PlayON EPL DFS Preview – Round 23

Another round down in the Premier League and another step closer to knowing who will lift the trophy, who will fill the European places and who will drop to the Championship come May. For now though, the focus is in the next set of games coming up in round 23.

That is the focus of the team at PlayON too, with Daily Fantasy offerings in play for the round as usual. To help you into the prize –winning places, I have identified the players I would be targeting for my team, from must-have guns to penny-pinching value plays, with the odd sneaky POD pick thrown in for good measure.

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Let’s start with the games coming at you on Saturday:

Bournemouth v West Ham

A good win for the Hammers last out over Arsenal sees them move into ninth, while a loss to Everton keeps the Cherries in the bottom end.

Only seven previous games at this level, of which Bournemouth have three wins to West Ham’s two. In the last four, there have been two draws and two wins for the Cherries, including 2-1 in the reverse fixture this season.

I can see the confidence from the last win seeing the Hammers home. But I can’t see them doing it with a clean sheet so avoiding the defenders.

Gun

A couple of quiet games haven’t stopped Felipe Anderson (£11.1m) holding a PlayON average of 1670.

Eight goals and three assists for the season, the midfielder will be vital to any West Ham win here.

Value Pick

Back into the Premier League and straight among the attacking stats with an assist. If he keeps that up, Samir Nasri (£7.4m) won’t stay this cheap for long.

If he goes anywhere close to last round’s 1270 again, he is a steal.

POD Pick

If Bournemouth are to get onto the scoresheet, the smart money would be on Callum Wilson (£11.8m), with nine goals and eight assists already,

If people back the Hammers here, he could also find his ownership low, amplifying the points if they sit in your team.

 

Liverpool v Crystal Palace

Straight back to winning ways for Liverpool last out, seeing off Brighton to keep the gap at the top at four points. Palace went down to Watford in round 23, but have a couple of wins in their last five.

Nineteen prior matches have seen Liverpool move to an 11-5 lead in terms of wins, including each of the last three.

This fixture was one of the matches that cost the Reds the title a few years back, but current season Liverpool don’t seem to have that same vulnerability. Lock them in for the win, and their players for your DFS sides, then.

Gun

No surprises here. It was Mo Salah’s (£17.5m) goal that gave Liverpool the win last out, his 14th of the season to go with eight assists and a DFS average of 1995.

It would be a brave man to bet against him scoring again here.

Value Pick

In terms of average-for-price value, Virgil van Dijk (£8.1m) and his near 1000 average is up there.

On top of 12 clean sheets, the Dutchman has contributed a goal and two assists. A good chance for clean sheet number 13 here, if he adds an attacking stat as well, the value goes through the roof.

POD Pick

With all the defensive injuries for the Reds, there is a good chance Joel Matip (£6.9m) gets a run at the back.

The average of 365 may keep him out of teams, but in the three games he has started, he has two clean sheets and a goal, so could see a big score if he comes in.

 

Man United v Brighton

The revival continued for United last out as they overcame their toughest test in the new era, beating Spurs 1-0. Brighton went down to Liverpool by the same scoreline to end a three match unbeaten streak.

There have only been three meetings at this level, but Brighton have won two of them, making them probably one of the few teams to have winning records against the Red Devils. On the current form though, I see the hosts levelling that tally in this and will be looking at their players for PlayON.

Gun

From strength to strength under Solskjær, Paul Pogba (£12.6m) has four goals and five assists in his last five games, after three of each in the 17 rounds beforehand.

Averaging over 1800, the Frenchman scored against the Seagulls in round two and could well do so again here.

Value Pick

Three in three, and with two assists to boot, Marcus Rashford (£11.7m) is also in form, pushing his PlayON average over 1600. Even at his higher price, that is still great value for money.

 

Newcastle v Cardiff

After a point in a relegation six-pointer against Huddersfield last out, Cardiff move into another here against fellow strugglers Newcastle. It is a tough run for the Magpies, with United and Chelsea down and City and Spurs to follow, so this becomes all the more important for them.

Three meetings at this level before. Two wins for Newcastle in the 2013/14 season and a 0-0 draw earlier this term.

With both sides scoring less than one a game, the winner probably takes this 1-0. I think that will be the home side, so locking in their players for my sides.

Gun

One of only five players in this one averaging over 1000, Ayoze Pérez (£9.4m) has not exactly been on fire this season, with two league goals and an assist.

He does seem to get decent game though and comes into this from a cup goal midweek. If the Magpies can get on the front foot in this, he has potential to see a few more chances and increased points.

Value Pick

The main goal threat from the hosts will likely come from Salomón Rondón (£8.2m). Five goals and two assists for the season and getting 90 minutes in each of the last three games, the forward has been one of the better performers for Newcastle.

A PlayON average of 1270 is a great pickup for the price and is great value if he pops up with a goal or two.

 

Southampton v Everton

Wins for both sides last out, against Leicester and Bournemouth. Similar recent form too, with a couple of wins each in the last five rounds.

Two sides with a lot of top flight experience, so they’ve met 39 times before. Of those, the Toffees have 17 wins and the Saints 11, with 11 draws. The last five have been close, with two wins apiece and a draw.

I’m backing the visitors to kick on from their last win and take this. But with a tendency to concede I can find space for some home players too.

Gun

Don’t let the quiet last couple fool you, Gylfi Sigurdsson (£11.3m) is the heart of the Everton midfield.

Eight goals for the season, if he is up for this, there’s almost no limit to his scoring potential.

Value Pick

Overtaking Sigurdsson as Everton’s top PlayON scorer, Lucas Digne (£7.7m) has three goals and three assists to go with five clean sheets.

His willingness to push on has earned him an average of 1280, well above his current pricing. Jump on and watch him go again here.

POD Pick

Anyone playing purely on stats will overlook Ademola Lookman (£6.6m) and his 565 average. But he could be about to break out for-wise, grabbing an assist in his second start last out.

Another start here should see him score well above his current average. Lock him in while others won’t.

 

Watford v Burnley

Some form on both sides here. Watford have just the one loss in five while Burnley have won three straight.  Both sides trending the right way in the league, but the hosts are eight places higher in seventh.

Five prior meetings have all produced results, with three wins for the Clarets and two for the Hornets. Hard to pick a result in this, but I can see both getting on the scoresheet, so am avoiding defenders here.

Gun

Getting a good run in the side of late and contributing a couple of goals and assists, Gerard Deulofeu (£9m) looks to be hitting decent form and looks like the one to make something happen for the Hornets.

Against a side conceding around two a game, he’s not a bad shout for some attacking points.

Value Pick

Since coming into the side in round 19, Dwight McNeil (£5.8m) has a goal, an assist and an average of 1140.

Still price at a rock-bottom level, he is definitely worth jumping on while in form.

POD Pick

Don’t let the 700 average fool you, Chris Wood (£8.7m) is back! Two in his last three, put him down as one of the best goal threats for the Clarets. If he nabs a goal, his average likely keeps him out of a fair few other teams.

 

Arsenal v Chelsea

A great clash to end the day! Arsenal’s loss to West Ham in round 22 means the gap to fourth-placed Chelsea has spread to six points so a win here would be helpful to bridge that gap.

Both sides are Premier League ever-presents, meaning there are 53 games’ of history in this fixture. It is a tight history, with the Gunners narrowly edging it in wins 19-18 (16 draws).

The Blues took this out in round two, but it is still anyone’s guess who takes this one. For PlayON purposes, I am sitting firmly on the fence and picking attackers on both sides.

Gun

Continuing to find himself among the goals and assists, with ten of each for the season, Eden Hazard (£16.5m) has two goals and an assist in his last three.

He is pricey, but he has proven his abilities continually over the season and averages over 1500.

Value Pick

A solid base through the work rate in the middle, Lucas Torreira (£8.1m) has also added a couple of goals and a few assists, to keep his average at good value for money.

Likely to see an increased workload against top opposition, the potential for a big score is definitely there.

POD Pick

For similar reasons to Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi (£6.1m) could be on for a big score here. What is different is that he currently averages just 530, which will keep his ownership low.

Back into the side of late, the midfielder scored big last time he faced the Blues.

That brings Saturday’s games to a close, but there are still a couple coming your way on Sunday.

Make sure you head to the lobby to enter your teams and then head back here to check out Sunday’s preview.

Good luck!

WeninRome

Wenin is one of the founding fathers of the NRLSCTalk website who's Tuesday Teams Analysis has been a feature post on the site for close to a decade. He also loves a good steak bet!

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Ozman

Anyone know why Aguero is no longer starting?

dodgy dooright

Probably the Alternator (AKA P. Guardiola). Jesus, who knows?!?