RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off”! The last matchweek went very well for those that followed the ways of the “Kick-Off”! We have officially begun our fixture congestion season for the holidays as we ramp up to the biggest day of the year, Boxing Day!!! To kickstart the craziness at 2:30 P.M. EST, we have our favorite type of slate. A slate where we have two heavy favorites in the later games, yes folks I said it, we have late games back and not one, but two! Both Manchester City -290 and Liverpool -255 are the final games of the slate after the biggest favorites in Chelsea -320 play with the other three fixtures early on.
With three different favorites and all title contenders, it will be rather finicky how you construct your lineups for this matchweek. You also need to consider the possibility of players getting benched if they start dominating quickly so they can be saved for the weekend. There will be many different combinations to ship the GPPs this week and it is a fine line of doing so. May the goals be with you!
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected] or via Twitter @df_solutions or on “SLACK”.
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The Kick-Off - EPL Matchweek 14
[H] Watford (+875) vs Chelsea [A] (-320): Total: 2 1/2o
Chelsea arrives at Vicarage Road with a six-game unbeaten run with wins over Juventus and Leicester in their last three matches. The title contenders are also getting their prized striker, Lukaku back, but it remains to be seen if he will make the starting XI. Nevertheless, against the up-and-down Hornets, Chelsea should make way for another three points.
Expected Outcome: 3-0 Chelsea
WAT:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Cleverley($3.5K)
GPP: Hernandez($5K), Pedro($3.5K), Tufan($3.1K)
CHE:
Cash/GPP:
G: Mendy($5.8K)
D: Alonso($6.9K)
M/F: Mount($8.6K), Pulisic($7.1K), Havertz($5.9K)
[H] West Ham United (-100) vs [A] Brighton & Hove Albion (+270): Total: 2 1/2u
Five out of the last six meetings between these two sides have ended in a draw and the very same outcome may happen once more. Brighton has drawn three of their last four matches and West Ham has dropped their last two matches to a combined score of 3-1. With both clubs missing key players, this should be nothing more than a snooze fest at best.
Expected Outcome: 1-1
WHU:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Bowen($7.9K), Antonio($6.8K), Fornals($5.9K)
BHA:
Cash/GPP:
GPP: Trossard($7.2K), Lamptey($4.9K), Cucurella($4.7K), Sanchez($4.2K)
[H] Wolverhampton (-115) vs [A] Burnley (+335) Total: 2 1/2u
Both clubs are coming into this match with great form -- Wolves lost just once in the last six and Burnley lost just once in the last five --. Both clubs are also starting to find their footing with their attacks as well. However, Burnley will be missing Westwood due to a red card and it will ultimately make McNeil a prized possession in this match. This will play rather close, but the hosts should have what it takes to edge out a victory.
Expected Outcome: 2-1 Wolverhampton
WOL:
Cash/GPP:
D: Ait-Nouri($6.2K)
M/F: Moutinho($4.2K)
GPP: Jimenez($7.5K), Traore($7K), Hee-Chan($6.2K), Sa($5.3K)
BUR:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: McNeil($7.7K), Cornet($6.8K)
GPP: Taylor($5K), Pope($4.1K)
[H] Southampton (+143) vs [A] Leicester (+180): Total: 2 1/2o
These two clubs could not be on further ends of the spectrum when they meet here. Southampton has dropped their last two matches, most namely a 2-1 loss to Norwich. Leicester on the other hand has won their most recent two matches with a 4-2 rout of Watford at the weekend. A few players may sit here after rumors started swirling about the fixture congestion, however, the visitors should just sneak away with all three points.
Expected Outcome: 2-1 Leicester
SOU:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Ward-Prowse($7K)
GPP: Redmond($6.9K), Armstrong($6K), Livramento($4.8K)
LEI:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Maddison($8.1K)
GPP: Vardy($8.4K), Lookman($5.5K), Barnes($4.9K), Schmeichel($4.6K)
[H] Aston Villa (+725) vs [A] Manchester City (-290): Total: 3u
Manchester City has won the last six meetings between these two sides with a combined score of 19-3. The visitors also are coming into this match on a five-game win streak. Luckily for Villa, they have won their first and most recent two matches since new bench boss Steven Gerrard arrived, however, that alone will not save them against the Premier League giants.
Expected Outcome: 3-0 Manchester City
AVL:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Young($4.7K)
GPP: McGinn($5.7K), Watkins($5.4K), Buendia($5.3K)
MCL:
Cash/GPP:
G: Ederson($5.9K)
D: Cancelo($7.1K)
M/F: Mahrez($8.5K), Gundogan($8.3K)
GPP: Jesus($7.8K), Sterling($7.6K)
[H] Everton (+640) vs [A] Liverpool (-255): Total: 3u
The Toffees have provided the Reds quite the challenge over the last three meetings. In that time, Everton won 2-0 and also drew Liverpool 2-2 and 0-0. However, Liverpool seems to be in terminator mode where nothing can stop them. Over their last three fixtures, they have outscored their opponents 10-0. Everton is still missing Calvert-Lewin and Gray at the very least, providing it rather difficult to break through Liverpool’s stout defense. With Chelsea and Manchester City also in plus matchups, Liverpool will not drop points here.
Expected Outcome: 4-0 Liverpool
EVE:
Cash/GPP:
D: Digne($5.7K)
GPP: Townsend($7.8K), Gray($6.5K), Richarlison($4.9K), Pickford($3.8K)
LIV:
Cash/GPP:
G: Alisson($5.7K)
D: Alexander-Arnold($8K)
M/F: Salah($10.5K), Jota($9.3K), Mane($8.2K)
Expected Corner Takers:
Watford: Cleverley/Hernandez
Chelsea: Alonso/Mount
West Ham United: Bowen
Brighton & Hove Albion: Gross/March/Trossard
Wolverhampton: Ait-Nouri/Mourinho
Burnley: McNeil
Southampton: Ward-Prowse
Leicester City: Maddison
Aston Villa: Young/McGinn
Manchester City: Gundogan/Mahrez
Everton: Digne/Townsend
Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off! Good luck in all of your contests today!
