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The EPL season rolls on and so does the coverage from the RotoBaller soccer team. We're offering up our favorite betting pick for each game, along with a score prediction, and will include a player to look out for in fantasy from each fixture. Before you read on, remember these essential things: betting on sports should be fun. If you aren't having fun with it, stop. And never bet what you can't afford to lose.
Matchday 33 will be a pivotal one for FPL leagues. Next week sees six additional games, so getting your team set this week to maximize Week 34 is crucial. It's also another huge weekend at both ends of the table. The top three all have home games on the back of midweek European ties. We hit another parlay last week to keep the profit ticking over. Let's hope we can hit another.
We've been cranking up the soccer content at RotoBaller, too. We're still bringing you dedicated DFS and Fantasy Premier League content on top of the weekly preview and betting content, which can be found here. Follow the team on X (@EuanFPL, @LucidMediaDFS, @df_solutions, @BellRoto, and yours truly @Baseball_Jimbo), and reach out to any of us if you ever have any soccer questions.
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Saturday, April 13, 2024
Newcastle United (+175) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (+135) - 7:30 a.m. EDT
Score prediction: Newcastle United 2 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur
There have been three or more goals scored in 25 of Tottenham's games this season (81%). That's the most in the EPL. Newcastle's had 22 games with at least three goals (tied for third most). Expect more of the same.
Fantasy Player Pick: Alexander Isak
Isak has four goals and an assist in his last three home games. On either side of his injury, Isak has scored in five consecutive games at St. James' Park.
Alexander Isak's last five home matches 😮💨
The most-bought player for Gameweek 31 rewarded his new owners with yet another goal at St James’ Park 🏠#FPL pic.twitter.com/TewNWM2MVp
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 3, 2024
Brentford (-235) vs. Sheffield United (+550) - 10:00 a.m. EDT
Score prediction: Brentford 2 – 1 Sheffield United
Both teams have scored in 81% of Brentford's home games (the second most in the league). Sheffield United has scored eight goals in its last four games. Both sides to find the net looks likely.
Fantasy Player Pick: Ivan Toney
Toney has now gone eight games without a goal. He now gets to face the team on course for the worst defensive record in EPL history. FPL managers who have grown tired of Toney will regret dropping him this week.
Burnley (+250) vs. Brighton (+100) - 10:00 a.m. EDT
Score prediction: Burnley 1 – 1 Brighton
Burnley's failed to score more than once in five of its eight home games against the sides below Brighton in the table. None of them have scored more than twice against them. Brighton's scored eight goals in its last nine away games, five of which came at Sheffield United. This feels like being a low-scoring affair.
Fantasy Player Pick: Danny Welbeck
Welbeck has a goal involvement in each of the last three away games in which he's started. He doesn't hold much FPL appeal but should be a nice contrarian in DFS. He's averaged 2.53 shots per 90 minutes this season and had 16 shots in his last seven starts against sides not in the top three.
Manchester City (-1000) vs. Luton Town (+1900) - 10:00 a.m. EDT
Score prediction: Manchester City 4 – 1 Luton Town
Luton had scored in eight consecutive away games before blanking at Arsenal in its last away game. Manchester City will run out comfortable winners but Luton to score as well at plus odds is appealing.
Fantasy Player Pick: Phil Foden
Foden left City's Champions League game early with an injury but should be fit for this week. He scored a screamer against Real Madrid and remains in the hunt to be FPL's highest-scoring midfielder this season.
Phil Foden is flying in #FPL 💫
In which Gameweek did you decide to bring the @ManCity midfielder in? 👋 pic.twitter.com/uz9fwNveOL
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 10, 2024
Nottingham Forest (+120) vs. Wolves (+245) - 10:00 a.m. EDT
Score prediction: Nottingham Forest 3 – 1 Wolves
Forest's point deduction means it has to win games like this to avoid relegation. It was a similar story when it played Fulham at home and won 3-1. Wolves has lost six of their last nine away games and with a small squad, their attacking injuries have left them struggling in recent games. A home win at plus odds looks most tempting.
Fantasy Player Pick: Morgan Gibbs-White
Gibbs-White has three assists and a goal in his last four games. He scored and assisted in Forest's last home game and a similar performance wouldn't come as a shock.
Bournemouth (+140) vs. Manchester United (+170) - 12:30 p.m. EDT
Score prediction: Bournemouth 2 – 2 Manchester United
Manchester United continues to allow shots on its goal at an alarming rate. No side in the bottom half of the table has had more shots than Bournemouth (428). There's been an average of 2.94 goals in Bournemouth's 16 home games and more goals look in order on Saturday.
😳 Manchester United have faced 548 shots in the Premier League this season. Only Sheffield United have faced more.
Erik ten Hag's side also have the fourth highest xG against (57.3) - with only Sheffield United, Luton Town, West Ham ahead of them. Madness. pic.twitter.com/cLM6EXx7hf
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) April 8, 2024
Fantasy Player Pick: Justin Kluivert
Kluivert has a goal and an assist in his last two games, despite only starting one of them. With Andre Onana having faced 107 shots in his last four games, Kluivert could be an ideal differential in FPL (0.6% rostered).
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Liverpool (-475) vs. Crystal Palace (+1100) - 9:00 a.m. EDT
Score prediction: Liverpool 3 – 0 Crystal Palace
Only three teams have avoided defeat at Anfield this season in 16 games. All three are currently top-six sides in the league table. It's difficult to know whether Palace finds a goal or limits Liverpool (who has been profligate in front of the goal). The safest play is going with the home side to win in any parlay.
Most shots attempted in the Premier League this season:
◉ 629 - Liverpool
◎ 559 - Man City
◎ 517 - ArsenalMost shots on target:
◎ 216 - Man City
◉ 215 - Liverpool
◎ 183 - Arsenal@Twenty3Sport have found the man to fix their wayward shooting...— Squawka (@Squawka) April 11, 2024
Fantasy Player Pick: Mo Salah
Salah came on at halftime in Liverpool's Europa League tie on Thursday. Although he'd have been hoping for a full rest, he should at least be a bit fresher than some teammates. Mainly due to injury, Salah hasn't scored at home since Matchday 20. That will surely change on Sunday.
West Ham United (+140) vs. Fulham (+185) - 9:00 a.m. EDT
Score prediction: West Ham United 2 – 0 Fulham
West Ham will have exerted plenty of energy on Thursday when facing Leverkusen in the Europe League. However, they've been used to the Thursday/Sunday schedule over the last couple of seasons and Fulham's away record is poor. The Cottagers have just 11 points on the road, something only the bottom-four teams have fewer than. A home win still looks too well-priced.
Fantasy Player Pick: Mohammed Kudus
With Jarrod Bowen nursing an injury, Kudus will need to carry West Ham's biggest threat. He's tallied 14 goal involvements this season and will be integral to West Ham's chances of qualifying for Europe again next season.
Arsenal (-350) vs. Aston Villa (+800) - 11:30 a.m. EDT
Score prediction: Arsenal 2 – 1 Aston Villa
Arsenal's defense has justifiably been receiving plenty of plaudits lately. But it was error-prone against Bayern Munich in midweek. Villa has scored in nine of its last 10 away EPL games. Villa will give Arsenal a game and both teams scoring looks like the value play.
Fantasy Player Pick: Kai Havertz
Havertz has been having his best season in the EPL (nine goals and seven assists). His movement will be crucial against Villa's high defensive line. Should he time his runs right, there'll be chances for Havertz to get his 10th goal of the season.
Kai Havertz's 10 attacking returns since Gameweek 25 is more than any other midfielder during that period 📈
The @Arsenal asset is only at 4.7% ownership... 😅#FPL pic.twitter.com/4YdMoPFN6q
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 8, 2024
Monday, April 15, 2024
Chelsea (-145) vs. Everton (+380) - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Score prediction: Chelsea 2 – 1 Everton
Chelsea's games continue to be bonkers and unpredictable. Its injury-time comeback against Manchester United was followed by drawing at Sheffield United, having led twice. It is unbeaten in its last seven EPL games with eight of its last nine matches seeing at least three goals. Backing that trend to continue seems the best option.
Fantasy Player Pick: Cole Palmer
Palmer is Chelsea's biggest threat in every game. With Everton having conceded the second-most penalties in the league this season (seven), he has an even better chance of a big points haul. He makes a fine captain option in FPL this week.
Betting Picks
The below table gives the odds for each of the three main plays for each game (moneyline, total goals, and both teams to score). My favorite pick from each game is highlighted if you are looking to build a parlay (which I will be playing and tracking).
| Game | Moneyline | Over/Under 2.5 | BTTS |
| Newcastle 2 – 3 Tottenham | Tottenham +135 | O2.5 -285 | Yes -295 |
| Brentford 2 – 1 Sheff Utd | Brentford -235 | O2.5 -195 | Yes -140 |
| Burnley 1 – 1 Brighton | Draw +280 | U2.5 +130 | Yes -185 |
| Man City 4 – 1 Luton | Man City -1000 | O2.5 -400 | Yes +110 |
| Notts Forest 3 – 1 Wolves | N. Forest +120 | O2.5 -125 | Yes -160 |
| Bournemouth 2 – 2 Man Utd | Draw +290 | O2.5 -235 | Yes -265 |
| Liverpool 3 – 0 C. Palace | Liverpool -475 | O2.5 -260 | No -110 |
| West Ham 2 – 0 Fulham | West Ham +140 | U2.5 +125 | No +150 |
| Arsenal 2 – 1 Aston Villa | Arsenal -350 | O2.5 -215 | Yes -110 |
| Chelsea 2 – 1 Everton | Chelsea -145 | O2.5 -180 | Yes -175 |
| Season totals | 156/310 | 175/310 | 179/310 |
| Season parlays | 2/30 (-22.27u) | 7/30 (+7.34u) | 10/30 (+22.91u) |
Good luck with those FPL teams and EPL bets. Remember to bet responsibly!
