EPL Betting Picks and FPL Game Previews For Matchweek 34: English Premier League

Jamie Steed previews EPL Matchweek 34 of the 2022/23 season, starting on 04/29/2023. He previews each game from the English Premier League; picking bets, analyzing the FPL impacts and looking at the best options for your lineups

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 this essential thing: 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.

This week could be crucial for many FPL managers with six teams having a double gameweek. It could also go a long way to deciding things at both ends of the league table. This is the first of three remaining gameweeks with teams having an extra fixture. Navigating these final weeks by maximizing the number of games our players have will go a long way to where our teams finish up. Don't forget, you can view each team's highlights from their last game by clicking on the team name.

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. Follow the team on Twitter (@LucidMediaDFS, @PhilOfSports, @EuanOrYouOut, @df_solutions, @wagmifantasy, and yours truly @Baseball_Jimbo), and reach out to any of us if you ever have any soccer questions or need advice on any of this.

Due to the fact that we have an additional three fixtures this week, I'll be providing the usual game predictions for the 10 games between Saturday and Tuesday. But instead of offering the FPL advice and tips for each game, I've provided two tables at the end of the article featuring all 20 teams and the players I'm looking at playing in FPL this week.

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Crystal Palace (+170) vs. West Ham United (+170) - 07:30 am ET

Score prediction: Crystal Palace 1 - 1 West Ham United

Palace suffered their first defeat since Roy Hodgson took charge, going down 2-0 to Wolves on Tuesday. It's now back-to-back games without a goal and just two goals scored since they put five past Leeds. West Ham's 2-1 loss at home to Liverpool on Wednesday ended their three-game unbeaten run and still leaves them too close to the relegation zone to be considered safe. They have found the net in seven consecutive games.

Brentford (-160) vs. Nottingham Forest (+450) - 10:00 am ET

Score prediction: Brentford 2 - 0 Nottingham Forest

Brentford ended their six-game streak without a win by furthering the misery on Chelsea last Wednesday. It was just their fourth away win of the season. At home, they've only been beaten twice, both by sides in the top three. Forest picked up a huge win on Wednesday, with their 3-1 victory over Brighton lifting them out of the relegation zone and ending a run of 11 games without a win. But away from home, they've picked up just six points and scored seven goals this season (16 games).

Brighton (-215) vs. Wolves (+550) - 10:00 am ET

Score prediction: Brighton 2 - 1 Wolves

Brighton's European qualification hopes were dented on Wednesday when they lost 3-1 at Nottingham Forest. Changes to the starting XI didn't have the desired impact and you have to go back to mid-January (13 games ago) since they won consecutive league games. Wolves' victory on Tuesday was probably enough to guarantee survival and the 10 points they've picked up in their last five games is the most of any team in the bottom half. But they've failed to win any of their last five away games and their only two victories on their travels came against the current bottom two in the table.

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Bournemouth (+170) vs. Leeds United (+155) - 09:00 am ET

Score prediction: Bournemouth 1 - 1 Leeds United

Bournemouth's victory at Southampton on Thursday was their fourth in six games and leaves them on the brink of safety. They are six points clear of Leeds and avoiding defeat this weekend should ensure Premier League football next year. Leeds ended a run of three straight defeats in which they conceded 13 goals when they drew with Leicester City on Tuesday. But they led in the game and will feel it was two points dropped against a fellow struggler. Given they've won just twice away from home this season, they will likely be happy with a point on Sunday.

Fulham (+800) vs. Manchester City (-320) - 09:00 am ET

Score prediction: Fulham 1 - 3 Manchester City

Fulham couldn't make it three straight wins on Tuesday as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Goals seem hard to come by once more while top scorer Aleksandar Mitrović continues his suspension. They've lost all six games against the current top four this season. City's march to the title continued as they dispatched league leader Arsenal on Wednesday and they know six wins from their last seven games will guarantee them the Premier League crown. They've won seven straight in the league, scoring 22 goals in the process.

Manchester United (-130) vs. Aston Villa (+330) - 09:00 am ET

Score prediction: Manchester United 2 - 1 Aston Villa

Manchester United blew a two-goal lead at Tottenham on Thursday when a win would have all but confirmed a top-four finish. They are now unbeaten in their last four games and it was the first time in four games in which they conceded a goal. Aston Villa's 10-game unbeaten run has put them in position for European qualification and they've now scored in 20 consecutive games. In their seven previous games against sides in the current top half of the table this season, they have only picked up seven points (two wins and one draw).

Newcastle United (-280) vs. Southampton (+700) - 09:00 am ET

Score prediction: Newcastle United 3 - 0 Southampton

Newcastle's march towards next season's Champions League continued with their 4-1 win at Everton on Thursday. They've now scored four or more goals in three of their last five games. Southampton's 1-0 home defeat against Bournemouth has left them needing divine intervention to avoid relegation. They will need to win four of their last five games to stand a chance of survival but come into this weekend on the back of an eight-game winless streak.

Liverpool (-165) vs. Tottenham (+400) - 11:30 am ET

Score prediction: Liverpool 3 - 2 Tottenham

A top-four finish looks like it's beyond Liverpool but their 2-1 win on Wednesday at least leaves them in position to capitalize on any slip-ups from the sides above them. It also made it three straight wins and 13 goals scored in their last four games. Tottenham's top-four aspirations also took a hit despite coming back from 2-0 down to draw with Manchester United. They've now won just once in their last six games and conceded 11 goals in their last three games.

Monday, May 1, 2023

Leicester City (+120) vs. Everton (+235) - 03:00 pm ET

Score prediction: Leicester City 1 - 0 Everton

Four points from their last two games (from losing positions) have given Leicester a chance to avoid relegation. Despite going into the game in the relegation zone, no team in the bottom half of the table has scored more than Leicester (44). Everton's 4-1 loss against Newcastle on Thursday was a blow to their survival bid but they are still only two points from safety. However, it's now six games without a win for Everton and their only away win came at bottom-of-the-table Southampton back in October.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Arsenal (-130) vs. Chelsea (+330) - 03:00 pm ET

Score prediction: Arsenal 2 - 1 Chelsea

Arsenal's title challenge has fizzled out and Wednesday's defeat now leaves them needing a minor miracle. It's four games without a win. Since William Saliba's injury, it's been six games without a clean sheet, conceding 11 in their last four games. Chelsea's form is even worse and their defeat at home to Brentford means it's six games without a win, having failed to score in four of their last five league games. This game will likely be decided by who makes the fewest mistakes.

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). We hit a perfect 8-out-of-8 on our over/under picks last weekend, which had combined odds of +8600. Hopefully, we can hit some more magic this weekend.

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Plays & Picks

This is our new weekly section that will look at specific players (and teams) with regard to FPL. We'll look at the best defense to stack, low-rostered players set to offer big returns, high-rostered dud plays, someone to keep an eye on, and the best captain choice for this week.

Rather than the usual plays, I have ranked players for each of the 20 teams this week. The first table shows those sides with two games in order of how FPL-friendly they are. The second table does the same but is showing the teams with just one fixture this week.

The players are ranked as 'stars' (best plays), 'studs' (good plays), 'solids' (decent plays), and traps (popular players to avoid). Depending on if you are using a Wildcard or Free Hit, this should offer a guide on how to best navigate the double gameweek and offer suggestions on who to captain, who to leave on your bench, and who to avoid completely.

Double Gameweek Teams

Single Gameweek Teams

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

More Betting and DFS Picks

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