Premier League Predictions: Mark O'Haire Weekend Football Tips

This week’s football tips from Mark O’Haire includes a selection for the Friday Night Football as Luton bid to climb out of the relegation zone with a win at fellow strugglers Burnley.

Alfie Doughty Over 0.5 Assists

Advised Bet: 1pt @ 5/1 Unibet

Alfie Doughty is enjoying an excellent debut campaign at Premier League level. The former Charlton youngster forced his way into Luton’s first XI in September and has kept his place on the left of the Hatters’ preferred 3-4-2-1 system with a series of electric and energetic displays, whilst his delivery from open play and set-pieces has also been heavily praised.

Remarkably, only set-piece extraordinaire James Ward-Prowse has created more chances from set plays (25) and has more assists from set plays (five) in the Premier League this season than Doughty (22 chances, four assists). Meanwhile, the 24-year-old has created 35 chances in total, averaging a very encouraging 2.38 chances created per-90. 

Such figures make the 5/1 (6.00) from bet365 on Alfie Doughty Over 0.5 Assists a little too big to ignore as the Hatters travel for a six-pointer against Burnley on Friday night. 

Only Nottingham Forest (nine) have conceded more set-piece goals than Burnley (eight). With Luton scoring in 15 of their 19 top-flight tussles, Doughty could play a key role again.

Cole Palmer to Score or Assist 

Advised Bet: 1pt @ 5/4 Betfair 

Cole Palmer was rightfully criticised in midweek for his wastefulness during Chelsea’s surprise 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final. The 21-year-old has been the Blues’ standout player this season and most creative outlet since signing from Manchester City in the summer yet coughed up three presentable opportunities. 

Nevertheless, I’m happy to back Palmer to score or assist at 5/4 on Betfair (2.25) when Chelsea welcome West London neighbours Fulham to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. With Nicolas Jackson at the Africa Cup of Nations and Christopher Nkunku already back on the treatment table, Palmer is again likely to shoulder the attacking burden for the Blues.

The Chelsea starlet has played a key role in 12 (34%) of the Blues’ 34 goals and is Chelsea’s top Premier League scorer, as well as joint-top for assists, shots and chances created despite ranking 10th for most minutes played for his side. Palmer has made a key contribution to a goal every 95 minutes and should relish the prospect of facing poor-travelling Fulham. 

Bruno Fernandes 1+ Offsides 

Advised Bet: 1pt @ 15/8 Sky Bet 

Aston Villa are the undoubted offside kings of the Premier League but Tottenham also deserve credit for their own impressive offside numbers. Spurs rank second for offsides won against their opposition under Ange Postecoglou, averaging 3.20 per-game this season.

On Sunday, Tottenham travel to Manchester United with the Red Devils topping the charts for offsides conceded. United skipper Bruno Fernandes has been flagged on 10 occasions in his 19 Premier League starts this season and therefore holds plenty of appeal as a 15/8 (2.88) shot by Sky Bet to be caught offside against Spurs.

Interestingly, eight of Fernandes’ 10 offsides were conceded at Old Trafford, including three against the aforementioned Aston Villa on Boxing Day. Meanwhile, the Portuguese playmaker has been flagged in five of his 10 home league dates, suggesting the 15/8 on a repeat is too big to ignore considering Tottenham’s aggressive high-line will be in-force.