Build Ups Tipsheet: Four of the best value player vs player bets this weekend | OneFootball

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Would you dare book this man?

Ste Tudor highlights the most fascinating player duels taking place across Premier League pitches in the coming days...

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Betfair's Build Ups tool allows you to pit one player against another and with a full Premier League schedule this weekend that means a whole plethora of duels are up for consideration.Here's a pick of the bunch, starting in Suffolk where two experienced midfield scrappers are set to collide...

Ipswich v Brentford

Sam Morsy to commit more fouls than Christian Norgaard

There is little to separate Morsy and Norgaard, both tasked with protecting their team's back-four via fair means or foul. Both in their thirties and players who never shy from conflict, each has picked up multiple bookings this season for their troubles. The Ipswich midfielder has been cautioned nine times, Norgaard, six.

Across all comps, Morsy has averaged 1.60 fouls per 90 in 2024/25, with his counterpart just behind him on 1.55. As for tackles it's a similar tale, with the Brentford man just edging it, though again it's only by a smidgeon. For fair challenges it's 2.59 to 2.42 per 90.

Picking out one to out-foul the other therefore this Saturday may feel like a coin-flip, the dubious award going to whoever is in a worse mood that particular day.

Yet dig a little deeper in the stats and it emerges that the Scandinavian often reserves his most combative performances for the Gtech, fouling just the once - or not at all - in the majority of his away fixtures.Morsy meanwhile has fouled four times apiece at home to Chelsea and Crystal Palace as well as registering six when hosting Aston Villa.

Fulham v Everton

Beto to score more than Raul Jimenez

Raul Jimenez doesn't tend to finish seasons on a high note.

In 2021/22, the Mexican striker bagged one in three for Wolves until March when the goals suddenly dried up. A year later, an injury accounted for a dismal run-up to summer while last season he concluded matters with just two goals in seven.

This time out, after converting regularly from September on, his springtime curse has struck again. Jimenez hasn't found the back of the net now for seven and a half hours.

There are no such problems for Beto, who ended an eight-game drought last weekend with a strike against Ipswich. What must be factored into that lean spell is the quality of the opposition, with five of the current top six faced consecutively.

With his shots on target ratio returning to a healthy number in recent weeks, Beto will be a threat at Craven Cottage, just as he was at Goodison back in October.

Then, in the corresponding fixture to this one, Jimenez spurned several chances for the visitors, with four shots - two on target - coming to nothing.

Appearing as a late sub, Beto then showed his fellow forward how it's done, heading in a last-gasp equalizer.

Newcastle v Chelsea

Enzo Fernandez to win more fouls than Bruno Guimaraes

Newcastle's favourite South American son has become the first player since Jack Grealish (in 2019/20 and 2020/21) to be fouled 100+ times in consecutive seasons and his century this term puts him in a league of his own.

The next most fouled player in the top-flight is Matheus Cunha on 69.

What chiefly accounts for this is the unique type of player Guimaraes is - essentially two rolled into one. He is combative, making the second highest number of tackles of any Newcastle player outside of their back four. Yet he's also not averse to a dribble or three, only marginally behind Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho in that regard.

He won't however draw more fouls than Enzo Fernandez at St James Park this Sunday lunchtime, or at least that's what recent trends suggest.

In his last seven league outings, the midfielder has won eight fouls, a respectable tally but way down on his norm. The Argentine in that same period has won 11.

Put another way, since the start of April, Sandro Tonali has been fouled more often (9) than his usually targeted team-mate.

English Premier League - Top 5 Fouls Won

Liverpool v Arsenal

Gabriel Martinelli to have more shots than Mo Salah

It has been a phenomenal and successful season for Mo Salah, contributing a goal involvement every 86 minutes across all competitions from August to the here and now. And naturally, his astonishing numbers are all founded on taking on a consistently high volume of shots.

Backing against the Egyptian in the shot market therefore feels dicey, especially when it's factored in that he racked up seven attempts at the King Power recently and followed that up with four against Spurs.

Yet beyond these two displays we find a succession of single efforts posted per 90, four in fact since the beginning of April. It suggest that the supercar that is Mo Salah is starting to run low on fuel.

There are no such concerns about Martinelli, now back up to full speed after suffering hamstring problems earlier in the year. In his 10 starts since returning from his lay-off the Brazilian has averaged 2.6 shots per 90.

In previous visits to Anfield the winger has averaged only one shot per game. Even a slight improvement on this could see him home and dry in this build up bet, and at generous odds too.

English Premier League - Top 5 Shots