PlayOn EPL Round 21 Preview

Round 21 heats up heading into the second day of 2019, with six more Premier League games coming at you. PlayON are coming at you too, with Daily Fantasy competitions across the day’s games and cash prizes for grabs. If you’re not yet part of the PlayON daily sports community then you can do so by following the link provided here.

To increases the chances of the cash going into your pocket, I have been through the games and picked out my best DFS plays below. Use them, pick your own, but remember either way you need to be in to win.

Bournemouth v Watford


Gerard Deulofeu (£9.1m) shapes as a solid option for this round
(Photo by Getty Images)

A come-from-behind draw for Watford last out, while the Cherries were well beaten by a resurgent Man United.

Seven meetings between the sides at this level have produced five draws and a win apiece. Interestingly, both wins were in away games. The last meeting saw the one Bournemouth win, by a margin of 4-0.

Hard to split these two so I’m sitting on the fence and picking forwards on both sides for DFS.

Gun

Over the last few weeks, Gerard Deulofeu (£9.1m) has been the driving force behind the Hornets’ attack, with two goals and two assists in the last four rounds.

After a slow start, the average is now up close to 1100 and the winger is flying. I make him my best bet to be involved in any goals for the away side here.

Value Pick

In his first season in the Premier League, David Brooks (£9.1m) is going well, bagging five goals and two assists to date.

Two goals in the last three games and an assist last out show he is in good form and the average over 1100 is a good pickup for the price, if he gets amongst it again in this one.

Chelsea v Southampton



N’Golo Kanté (£9.9m) is a genuine value pick this round (Photo by Getty Images)

Chelsea snuck a 1-0 win past Palace in round 20, while the Saints were unable to emulate Palace or Leicester as they went down to Man City.

From 39 prior clashes in the top flight, Chelsea have 23 wins and eight draws and have won all of the last five meetings. Can’t look past the Blues with those kinds of stats, jump on their players for your PlayON squads.

Gun

No attacking stats against Palace, but with two goals the game before and three in his last four, Eden Hazard (£16.6m) is getting back to the kind of form he showed at the start of the season.

Ten goals and nine assists for the season now. Nobody has set up more goals than the Belgian, and only three players have scored more. One to seriously consider.

Value Pick

Grabbing his third of the season with the winner last out, N’Golo Kanté (£9.9m) has a knack of adding the odd attacking stat to keep his DFS average up, currently at a solid 1160.

The work rate alone is probably worth the money, but if he also gets back on the score sheet again here, he will be an absolute steal.

Huddersfield v Burnley


James Tarkowski (£7m) comes into play for your PlayON sides (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Huddersfield lost a relegation six-pointer last out, while Burnley overcame an in-form Hammers side with two early goals.

All three of the games these sides have played in the Premier League have finished in draws, two of them goalless. I am going to stick my neck out for this one though and tip the Clarets and lean towards their players for DFS purposes.

Gun

In backing the Clarets to get up in this one, and possibly keep a clean sheet, James Tarkowski (£7m) comes into play for your PlayON sides.

If he can add to the four clean sheets for the season, he will likely go at or around his current 930 average. If he also adds to the three goals and one assist, the score will blow that average out the water.

Value Pick

19-year-old Dwight McNeil (£5.3m) capped his third appearance of the season, and his first start since round one, with a goal against West Ham on the weekend.

The lack of games so far mean he is rock-bottom priced, so the average of 1140 is complete value for money. He will come into this with confidence.

POD Pick

A very quiet season so far for Chris Wood (£8.5m) which is reflected in his average of just 700. That could serve to keep his ownership low here.

He is a proven goal scorer though, and was on the scoresheet in the last game. Up against a struggling side who ship nearly two a game, he could have hit form at just the right time.

West Ham v Brighton


Jürgen Locadia (£6.9m) has an average of 900 and is a nice value play this round
(Photo by Getty Images)

The Hammers lost against Burnleylast out, their second in three games, while Brighton overcame Everton to record their seventh win of the season.

All three of the previous matchups have gone the way of the Seagulls, by a cumulative 7-1 margin. That said, with the Hammers’ form of late (prior to the last couple) I fancy them for this one.

I do also fancy the visitors to score though, so scope for attackers on both sides for PlayON teams.

Gun

Nothing doing for him in the 2-0 loss last out, but the Hammers’ best attacking force continues to be Felipe Anderson (£11.1m), at least until someone else averages 1700+!

Eight goals for the season, you wouldn’t bet against his grabbing more here.

Value Pick

Two in his last two, Jürgen Locadia (£6.9m) is pushing his average to the 900 mark. It is well diluted by a lot of single-figure minute appearances, but still value for money.

If he goes big again here, you’re onto a diamond for the cost.

POD Pick

With Mathew Ryan on international duty with Australia, you can pick up a low priced deputy in David Button (£5.8m). Coming in for the Everton game, he made four saves en route to a clean sheet.

If he is kept busy in this one, the points from the saves will come at a discounted price. Plus ownership could be low with people not knowing who he is, Ryan having played all the minutes prior.

Wolves v Crystal Palace


Diogo Jota (£8.8m) is being overlooked, but could be a solid POD option this round
(Photo by Getty Images)

A great comeback win for Wolves over Spurs last round while Palace narrowly lost against Chelsea – narrow in terms of scoreline at least, as the Blues dominated the stats.

A few wins for each side sprinkled in their last few games, so they each bring some semblance of form into this.

Wolves’ 1-0 win earlier in the season is the only result to go off in terms of Premier League history. Both sides have claimed confidence building wins over big sides in recent weeks, but I have to go with the home field advantage for Wolves, so will be picking their players first for my PlayON sides.

Gun

Continuing to tick along in terms of goals and assists, Raúl Jiménez (£10.2m) found the net again in round 20 and now has six goals, six assists for the season.

The form translates into a PlayON average of 1230, which is very handy. Playing at home here, he will look to stay amongst the goals.

Value Pick

Adding a fourth assist of the season, to go with three goals and five clean sheets, Matt Doherty (£9m) is one worth having.

Averaging 1050, watch him beat that if he bags another attacking stat here.

POD Pick

Missing three games with an injury and averaging under 800. Both good reasons for many overlooking Diogo Jota (£8.8m) for this one.

Eyes on the teamsheets though. The manager was non-committal either way on Jota playing, so there is a chance he returns.

If he does, remember that he had two goals and two assists in the three games before his injury. Form worth having, especially if others don’t have him.

Newcastle v Man United


Paul Pogba (£12.4m is a changed man after the sacking of Jose
(Photo by Getty Images)

Kicking off slightly later than the other games to close out the round, Newcastle host Man United. The Magpies took another vital point against Watford last out, but remain firmly in the relegation mix. The Red Devils have been resurgent under the new manager, winning three in a row since Mourinho was sacked and seemingly scoring for fun.

This is a good fixture for the visitors to extend their good run. In the 47 times the sides have met at this level, the team in red have won on 27 occasions and drawn 14 times, leaving just six wins for the Magpies, although one of those was in this fixture last season.

The reverse meeting this season saw Newcastle throw away a 2-0 lead to lose, but I cannot see this one being as close with the visitors form and confidence. Away players for your DFS sides then.

Gun

What a difference a week or two makes! All of a sudden, Paul Pogba (£12.4m) is averaging nearly 2000 and absolutely flying.

Seven goals and seven assists for the season now, but four of each of those have come in the last three games. That’s form you want to be jumping on!

Value Pick

In the top two for averages in this game, Marcus Rashford (£10.8m) is playing well at the moment. Two goals and an assist in his last three, his PlayON average over 1400 is up there in the ‘value-for-money’ list.

POD Pick

With the form of the visitors, it is likely that ownership of Magpies players will be low. But given the Red Devils have just two clean sheets for the season still, you could find a POD in a likely goal scorer in black and white.

For me, that will be Salomón Rondón (£8.3m) who averages over 1200 courtesy of five goals and two assists. Three of those goals, and one of the assists, have come in his last five outings. Form is there then, and he is the best bet for a home goalscorer here.

Another day down and just one game left in round 21 now, but it is a cracker with big implications on the title race.

Check back in for the Thursday preview of the final games, but make sure you first head to the lobby and enter your teams for the Wednesday games.

Good luck!

Sparky

Accountant by day and Sports Fanatic by night (and also day). Originally from Newcastle, England. Lifelong NUFC fan, taking on Titans, Bombers and Roar affiliations since moving to Australia.

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WeninRome

Another great piece  Sparky !