Premier League Predictions: Mark O'Haire Weekend Football Tips

This week’s football tips from Mark O’Haire includes a selection for the Monday Night Football, driven by a likely formation change for Brighton.

Pervis Estupinan Over 62.5 Passes - Brighton vs Wolves

Advised Bet: 1pt @ 5/6 bet365

Brighton set-up in a new-look 3-4-2-1 system against Stoke in the FA Cup last weekend and there’s a possibility that Roberto De Zerbi looks to replicate that approach on Monday night when the Seagulls entertain Wolves at The Amex. As part of that shape-shift, Pervis Estupinan operated as a left-sided centre-back and saw his passing numbers rocket.

The Ecuadorian ace racked up 77 passes against the Potters, following on from his gargantuan tally of 108 achieved against West Ham in his previous EPL outing.

Should Estupinan feature from a similar position against Wolves, his Over 62.5 Passes line (5/6 on bet365) could be obliterated as Brighton look to dominate the ball in front of their own fans.

This line has already been comfortably covered in two of his four home starts from left-back this term, giving it a great chance of a pay-out even if De Zerbi reverts back to his favoured 4-2-3-1 approach.

Tyrick Mitchell Over 0.5 Fouls - Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Advised Bet: 1pt @ 8/11 bet365

Crystal Palace are 10/1 underdogs at Arsenal on Saturday afternoon, but the Eagles will expect to give the out-of-form Gunners a tough test at the Emirates. Roy Hodgson’s outfit have surprisingly scored in nine of their 10 away trips thus far and picked up a precious point when playing out a 2-2 draw at Manchester City last month.

If Palace are to pour more cold water over Arsenal’s title challenge, their full-backs will need to be on-it from the off. Tyrick Mitchell faces the unenviable task of keeping Gunners star Bukayo Saka quiet – the 24-year-old left-back has been a prominent performer in the tackles market this term and tends to relish the head-to-head battles on the flanks.

However, Mitchell may fall foul of the referee here. Saka is the third-most fouled player in the Premier League in 2023/24 (drawing 2.3 fouls per-game), whilst 16 of 19 opposition left-backs (or left wing-backs) have committed at least one misdemeanour when facing Arsenal. That makes the 8/11 on bet365 (1.72) for Mitchell Over 0.5 Fouls standout as a value opportunity (best 1/3 elsewhere).

Ryan Yates 3+ Tackles - Brentford vs Nottingham Forest

Advised Bet: 1pt @ 6/4 Sky Bet

Nottingham Forest have endured a tough week. The Tricky Trees were charged by the Premier League for breaching its financial rules and could therefore face a points penalty, putting their top-flight status in jeopardy. The Reds were also taken to extra-time by League One side Blackpool on Wednesday night in their FA Cup replay.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s troops now face a vitally important scrap with Brentford on Saturday, and I suspect Forest will come out fighting in their battle to survive. With the visitors missing many through injury and international duty, Ryan Yates could be handed another starting berth in the heartbeat of the midfield with the 26-year-old’s tackle numbers appealing.

Yates has posted 5-5-4-1-5-6-4-1 tackles across his eight league starts this term (averaging 3.88), yet the all-action destroyer can be backed at 6/4 with Sky Bet (2.50) to make 3+ Tackles in the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.