If you asked Aston Villa and Fulham about their starts, they would not be happy. Ninth and 15th in the table, respectively, these two clubs hoped for much better. But it’s early in the season, and they still have time to build momentum. Let’s see which club can capture the momentum in our final match of Saturday’s Premier League slate.
Aston Villa are a +100 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, with a +265 draw. Fulham’s moneyline is set at +260.
Aston Villa vs. Fulham Pick, Best Bet
Incredibly, Aston Villa have stayed in the top half of the table. They have one of the league’s most impotent attacks, generating the fewest total shots on goal so far. Defensively, they haven’t been much better, surrendering the fifth-most expected goals in the league so far. And yet they keep finding ways to get results.
Their last Premier League game typified their scrappiness. As a huge underdog against Manchester City, Nicolas Jackson scored within the first ten minutes to set the tone. After Erling Haaland equalized for City in the second half, Jackson responded soon after, and the Villans pushed through for a 2-1 victory. It may have been a howler for City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the three points count all the same.
For Villa to be at their best, they need Johan Manzambi to keep up his momentum. Their versatile midfield talent has been worth every penny they paid for him this summer, and he’s been their most valuable player so far. Between his defensive contributions and his penchant for timely attacking moves, he’s the kind of talent who can take them to the next level.
After a dire start to the year, Fulham have finally put together some momentum. They’ve won two straight Premier League matches, both 1-0. Two straight matches against recently promoted sides will help you out of a tough spot. Their battle with Coventry was a little more back-and-forth, but they utterly dominated the time on the ball against Hull. It’s a good sign that their formula can keep working.
Few teams are more comfortable in possession than the Cottagers. Fulham rank fifth in possession over eight matches and complete the second-most passes per game, trailing only Man City. This team has plenty of exceptional passers, and they’re slowly working on playing more progressively. If this team can find a way to generate more chances, they will move further from the relegation zone they found themselves in early this year.
It’ll be interesting to see which side takes the initiative in the possession battle. Fulham may take control early, but they might dare Villa to play on the ball more than they’re used to. Either both teams will be comfortable, or both will be uncomfortable. That makes this a potentially fascinating result.
I like the value on Fulham here. They’ve built solid momentum, and the underlying numbers don’t look very good for Villa. This is a good spot for the Cottagers to storm in and claim all three points.
