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Who needs Friday or Monday, right? Saturday and Sunday, that’s alright with me!
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SATURDAY
- Bournemouth v. Manchester United (early game)
- Arsenal v. Wolves
- Aston Villa v. Liverpool
- Brighton v. Norwich
- Manchester City v. Southampton
- Sheffield United v. Burnley
- West Ham v. Newcastle
- Watford v. Chelsea (late game)
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SUNDAY
- Crystal Palace v. Leicester (early game)
- Everton v. Tottenham (late game)
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Let’s run down a half dozen of the big talking points:
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BARELY-STREAKING LIVERPOOL
Liverpool’s amazing string of wins in the league was broken in week 9 with the draw at Manchester United, but an impressive unbeaten streak has continued. However, the Reds have been tempting fate with awfully close scorelines in recent weeks, often decided late: 2-1 (week 10 over Spurs), 1-1 (week 9 draw with Manchester United), 2-1 (week 8 over Leicester City), 1-0 (week 7 over Sheffield United), and 2-1 (week 6 over Chelsea).
Now they travel to Villa Park, but the team could probably be forgiven for looking forward to Tuesday’s Champions League tilt with Racing Genk and week 12 against Manchester City. Can Liverpool make a statement and deliver a dominant performance with a clear victory at Aston Villa? Will recent form continue and see them escape with a close win? Could the feisty Villans hold the visitors to a draw, or even break the streak and take all three points for their own?
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A PASS ON PEP ROULETTE, OR MORE OF THE SAME?
On top of the usual roulette in midfield and defense, Pep Guardiola made loads of fantasy managers fume by putting star striker Sergio Aguero on the bench the past two EPL games. Can Kun get back in the XI this weekend? Will any of our other fantasy favorites will fail to crack the starting line-up? If you captained Kun, Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling or another Citizen, how worried are you?
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UNDERPERFORMING “BIG-SIX” TEAMS & FLOURISHING PARTY CRASHERS
Liverpool (1st), Manchester City (2nd), Chelsea (4th), and Arsenal (5th) are upholding their Big Six monikers by actually sitting in the top half-dozen spots of the table. However, Manchester United (7th) and Tottenham (11th) have failed to live up to their side of the bargain thus far. Can the Red Devils and Spurs climb up the table, or will they remain among the also-rans? And as Leicester (3rd) and Crystal Palace (6th) face off at Selhurst Park, can either take all three points to solidify the lofty position?
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THE MANAGERIAL HOT SEAT
Following the last point, several managers are on the hot seat including high profile names such as Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino, and Everton’s Marco Silva. Two of those — Poch & Silva — face off this weekend at Goodison Park. Who will emerge with momentum thanks to a strong result in Week 11, and which manager will instead be doomed? Could they even find a way that they can both look awful?
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WINLESS WATFORD
After finishing 11th last season, the Hornets have plummeted to last place, as the only remaining winless team in the league. However, it hasn’t been abject humiliation, as the Hornets have drawn five games; the team’s five losses are actually fewer than Everton and Southampton (six each) and Norwich City (seven). In front of the Vicarage Road faithful, can Watford finally get a victory, or will Chelsea prove too difficult?
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HATTRICK BONANZA
This season we’ve enjoyed seven hattrick performances, including a remarkable three ‘tricks last weekend. Can we get another brilliant hatty (or two or three) to supercharge the fantasy returns of lucky punters, or will the nets calm down a bit?
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Which games are you watching for personal enjoyment, and what fixtures do you have an eye on with respect to fantasy fortune? Whom are you watching with an eye toward purchasing before fantasy prices change again? Please join in the chat below as the live action unfolds!
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