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What a season this is turning out to be in the EPL! Defending champions Liverpool led the table at the start of 2021, but they ended the weekend fourth after a dip in form. Only three points separate the top four sides as we approach the halfway stage of the season. Manchester United lead the table after the weekend slate of games, but there could be a new leader after the midweek games if Manchester City can beat Aston Villa at the Etihad and United fail to win at Fulham. Here are some soccer bets that stand out to me on DraftKings Sportsbook for the upcoming English Premier League (EPL) games.
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West Ham vs. West Brom
West Ham to score first and win (-127)
One of the top performances of last weekend came from West Brom, who gave their hopes of staying in the EPL a shot in the arm by winning 3-2 at Wolves. With Burnley and Fulham losing, it turned out to be a very good weekend for the Baggies. One of the reasons why they are in the bottom three is because of their inability to win back-to-back games, and this trip to West Ham will be tricky. West Brom might be happy to take a point just to keep its points total ticking over. West Ham is unbeaten in the team’s past four, and with three successive shutouts, David Moyes’ side will be hard to breakdown. West Brom has given up the opening goal in each of the past five league games so that is a bet worth considering.
Leicester vs. Chelsea
Both Leicester and Chelsea registered wins at the weekend, but Leicester’s victory was a lot more impressive than Chelsea’s. Frank Lampard’s side struggled to break down a Fulham side that played the entire second half with 10 men. Leicester scored in each half in a 2-0 win over Southampton to stay in the race for the title. The past three league meetings between these two sides have ended in ties. Chelsea is in danger of dropping out of the title race if they suffer a loss at King Power Stadium, and Leicester ended the weekend two points off the lead in what is turning out to be one of the most competitive EPL seasons in a long time.
Manchester City vs. Aston Villa
Manchester City to win both halves (+155)
Manchester City was the big winner of the weekend not just by beating Crystal Palace, 4-0, but by moving to within two points of Manchester United, which has played an extra game on Pep Guardiola’s City. City has scored in the first half in each of their past six EPL games and there is a very good chance they will do so again against a Villa side that has spent the past couple of weeks dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak within their camp. Training time will have been limited so there is a chance Jack Grealish and Co. will be rusty at the start of this fixture. City has not given up the first goal in any of the team’s past eight league contests. Because City plays before United, Guardiola’s side can go top for a couple of hours with a win.
Fulham v Manchester United
Manchester United HT/FT (+123)
Fulham has its work cut out to contain table-leaders Manchester United when they visit Craven Cottage. United extended its unbeaten run in the league to 12 with a 0-0 draw at Liverpool on Sunday to stay at the top of the standings. Fulham remains in the bottom three after falling to a 1-0 loss at home to Chelsea, after being reduced to 10 men at the end of the first half. United has won on the team’s past four visits to Fulham and form would suggest Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side picks up all three points in this contest. It might not be as straightforward as some might think this top versus the team second from the bottom matchup should be, but United might have to be patient. The effects of playing the second half against Chelsea with 10 men might eventually catch up with Fulham in the latter stages of this game.
Liverpool v Burnley
By not scoring in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United, Liverpool has now gone three league games without a goal for the first time since March 2005. The last time they failed to score in four league games was in May 2000. That run has to end sometime, and a home game with Burnley would seem like the perfect fixture to end their drought. However, Burnley won’t be any pushovers. If Burnley’s recent results are anything to go by, this should be a close contest. Their last eight matches have been tied or decided by a single goal one way or the other. Under 2.5 goals might be a bet worth considering given the fact Burnley’s seven of Burnley’s last eight league matches have been low-scoring affairs while Liverpool’s last four EPL games have failed to see three or more total goals scored.
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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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