Newcastle vs Brighton Bet Builder Tips, Preview

Brighton’s Japanese international Kaoru Mitoma is renowned for his attacking play, setting up and scoring goals from midfield but there is another side to his game that often goes unnoticed. Mitoma has attempted 34 tackles, 12 in the defensive 3rd, 13 in the midfield 3rd and 10 in the attacking 3rd, showing how much work he puts in all over the pitch.

Only Georginio Rutter has committed more fouls than Mitoma this season with the Frenchman on 33 fouls and the Japan star on 30. The former Union Saint-Gilloise midfielder is currently averaging 1.11 fouls per game and we’re backing the 27-year-old to continue that trend against Newcastle this weekend when the pair go head-to-head in the FA Cup.

Seagull’s midfielder/forward Georginio Rutter has taken more shots in the Premier League this season (50) compared to any of his teammates, despite only starting in 17 of his 26 appearances.

The Frenchman might have only hit the target with 12 of his efforts, which makes for a shots on target ratio of 24%, but he has managed to score 5 times in the league this season. The former Leeds United man is averaging 2.99 shots per 90 minutes and has an xG of 4.6, making him one of Brighton’s main attacking threats, even when coming off the bench. We’re only looking for Rutter to attempt 2 shots this weekend against Newcastle which shouldn’t prove too much trouble given his current statistics.

Alexander Isak has, unsurprisingly, taken more shots this season than any other Newcastle player but the Swede missed the Liverpool game in midweek through injury. Anthony Gordon did play in that game, and he sits second in the list of shot takers for Newcastle with 51.

Gordon has hit the target on 15 occasions which might only make for a SoT ratio of 29.4% but he has still managed to score 6 league goals. The ex-Everton midfielder/forward is currently averaging 2.27 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League and we’re backing the 24-year-old to take 2 or more shots against the Seagulls. Gordon has an xG of 7.8 which is only bettered by Isak and with the Swedish striker possibly missing this game through injury, there will be more emphasis on Gordon to provide the goals.

Jacob Murphy is enjoying a fine season for Eddie Howe’s side, chipping in with 5 goals and 8 assists in the Premier League alone. The 30-year-old midfielder, who has been at the club since 2017, hasn’t always been a regular in the Newcastle starting lineup but this season he has made 24 Premier League appearances and only 4 have been from the subs bench.
Murphy has taken 31 shots in the league so far, 12 of which have been on target, and the Englishman has a shots on target ratio of 38.7% which is better than Gordon, Joelinton, Guimaraes and Barnes. The former Norwich City winger is averaging 1.86 shots per 90 minutes and his shots on target per 90 minutes stands at 0.72, which ties in well with our selection.