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Following Wednesday’s catch-up fixtures, all 20 teams in the English Premier League now have nine matches left to play. There is a full slate of games this weekend starting on Friday with Southampton’s trip to Norwich, who need the three points to keep alive their hopes of staying in the EPL. The second fixture sees Manchester United make their first ever trip to Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium. United can climb to fourth in the table with a win, while the Spurs’ European aspirations would be boosted by a victory.
DraftKings is offering multiple ways to cash in on the EPL, including a classic contest with a $40,000 prize tool that pays out $10K to the winner. Set your lineups here: EPL $40K Counter Attack [$10K to 1st]. EPL fans can also get in on the betting action by downloading the DK Sportsbook app or heading over to the DraftKings Sportsbook website.
In this article, I will highlight the players that I think are worth rostering, as well as looking at some of the bets offered on DraftKings Sportsbook. For the full list of available bets, download the DraftKings Sportsbook app or check out the DraftKings Sportsbook website.
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
Norwich can put pressure on relegation rivals with a win at home vs. Southampton
If Norwich somehow manages to avoid relegation to the Championship after just one season back in the top flight, they are going to have to win their home games and hope to pick up points on the road. The picture right now does not look good for the Canaries, who have a six-point gap between them and safety. However, the good news is that they have 27 points to play for. Southampton is not mathematically safe yet, but a win in this game will certainly help their cause. The Canaries have lost just one of their last five league games at Carrow Road and if they are to secure their place in the Premier League next season, then matches like this are crucial. Liverpool is the only side to have beaten them at home in the league in 2020 and they will see this game as winnable. Southampton lost their last two away games and they will be looking to complete a league double over Daniel Farke’s side. Norwich’s last three wins have been with two or fewer total goals scored with their last two victories being 1-0 wins. It would be in their interest to keep this game as low-scoring as possible. Four of the Saints’ last five wins have been with under 2.5 total goals (-134) scored, which is probably the bet that stands out the most.
Prediction: Under 2.5 total goals (-134)
Players to consider for DFS Classic Showdown
Teemu Pukki ($5,400) has scored 44% of Norwich’s 30 league goals this season, which is the highest percentage of goals for one player in the EPL. Pukki needs help, especially as goals from open play dried up before the break. The Finnish finisher has scored just twice in his last 11 games, but they both came from penalties. He started the season with five goals in his first three EPL matches and his side needs Pukki to start in a similar fashion this time around and score in this game (+128). Only one of the four sides to have played since the league’s return have managed to score (Man. City) as teams ease their way back into action. That approach could be adopted by both these sides with very few goals, which would suit the home side. Norwich keeper Tim Krul ($4,500) therefore could be worth considering. After all, he has three shutouts in his last seven appearances, with two of them coming in his last three home games. Southampton striker Danny Ings ($7,900) is second to Pukki on percentage of goals scored for his club with 43%. Ings opened the scoring in the reverse fixture, which the Saints won 2-1 with Pukki scoring for Norwich. Stuart Armstrong (6,600) averaged 16.3 points in his last three away games and with three goals in his last six starts, he could pose a problem for the home side.
Prediction: Pukki to score (+128)
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Mourinho looks to kick-start Tottenham’s season against former club Manchester United
When Jose Mourinho was appointed manager of Tottenham as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement, it was with the aim of delivering success. The chances of winning a trophy this season have gone, but a place in Europe could still be theirs. Victory against the club he was sacked from in December 2018 will kick-start the Spurs’ campaign and keep them in the mix for a place in next season’s Europa League at least. United had one of the league’s best defensive records prior to break with six clean sheets in their last 10 league outings. If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side can pick up where they left off, then they could well add to their tally of shutouts. Five of the last eight meetings have been won to nil by one side or the other, which could lead you to think both teams will not score (+118) in this fixture. United have opened the scoring (-134) in three of their last four league matches while Tottenham (-103) have conceded the first goal in three of their last four. United are unbeaten when scoring first and the Red Devils have taken 36 points taken from a possible 42. The Spurs have lost three times this season when scoring first including their last home game with Wolves.
Prediction: Both teams not to score (+118)
Players to consider for DFS Showdown
Had it not been for a horrendous error in his last road game, David de Gea ($4,900) would be going into this fixture on the back of five straight clean sheets. His attempted clearance in the third minute of United’s trip to Everton ricocheted off Dominic Calvert-Lewin and into the back of the net. On his day, de Gea can be held up as one of the best keeper in the world, however, from time-to-time he is prone to make the odd error like his blunder at Goodison Park showed. Since Bruno Fernandes’ ($9,500) arrival at Old Trafford, the Portugal international has been the spark that his side had missed for most of the season. In the five league games he has worn United’s colors, Fernandes has amassed a total of 107.2 DFS points at an average of 21.44 points per game. The midfielder should definitely be considered for drafting as he makes this United team tick. The break for Covid-19 has allowed Tottenham’s talisman Harry Kane ($9,200) to recover from a ruptured tendon in his hamstring suffered on January 1. His value may be high given this is his first game back, but the pace of the matches played so far have not been to the usual tempo of the EPL which will suit him in his return. His conversion rate is one of the best in Europe. Kane’s record against United is not the best with just two goals in the 12 games he has faced them. In Kane’s absence, Son Heung-min ($8,800) has chipped in with four goals in his last three EPL matches. He missed out on a fifth goal in those fixtures when he missed a penalty in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa. Despite that miss, Son averaged 22 points per game before missing his side’s last two matches with an arm injury. He’s recovered from that setback and will hope to share the goals with Kane once again.
Prediction: Bruno Fernandes to have an assist (+300)
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is CharliePMullan) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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