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Bournemouth’s schedule has turned ugly, making backers of Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser et al rethink their tactics. Kevin De Bruyne’s second injury of the season has cast a pall over Manchester City. And there are the usual ins, outs, and what-have-yous.
But what do we do? We deal with it. We hope, we pray, we grind during the week that is. Now that it is the weekend, we watch... and agonize. And yell and scream and throw things at the television (or computer or handheld device)... and then go take a shower — whatever works for yew.
That reminds me, years ago a friend of mine with a bit of an anger management problem sheepishly admitted to me that he once got so mad over something when he was on the phone, that he angrily yanked the cord out of the wall. How quaint is that? A land-line! Now he would just throw his smart phone against the wall... or maybe on the ground... plenty of options. Such is modern life...
Anyway, let’s get to it! And please keep your televisions, phones and other devices safe. They don’t grow from trees! (yet)
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SATURDAY
Bournemouth vs. Manchester United (early game)
Fantrax fantasy manager get these two lineups before their deadline, so pay attention. The Cherries’ schedule starts a long, brutal stretch here hosting the Red Devils. Then again, Bournemouth is actually above Man Utd in the schedule, so... maybe this is a medium step in a gradual transition? With limited transfers, FPL managers should start turning their ships now.
The visiting Foxes will be wearing their hearts on their sleeves, mourning the recent passing of chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (along with four others who died). They’ll be doing their best to pay tribute on the pitch.
Struggling Seagulls have won only once on the season, and they’ll be forgiven for putting the minute of silence behind them and trying to double that count in front of the home fans at the expense of the bereved Foxes.
9th place at home against 11th place, it’s a mid-table barn-burner for sure!
Rafa Benitez and Newcastle will be desperate to climb out of 19th place, but it will be an uphill battle against a 7th place Watford side that has gotten back in form.
Each team has two wins, two draws and six losses. Which means that this is a game that nobody should watch unless they are partisan fans or have serious fantasy investment.
Now here we go, the marquee fixture of the week! Both sides have an overabundance of offensive talent, so that’s more than enough to get me hooked. But add Arsenal’s mediocre defense against Liverpool’s much better back line, plus the game being at the Emirates, and that leaves an awful lot up in the air. Fun!
Wolves vs. Tottenham (late game)
Here’s another interesting battle of two teams in the top half of the table, but likely much more from a defensive perspective.
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SUNDAY
Manchester City vs. Southampton (early game)
Just when we were getting to know KDB again, he suffers another injury (different knee). Southampton has kept two straight nil-nil draws, and they’d love another, but Manchester City is not Bournemouth or Newcastle.
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace (late game) The Blues won 4-0 without Eden Hazard last week, so who needs him? Just kidding, he’s pretty good. But even if their superstar doesn’t play the full game, you’ve got to think that Chelsea can manage at home against Palace, right?
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MONDAY
Huddersfield vs. Fulham
Last week we had Tottenham v. Manchester City as the Monday game. This time around, it’s Huddersfield v. Fulham. Guess that’s just the way the cookie crumbles, eh? If you’re a Fantrax fantasy team manager all-in on “anyone against Fulham”, then you’re following this match minute by minute. The rest of us... We will discuss the barn door echo of the weekend’s matches (YMMV).
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HOW TO WATCH EPL GAMES THIS WEEKEND (in U.S.)
Dates: November 3 - 5
Times: Various
Available Broadcast TV: NBC (Arsenal v. Liverpool); CNBC (Wolves v. Tottenham)
Available Cable TV: NBC Sports Network (Bournemouth v. Manchester United; Cardiff v. Leicester; Manchester City v. Southampton; Huddersfield v. Fulham)
Available Streaming: NBC Sports Gold (Newcastle v. Watford; West Ham v. Burnley; Everton v. Brighton; Chelsea v. Crystal Palace), DirecTV Now, Fubo.TV, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, and Sling TV (the other six games)
(Note: DirecTV Now, Fubo, Hulu and PlayStation Vue will generally carry games that are available on NBC, CNBC and NBC Sports Network. NBC Sports Gold Premier League Pass is a separate package.)
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Which games are you watching with the biggest fantasy interest? Which will you tune in as a fan? How are your picks treating you? What are the RL managers doing to your player-picks? Which players are you watching for barn-door trades? Join in the live chat (and real-time commiseration) as the action unfolds!
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