SlipsTips shares a player-based selection ahead of Sunderland's clash with Man City in the Premier League on New Year’s Day.
Sunderland vs Manchester City (New Year’s Day, 20:00)
Seeking to make it seven Premier League wins in succession, Manchester City will square off with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day.
Pep Guardiola’s side kept the pressure on league leaders Arsenal by claiming a narrow 2-1 win away at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
As for Sunderland, they have yet to lose a Premier League home game this season, with Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds extending their unbeaten streak on their own patch to nine matches.
Unsurprisingly, the bookies’ odds suggest that sequence will be brought to an end by Man City, who are short-priced 4/9 favourites with most firms.
However, I’m going to focus my attention elsewhere by proposing a player-based selection that looks good value.
Trai Hume can be backed at a best price of 4/5 on bet365 to commit at least one foul during this contest, and that holds plenty of appeal.
The Sunderland defender was guilty of no fewer than three offences during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds.
He has also committed a foul in relatively recent home games against both Bournemouth and Everton, overstepping the mark on three occasions in the latter of those two matches.
Additionally, the 23-year-old has already picked up four yellow cards in four of his last nine top-flight outings, with the most recent coming against Leeds last time out.
Now set to come up against a star-studded Man City side, Hume should have plenty of defensive work to get through during this New Year’s Day dust-up.
Whether Hume finds himself at left-back or right-back, he can expect a stern test from either Phil Foden or Rayan Cherki, who are drawing 1.24 and 1.96 fouls per game respectively in the Premier League this season.
Taking all that into account, Hume looks a touch too big to ignore when it comes to committing a minimum of one foul during Sunderland’s clash with Man City.
Recommended Bet
- Trai Hume to Commit 1+ Foul – 4/5 (bet365)
Grant Heaney, aka SlipsTips, is a Freelance Football and Darts Writer with over six years experience. Grant has written football and darts betting content for some of the biggest betting websites and newspapers in the UK. He is a Falkirk season ticket holder and avid watcher of football and darts, whether it be UK-based or further afield. You can find all of his tips on X @SlipsTips
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