EPL Betting Picks and FPL Game Previews for Matchday 31: English Premier League

Jamie Steed previews EPL Matchday 31 of the 2023-24 season, starting on 4/2/2024. He previews each game from the English Premier League; picking bets, analyzing the FPL impacts, and looking at the best options for your lineups.

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.

We bagged a parlay at the weekend to keep the profit ticking over. We came close to a big weekend but, a winning matchday is nothing to gripe about. There's only a 48-hour turnaround for the midweek Matchday 31 fixtures so this edition will be briefer than normal. Don't forget, you can watch the highlights from each side's last game by clicking on their team name below.

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.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Newcastle United (+100) vs. Everton (+260) - 2:30 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Newcastle United 2 – 1 Everton

Newcastle showed their fighting spirit to beat West Ham. Even with a depleted squad, they should have too much for an Everton side without a win in 12 games.

Fantasy Player Pick: Harvey Barnes

Barnes was the hero Saturday, scoring twice off the bench. With Anthony Gordon suspended, Barnes should start on Tuesday and carry on the momentum from the weekend.

Nottingham Forest (+150) vs. Fulham (+185) - 2:30 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Nottingham Forest 2 – 0 Fulham

Fulham's comeback on Saturday will have masked the fact they have just two wins on their travels this season. Fulham also has the second-worst goal difference (-15) away from home. Forest desperately needs a win and Fulham's travel troubles should help them achieve that.

Fantasy Player Pick: Morgan Gibbs-White

Gibbs-White has assisted in back-to-back games. He has eight on the season (and three goals) and we've just seen Sheffield United's forwards feast in Fulham. I expect Gibbs-White to offer up another assist or a goal here.

Moving Gibbs-White to a deeper position worked yesterday, he was able to get on the ball more and affect play more. He played 2 delightful balls into the box for Wood.

That 'deeper' position too isn't necessarily his own half - I think he can really work in that position… pic.twitter.com/SZajq0Y8r1

— WT Analysis (@wt_analysis) March 31, 2024

Bournemouth (-115) vs. Crystal Palace (+310) - 2:45 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Bournemouth 1 – 1 Crystal Palace

Bournemouth were gifted the win against Everton. Palace won't afford them the same luxury and have drawn three of their five games since Oliver Glasner took charge. These two teams have scored and conceded in each of their last three games and that trend is set to continue.

Fantasy Player Pick: Jean-Philippe Mateta

Mateta has had a resurgence since Glasner's appointment. He's scored three goals with one assist and should continue to benefit from Eberechi Eze's return to fitness.

🇫🇷 Jean-Philippe Mateta in the last 5 games:

⚽️ 3 goals
🅰️ 1 assist
🔢 6.94 average SofaScore rating

A man reborn 🙌 pic.twitter.com/A0wJBsehEb

— MatchdayCPFC (@MatchdayCPFC) March 31, 2024

Burnley (+180) vs. Wolves (+150) - 2:45 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Burnley 2 – 1 Wolves

Wolves put in an insipid display on Saturday as injuries are taking their toll on a thin squad. Burnley's now unbeaten in three games, scoring twice in all three games. They should be able to carry their form into this game and bag a precious three points.

Fantasy Player Pick: David Fofana

Fofana should be fresh for this one after being ineligible to play at Chelsea. He scored in his previous two appearances and will be Burnley's biggest threat again here.

West Ham United (+205) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (+110) - 3:15 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: West Ham United 3 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur

This fixture has provided some bonkers games in the past. West Ham's 30 games have seen 103 goals while Tottenham's 29 games have seen 104 goals. There should be plenty of goals and action in this one with both teams certain to find the net.

Fantasy Player Pick: Mohammed Kudus

Kudus bagged a goal and an assist on Saturday. It was his fourth double-digit points haul of the season. He's been getting rave reviews from teammates and will likely be able to terrorize Tottenham's defense.

"It's like the ball is glued to his feet, it's unbeliebable!" 😆

Michail Antonio can't believe just how good Mohammed Kudus is with the ball at his feet and hails how fast he has adapted to the Premier League 💪 pic.twitter.com/Gg9ubc1ciY

— Hammers Hub (@HammersHubWHUFC) April 1, 2024

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Arsenal (-900) vs. Luton Town (+1800) - 2:30 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Arsenal 3 – 1 Luton Town

Arsenal showed a different side to their game on Sunday. It was an energy-sapping performance and while they should still win this game, I expect Luton to score. That's something they have done in each of their last eight away EPL games.

Fantasy Player Pick: Declan Rice

Rice was the hero in the reverse fixture, scoring the last-minute winner. He will be more of an attacking threat than he was on Sunday and the set-piece threat gives him multiple routes to providing FPL points.

Brentford (+150) vs. Brighton (+165) - 2:30 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Brentford 2 – 1 Brighton

Brighton's last five away league games have seen three or more goals. Saturday was the first Brentford home game since November without at least three goals. The reverse fixture ended 2-1 to the home side and there should be enough goals for the over to hit again in this one.

Fantasy Player Pick: Ivan Toney

It's now six games without a goal for Toney. But he did end a run of five games without any return with an assist on Saturday and hit the woodwork himself. The return of Bryan Mbeumo will only help Toney get back on the scoresheet.

Ivan Toney's 1,040,730 owners watching his shot hit the post 😱#FPL #BREMUN pic.twitter.com/SHmMmAj6o7

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 30, 2024

Manchester City (-360) vs. Aston Villa (+850) - 3:15 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Manchester City 2 – 0 Aston Villa

As great as City are, goals have been hard to come by of late. They've only scored more than one goal once in their last six EPL games. They've failed to score in three EPL games this season, twice against Arsenal and against Aston Villa. They will likely win this game but the odds on under 2.5 goals look far too appealing to turn down. Especially with Ollie Watkins a major doubt for Aston Villa

Fantasy Player Pick: Rodri

City's record with Rodri in the team is astounding. While he doesn't score many in his deeper-lying role, the Spaniard has chipped in with crucial goals and assists this season (six of each). In what might be a tight encounter, it's the type of game Rodri could pop up and score the winner in.

😳✅ Rodri has completed 𝟔𝟑 consecutive matches without defeat, marking the longest 𝐔𝐍𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐍 streak for a player in the history of the Premier League.... pic.twitter.com/lF6XNJ8nkW

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) March 31, 2024

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Liverpool (-1100) vs. Sheffield United (+2000) - 2:30 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Liverpool 4 – 0 Sheffield United

Liverpool should have no problem beating a side on course to set a record for most goals conceded in a Premier League season. Sheffield United have played seven of the current top 10 away from home this season. They've failed to score in four of them. A home win with a clean sheet looks a certainty.

Fantasy Player Pick: Conor Bradley

Liverpool may rest some players so predicting their starting XI won't be easy. Bradley will likely start and this is a game in which the full-back could end up with a goal, assist and clean sheet. He's averaging 4.24 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes this season and has four goal involvements in seven EPL starts.

Conor Bradley made more key passes (3) than Brighton (2) in the first half at Anfield. 🔐#LIVBHA pic.twitter.com/xOZKzHK3Dt

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 31, 2024

Chelsea (+105) vs. Manchester United (+230) - 3:15 p.m. EDT

Score prediction: Chelsea 2 – 2 Manchester United

This is the first time all season I have absolutely no idea how a game could go. Both teams are completely unpredictable and I wouldn't be shocked by a goalless draw or either side winning 4-0. Six of Chelsea's last seven EPL games have seen at least three goals so that looks like the best bet.

Fantasy Player Pick: Cole Palmer

If it wasn't for Palmer, Chelsea's predicament would be much worse. His brace on Saturday made it 22 goal involvements this season, meaning he has scored or assisted 45% of Chelsea's EPL goals. More of the same on Thursday will please the 39.7% of FPL managers currently rostering him.

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).

Good luck with those FPL teams and EPL bets. Remember to bet responsibly!

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