2nd of February – 16/1 Premier League Shots Special
Gone for something a bit different tonight, using a market we’ve had a lot of fun with in the past. I’ve picked out 5 players to have a shot on target across the 4 Premier League games and have also written up some research for each selection so you’ve got that peace of mind if you’re wanting to place it.
Haven’t got a Betfair account? Sign up > HERE < and you’ll get a £20 risk free bet to use on my special for tonight. Basically means if you register an account and place up to £20 on it as your first bet, you’ll get your stake back as cash if it loses.
Sorted? Load the special straight into your slip > HERE <
As mentioned here’s my research:
Matheus Pereira
Probably the least glamorous game of the evening but if anyone can provide a spark it’s going to be the dynamic Brazilian attacker.
Never mind just getting shots on target, Pereira has scored 5 in his last 5 in all competitions and has been the shining light since Big Sam’s arrival, he’s the clubs top scorer this season and also averages more shots on goal than any of his team mates.
With 1.5 shots per game he beats out Conor Gallagher and Karlan Grant. He’s also the designated set piece taker for the baggies, largely because he’s pretty handy at them. I can still remember that absolute peach he scored at Goodison Park this season. Set piece takers are always an added bonus for a shots on target bet and for me Pereira is by far the most progressive and threatening player in the Baggies line up.
He’s likely to get a chance from set plays too, Sheffield United commit more fouls on average than any other side in the league. With Pereira also being the designated penalty taker for WBA, that’s an added bonus.
This could become a real midfield battle too with two clubs who will be scrapping to get something from this game, clear cut chances could be at a premium which could encourage someone like Pereira to try his luck from range too. He’s likely to take up a number 10/secondary striker role so expect to see him picking up the ball in the half spaces between midfield and attack, he won’t be shy in trying his luck.
Alexandre Lacazette
Plenty of options for this game but I’m good with the Frenchman who’ll be the focal point in the attack for the Gunners.
With Saka and Aubameyang both doubtful, Lacazette will shoulder some added responsibility as the main attacker. Aside from those two mentioned he averages the most shots in the Arsenal team at 1.6 per game.
I feel like he’s been slightly discredited this season, Laca has scored 8 times in 14 starts which is actually pretty solid. Arsenal have been improving recently and do seem to have turned a corner.
With no Aubameyang he’ll also likely be in charge of taking penalties and we also see him hitting free kicks on Saturday against United. He came inches away from burying one too as he struck the underside of De Gea’s crossbar.
Wolves haven’t been at their best of late, in fact that’s maybe a bit of an understatement to be honest. They’re winless in 8 PL games and I see them struggling here. These two have moved in opposite directions recently and I definitely see Arsenal having the better of the game, let’s hope Lacazette gets some good openings.
Paul Pogba
There’s been a long standing debate about Paul Pogba and his place in this Man United team. For me, he’s the best midfielder at the club behind Bruno Fernandes. He’s a World Cup winner and when on song is one of the most influential midfield players in the world.
He’s been excellent recently since his return to the side, largely from an inside left position as part of the attack as opposed to a sitting midfielder. OGS finally seems to have started to trust Pogba, regardless of where he has to play.
I’m not 100% sure where he’ll operate in this game. With Scott McTominay out he may drop in to the deeper two with Fred, that would mean Greenwood or Cavani coming in. Alternatively Matic could come in which would leave Pogba in attack.
I’m not concerned either way to be honest, his threat is predominantly from range and we’ve seen time and time again what he’s capable of, just look at his match winner against Fulham for example. He averages at least 1 shot per game and is also a big aerial threat. Aside from Lindelof and Maguire, Pogba wins more aerial battles than any other player.
Of course I could’ve gone for someone like Fernandes or Rashford in this one, but at around 1.17 for those selections I don’t see any value there.
James Ward-Prowse
When I’ve done these bets in the past, JWP has been a player I’ve often included. For me he presents great value for a shot on target. Largely down to how good he is at set pieces.
I think it’s no exaggeration to say he is one of the best free kick takers in the world, an opinion that is echoed by others. Any free kick within reasonable range you can guarantee that JWP is having a go, just one of those situations can potentially give us a tick. He rarely fails to hit the target.
He averages at least 1 shot per game so far this season and has scored 4 goals, meaning he’s the second top scorer for Saints behind Danny Ings.
United rank very highly for yellow cards and fouls in the Premier League. 6th & 3rd in those respective categories, so he should have at least one set piece opportunity. It’s not just reliant on that though, his shooting from range is quality too and in a similar vein to Pogba he’s a player who’s always happy to try their luck.
Wilfried Zaha
This looks to be a pretty gritty battle, the kind of game that could be settled by a moment of magic. On that basis there’s 3 players I thought of, Saint Maximin, Eberiche Eze and of course Wilf Zaha.
Zaha is Palace’s talisman and the driving force in their attack, he averages 2.4 shots per game which is very high. That puts him inside the top 10 for the whole league, with the likes of Kane, Salah, Fernandes etc being the calibre of players who average higher.
Obviously so much of Palace’s threat is weighted with Zaha, he’s basically expected to produce magic and has become a master of creating his own chances. He’s always looking to beat a man and get a shot off and against a Newcastle side who’ll defend deep and drop in I can see him being the key to any potentially positive Palace result.
With 9 goals he’s head and shoulders above anyone else in the squad in that regard too, he’s the most logical pick from this game for me.
18+, Please Gamble Responsibly
This bet is priced pretty highly at around 17/1, at those odds it’s by no means a banker so please stake sensibly. I’ve gone for a fiver on this one to enjoy the PL action this evening.
