Duke’s EPL DFS Preview for Wednesday’s two-match split slate…
Hola, amigos!
Back and better than ever for a lil two-game EPL DFS split slate featuring both teams from Manchester. My how the power of the Prem has shifted. Where’s Liverpool? I can’t see them all the way down there in…4th. Alright, I kid, I kid, but it is nice to see someone step up to challenge Man City and Liverpool’s dominance from the last few years.
Both are relatively big favorites here, with City playing at home and United traveling to play Fulham. We are expecting goals from both games, so it should be a fun slate to break down.
To the desert…
VEGAS
1:00
- Man City -385 | 3 (-125o/+105u)
- Aston Villa +1100
- DRAW +525
3:15
- Fulham +500 | 3 (+110o/-130u)
- Man United -190
- DRAW +335
EPL DFS GAME THOUGHTS
MCI/AVL
Villa are having a fantastic season, but there is a reason Man City are the odds on favorite to win the Prem. With their game in hand, they could go top of the league with three points at home as a big favorite. The squad depth is paying dividends as Pep gets back Laporte and Aguero. One, both or neither may start, but he was able to rest some key players in the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, who should return to the team.
It took 88 minutes, but Sterling finally bagged his goal. Had he not played the full game, I’d say he was in line to start at forward, but he might be forced to the bench. Kevin De Bruyne might reprise his role as the false 9, as Aguero likely isn’t ready to start. Sterling and Jesus just played 90 minutes, and the other options are limited. Another scenario would see Torres return to the first 11 in this role after he came on for the last 20 minutes last weekend. Regardless of who starts in the front 3, they’ll be active and have plenty of chances to produce DFS points.
While I do think Villa have improved this year compared to last, it’s important to revisit their two fixtures in the Prem. City won 3-0 and 6-1. Do we need Man City pieces? Yes. The 6-1 match features a Sergio Aguero hat trick and six goals from the front 3. Sterling scored in the other match to bring the total goals across the front 3 to seven over the two matches.
This Villa team did beat Liverpool 7-2. They beat Leicester 1-0, tied Chelsea 1-1, beat Arsenal 3-0. I’m not hedging my bets here, just letting you know they have made improvements, and this won’t be a 6-1 hammering like City delivered last season. Look at the form table from last year, considering the information I just typed above, and see the difference for yourself:
They lapped their point total by a mile and have several games left to play against the big boys. I still see this as a Man City victory but wouldn’t be shocked to see both teams score. It’s a two-game slate. I’d be crazy not to grab some Villa in GPPs in case their early season form carries over in this fixture.
FUL/UTD
Full credit to Scott Parker. He has Fulham playing some good football and giving everyone fits. Unfortunately, he’s not putting together too many wins, and it doesn’t get any easier as Man United stroll into Craven Cottage top of the league. The loss to Chelsea was brutal. Areola made some fantastic saves, but it felt like Fulham deserved at least a point and could push on for a winner. They are four points from safety but realize we aren’t even halfway through the season. If they keep on this path, the wins will come.
Man United will likely use some rotation. Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford looked absolutely spent. They had no energy and, frankly, were both terrible against Liverpool. Typically, when Ole rotates, he leans toward experience. Juan Mata would do well. Matic will likely come in after Fred and McTominay ran their socks off. It will be a reduced squad, but the depth has been improved by new boys Cavani and van de Beek. Will we see both? It seems that way. Martial was pulled early against Liverpool and could start on the left again. Regardless, it’s clear that there is no room for dropped points at the top.
The pressure of being in a true title race is a feeling very few on this current squad have experienced before. They’ll certainly get Fulham’s best shot here, but in the end, I do have United pulling out the win.
EPL DFS PLAYS
FORWARDS
- Mahrez – MCI – $7.4k
- Sterling – MCI – $8k
- Greenwood – MU – $4.5k
- El Ghazi – AVL – $7.9k
- Cavaleiro – FUL – $5.6k
- Martial – MU – $6.7k
MIDFIELDERS
- De Bruyne – MCI – $10k
- Foden – MCI – $7.8k
- Pogba – MU – $6k
- Gundogan – MCI – $6.5k
- Fernandes – MU – $9.5k
- Grealish – AVL – $8.2k
DEFENDERS
- Telles – MU – $5.5k
- Cash – AVL – $4.6k
- Bryan – FUL – $4.2k
- Wan-Bissaka – MU – $4.3k
- Targett – AVL – $3.6k
GOALKEEPERS
Any of these are fine – just make sure it fits your build.
- DeGea – MU – $5.5k
- Areola – FUL – $4k
- Martinez – AVL – $3.7k
- Ederson – MCI – $5.9k
See y’all in the chat room at 12pm.
Good luck!! New to DFS Soccer? Here’s an intro with Duke’s Rules & Strategies!
