game.
Aston Villa vs. West Bromwich Albion
Aston Villa Form – LLLLL – 19th EPL
WBA Form – LDWDW – 13th EPL
Key Stat: Aston Villa have scored a league-low 13 goals this season
Aston Villa have not won in the league since early December and yet they still come into this match as slight favorites according to most betting sites in the UK. It’s impossible to predict when they will come out of this slump, so I’ll be focusing on the WBA side of the ball. Saido Berahino $8,200 has scored twice in three games but faces a late fitness test after picking up an injury in the match against Southampton at the weekend. GK Ben Foster $4,600 has yielded FPTS of 16, 9 and 15 in his last three games and looks to be a solid play given Villa’s wretched form.
Hull vs. Sunderland
Hull Form – LDWWL – 15th EPL
Sunderland Form – WDLDL – 16th EPL
Key Stat: Hull have won three out of their last four home matches, scoring two goals in each
The third Tuesday match features two clubs desperate to clear themselves from the relegation zone, making it a huge encounter (at least for them). GK Costel Pantillimon $4,800 averages the most saves per game in the league (4.1) but Ben Foster or Fraser Forster both seem like better plays. There are some attacking bargain choices on both sides with Dame N’Doye $6,800 and Jermain Defoe $6,300.
Queens Park Rangers vs. Arsenal
QPR Form – LLLWL – 17th EPL
Arsenal Form – WLWWW – 3rd EPL
Key Stat: Olivier Giroud has six goals and three assists in all competitions since Jan. 18
Arsenal got back to winning ways last weekend with a 2-0 win against Everton and it was that man, Olivier Giroud $9,300, that opened the scoring. QPR have conceded a league-high 45 goals this season, making many of Arsenal’s attacking players solid plays. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain $4,700 could get another run out, as could Theo Walcott $6,500, who has scored 15 FPTS each time he has featured 70+ minutes in 2015. Arsene Wenger may keep intact the back four that faced Everton on Sunday.
West Ham vs. Chelsea
West Ham Form – LDDDL – 9th EPL
Chelsea – WDWWD – 1st EPL
Key Stat: Diego Costa is tied for the league lead in goals with 17
While he usually doesn’t do much in the way of squad rotation, it will be interesting to see what Mourinho does after a cup final on Sunday and the looming Champions League return leg against PSG on tap for next week. Branislav Ivanovic $5,300, John Terry $3,900 and Eden Hazard $9,000 are all among the league leaders for outfield players in minutes played this year. If they play significant minutes, then they are all viable selections, but I’m going to have my eye on this starting XI in particular once kickoff nears. One player sure to start is Diego Costa $9,800, who is due for a big game after only recently returning from suspension.
Manchester City vs. Leicester City
Man City Form – DDWWL – 2nd EPL
Leicester Form – LLLLD – 20th EPL
Key Stat: Man City leads the Premier League in goals scored and shots per game
Man City are badly in need of this match against bottom dwellers, Leicester City. Under-fire manager, Manuel Pellegrini, may shake things up and by some accounts it sounds like he will hand Wilfried Bony $7,900 his first start in a Man City shirt. Bony’s style and power should mesh well with Sergio Aguero $10,100 and David Silva $8,600 linking up in the attacking third. While Leicester were very impressive away to Everton their last time out, Joe Hart $5,300 and Aleksandar Kolarov $4,600/Gael Clichy $4,000 should also warrant consideration for City.
Newcastle United vs. Manchester United
Newcastle Form – WDDLW – 11th EPL
Manchester United – WDWLW – 4th EPL
Key Stat: Manchester United have only scored more than one goal once in their last six away matches
Manchester United has had some pretty indifferent away form, so it’s tough for me to believe they will start pouring in goals on Wednesday at St. James Park. With the absence of Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney $9,700 was able to score two goals against Sunderland while occupying a position he’s much more used to having success in. While he hasn’t exactly lit up the Premier League since his arrival from Spain, Ander Herrera $6,000 does have five goals in 18 matches and seems to be back in the good graces of Louis Van Gaal. David de Gea $5,500 got the clean sheet last time out, but there are better options among Wednesday’s GKs. For Newcastle, Papiss Cisse $7,300 found the back of the net against Aston Villa last weekend
Stoke vs. Everton
Stoke Form – WDLWW – 10th EPL
Everton Form – WDLDL – 14th EPL
Key Stat: Stoke have not won three consecutive matches all year
On the back of two straight wins, Stoke welcome an Everton side who can’t seem to replicate Europa League form into the Premier League. Everton, who have set the Europa League alight, have only won one in their last six, albeit against tough competition in some cases. Victor Moses $6,200, continues to deliver for Stoke at a reasonable price, so I will have my eye on him, as well as Seamus Coleman $4,700 from the Everton back four providing crosses from the right flank. Romelu Lukaku $8,600 has been in fine form, but with Costa and Aguero likely starting, he may be tough to include in some lineups.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Swansea City
Spurs Form – WWWLD – 7th EPL
Swansea Form – WDLWW – 8th EPL
Key Stat: Tottenham have scored at least two goals in their last 5 Premier League matches
Spurs will have to pick their heads up quickly after Sunday’s disappointing League Cup Final defeat to Chelsea and last week’s elimination in the Europa League. Mauricio Pochettino may have some tired legs in his squad, having traveled from Florence on Thursday night back for Sunday’s final at Wembley. Harry Kane $9,900 is still listed at a lower price than Aguero and Costa even though his last four outings have yielded 20, 25, 28, and 29 FPTS. For Swansea, Gylfi Sigurdsson $7,100 will be keen to impress at his old stomping grounds.
Liverpool vs. Burnley
Liverpool Form – WDWWW – 5th EPL
Burnley Form – LDLDL – 18th EPL
Key Stat: Liverpool have the longest unbeaten streak in the Premier League (11 games)
Liverpool have been an absolute joy to watch in 2015 and that was on display during Sunday’s massive 2-1 victory over Manchester City. Maybe it’s just the quality of goals he is scoring, but Philippe Coutinho $5,900 is in scintillating form. Brendan Rodgers may hand Raheem Sterling $8,300 a rest, so I’ll go back and continue to beat the drum of Daniel Sturridge’s $7,500 relatively low price for a quality forward. Kieran Trippier $5,100 continues to light up the stat sheet for Burnley thanks to his numerous crosses per game.