SlipsTips shares two player-based selections from Saturday's slate of fixtures in the Premier League.
Everton vs Brighton (Saturday, 15:00)
Everton will be looking to maintain their impressive run of form when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Goodison Park on Saturday.
Sean Dyche’s side have won three of their last five Premier League games to lift themselves out of the relegation zone.
As for Brighton, they are without a league win since late September following last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Fulham.
This should be a keenly-contested affair and I’m going to include Everton’s Ashley Young to commit at least one foul as the first leg of a player-based double.
The evergreen Everton utility man marked his return from suspension with a goal in the Blues’ 3-0 Carabao Cup success against Burnley in midweek but he is unlikely to have as comfortable a time of it against the Seagulls.
If selected ahead of Nathan Patterson, the aforementioned Young is likely to be handed the thankless task of keeping Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma quiet.
The Japanese forward’s pace and movement in the final-third continues to cause top-flight full-backs all sorts of problems – evidenced by the fact that he is drawing 1.6 fouls per-game from the opposition in the Premier League this season.
Therefore, Toffees veteran full-back Young – who is averaging one foul per 90 in the top-flight this term – looks a prime candidate to tackle his way into trouble at least once on Saturday if tasked with taming Albion livewire Mitoma.
On a similar line of thought to the above, I’ll also back Ashley Young to commit two or more fouls here at an appetising 13/5 with PaddyPower.
This bet would have paid out in two of Young’s last four Premier League appearances and siding with the same selection here should give us a good run for money given that his direct opponent is likely to be the aforementioned Kaoru Mitoma.
Newcastle vs Arsenal (Saturday, 17:30)
One of the standout fixtures from the latest set of Premier League matches takes place at St James’ Park on Saturday evening, as Newcastle entertain Arsenal.
Eddie Howe’s side are in the midst of a six-game unbeaten run in the top-flight following last week’s 2-2 draw with Wolves, in a game that brought up last Saturday's selection for this column.
Arsenal, meanwhile, maintained their unbeaten start to the season by eviscerating Sheffield United 5-0 at the Emirates last Saturday.
With a hard-fought contest anticipated here, I’m going to conclude my recommended 5/6 (PaddyPower) double by backing Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães to commit a foul.
In front of a raucous St James’ Park, the midfield battle between these two sides is likely to be intense, and the aforementioned Guimarães is sure to be in the thick of the action.
The all-action Brazilian has already clocked up four cards in 10 league appearances this season and he is averaging 1.7 fouls per-game in the top-flight this term.
In fact, Magpies midfielder committed no fewer than four fouls during last week’s 2-2 at Wolves, so a solitary misdemeanour during this match-up doesn’t look too big of an ask given the occasion and calibre of opposition.
As such, I’m more than happy to round off the double with Newcastle's Bruno Guimarães to be reprimanded at least once by referee Stuart Attwell in what should be a captivating contest in the North East.
Recommended Bets
- Ashley Young 1 or More Fouls
- Bruno Guimarães 1 or More Fouls
- Double – 5/6 (PaddyPower)
- Ashley Young 2 or More Fouls 13/5 (PaddyPower)
In December 2020 we sadly 
