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Crystal Palace and Burnley meet in the English Premier League (EPL) on Monday at 3:00 p.m. ET with the same point total from the same number of games played. This will be their 32nd league fixture of the campaign and both are locked on 42 points. Those points should be enough to see them keep their place in next season’s competition and a win for either side could reignite their dream of playing in Europe next season.
DraftKings is offering multiple ways for soccer fans to cash in on the game, including a Showdown contest with a $100,000 prize tool that pays out $25K to the winner. Set your lineups here: EPL Showdown $100K Counter Attack [$25K to 1st] (CRY vs BUR).
Soccer fans can also get in on the 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 picking on the DraftKings Showdown contest, 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.
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Crystal Palace to beat Burnley in low-scoring affair
Both these sides have suffered heavy defeats since the EPL returned on June 17. Palace saw their impressive run of four successive shutout wins come to an end when they were blown away by Liverpool, who were finally crowned champions following Manchester City’s defeat at Chelsea. Burnley was the final side to get back in action following the three-month suspension, and they struggled to find a rhythm when they were comprehensively beaten 5-0 by Manchester City. Burnley bounced back from that loss with a 1-0 win at home to Watford, and it’s up to Palace to put their heavy defeat behind them by winning this game at home, where they have only won five of their 15 games at Selhurst Park. Burnley’s form away from home has not been great with just four wins from 15 matches.
Palace won the first meeting this season 2-0 with a goal at the end of the first half and a second scored 12 minutes from time. If there is to be a winner in this game, I can see that team winning to nil. Both teams to fail to score (-155) has happened in Crystal Palace’s last five league games, while Burnley’s 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham is the only time in their last five EPL matches that there has been goals for both teams.
Five of the last six meetings between Palace and Burnley have been won to nil. Burnley has lost the last four meetings with Palace winning the last three by a two-goal margin. Both teams have been slow to score in the second half of the season. In their last 18 league games, Palace has netted just six times before half-time, while Burnley has managed only three first half goals in their last 18 EPL fixtures.
Prediction: Tie at half-time (-115)
Crystal Palace players to consider for DraftKings DFS
Let’s just put Crystal Palace’s 4-0 loss to Liverpool to one side and put it down to a blip against the newly crowned champions. You could argue that if Palace’s first choice goalkeeper Vicente Guaita ($7,000) had been available at Anfield, perhaps the scoreline might have been different. Guaita’s absence was noticeable, and after keeping four straight clean sheets, the defenders had to adjust to a new man behind them against Liverpool, which is not the place to be when trying to work with a change of goalkeeper. If Guaita has recovered from a muscle strain that sidelined him at Liverpool, then he should be considered for this contest.
One of the defenders who is used to playing in front of Guaita is Gary Cahill ($4,000), who has been one of the best signings of the season after being released by Chelsea at the end of last season. Despite being part of a defense that conceded four goals, Cahill finished the Anfield game with positive points (2.5). Cahill is a steady defender who rarely has his name taken by referees, which is why he often ends up with positive points.
In Palace’s attack, Jordan Ayew ($10,000) is worth drafting. Don’t be put off by his price. Before the trip to Anfield, Ayew had scored in three successive EPL games and he could be on target if Palace can get back to their winning ways against Burnley. If your budget cannot accommodate Ayew, then think about Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic ($8,400). He showed in his side’s 2-0 win at Bournemouth that he can score from free-kicks on the edge of the opposition’s penalty box.
Another Palace player to think about is Patrick Van Aanholt ($8,000) who is an attack-minded defender. Already this season he has three goals and an assist and if he is allowed space by the visitors, then he will be looking to exploit it at every opportunity.
Prediction: Jordan Ayew to be an anytime scorer (+215)
Burnley players to consider for DraftKings DFS
Burnley supporters must have feared the worst when their side took on Watford in their last game, which was coming so soon after their lopsided 5-0 loss to Manchester City. They were also without leading scorers Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes for the second consecutive game. Against City, it showed how much they were missed. Against Watford, it looked like it would be another game without a goal until Jay Rodriguez ($8,800) scored the only goal of the game. However, he did not finish the game because of a slight knock, which he hopes will not keep him out of this game. It was Rodriguez’s sixth league goal of the season and with a depleted squad to choose from, Sean Dyche’s men may not be able to create too many chances. If Rodriguez, who scored 17.8 DFS points last time out, does get a chance, he is going to have to take it.
Dwight McNeil ($10,600) is the highest valued player in this contest and his form suggests he could cause Palace’s defenders several problems. McNeil, who averages 14.9 DFS points in his last five encounters, has two goals and six assists this campaign, and if Burnley are to win this game, he could be key to that happening. Credit has to go to Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope ($5,600), who recovered from conceding five goals at Manchester City to keep a clean sheet against Watford. It was his fifth in his last eight EPL games, and with both teams likely to cancel each other out in the middle third of the pitch, chances at either end may be few and far between.
Ashley Westwood ($7,600) is another Burnley player worth thinking about. He has two goals and five assists this campaign and is capable of creating something out of nothing for his forwards. Westwood created two scoring chances against Watford and will be looking to do damage against Burnley.
Prediction: Dwight McNeil to have an assist (+450)
Set your lineups here: EPL Showdown $100K Counter Attack [$25K to 1st] (CRY vs BUR)
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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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