This website uses cookies
Cookies help us and our partners provide statistics. By browsing this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookies Policy.
Accept & Close
Football
Football Odds Premier League Championship FA Cup Champions League Europa League Transfer Odds Leagues & Cups
Football Tips
Football Tips Football Acca Tips
Sack Race
Sack Race Odds Next PL Manager To Leave Next Leeds Manager Next Tottenham Manager Teams Managers Casualties Appointments Job Centre
Specials
TV Specials Britain's Got Talent Strictly Come Dancing Politics
Sports
Sports Boxing Cricket Darts F1 Golf Racing Rugby L Rugby U Snooker Tennis French Open UFC
Betting Sites
Betting Sites Free Bets PayPal Betting Fast Withdrawal Bookmaker Reviews New Betting Sites
News
Betting News Betting Guides
Calculator
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Contact Us
  • Betting Sites
  • New Bookmakers
  • Free Bets
  • Responsible Gambling
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Free Bets Disclaimer
  • USA Betting Odds
FootballFootball TipsSack RaceSpecialsSportsBetting SitesNewsCalculator
NEW
Free Bets
Betting News Betting Guides

The best defenders to look out for when choosing your shots on target bets

By Callum Pragnell
Posted: 14:20 Thursday 9th July 2020 Updated: 14:31 Thursday 9th July 2020
Wolves' Matt Doherty is among the best defenders for shots on target in the Premier League
Wolves' Matt Doherty is among the best defenders for shots on target in the Premier League

Shots on target (SOT) is definitely one of the most popular markets in football betting right now. It is a market which not every bookmaker has available to punters on their website/app, but the ones which do - the likes of Betfair, Paddy Power and William Hill - have really given themselves an edge over their industry competitors in recent times. 

Alongside player card and goalscorer betting, shots on target is our bread and butter here at BettingOdds.com. 

Just this week our in-house tipster Anthony Eadson landed an absolute corker by combining two of the aforementioned markets in a juicy 40/1 during the Tottenham v Everton match, and we’re certainly hoping for more throughout a jam-packed weekend of top-flight action.

While it is only natural to look at the attacking players in a certain match when selecting your shots on target bets, the prices for these players to register one, two or even three SOT per game are often extremely short, therefore at times making the risk greater than the potential reward. 

Premier League Odds

With this in mind, I’ve done a bit of digging and analysed the Premier League defenders worth looking out for when constructing your upcoming Same Game Multis, to ensure you get the best value out of your selections.

Unsurprisingly, prices for defenders to register just one shot on target during a match are much higher when compared to forwards and midfielders due to their positioning on the pitch, but with so many posing such a threat from set pieces, it can often be a profitable business. 

Remember, headers count as a shot on target if they end up in the net or at least goal bound but saved by the opposing goalkeeper, further enhancing the chances of your SOT bet landing. 

So, which defenders are the kingpins when it comes to this particular market?

Yerry Mina - Everton

Current top dog is Everton’s Yerry Mina. The Colombia international, who joined the Toffees from Barcelona in 2018, has so far registered 13 shots on target (two goals), which is largely due to how the Blues approach games under Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian has implemented a direct style of play since arriving at Goodison Park, utilising his squad’s physicality and aerial ability to maximum effect. 

Full-backs Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne are the key players in Ancelotti’s system, and their exemplary crossing ability from each flank have at times caused problems for opposing sides this time out. 

Everton are extremely dangerous from set pieces, with Digne’s delivery - one of the best in the whole league - often providing plenty of opportunities for players like Mina in front of goal, hence the high shots on target return.

Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk follows closely behind Mina with 11 shots on target (four goals) this season. Due to his colossal 6ft 4 frame, the Dutchman is an imposing figure from corners/set pieces, and the first player his teammates look for when delivering balls into the penalty area. 

Alongside having potentially the best crosser in the world supplying him with perfectly-weighted balls into the box in the shape of Trent Alexander-Arnold, it’s no great surprise to see the former Southampton man rank near the top of this particular list. 

Today's football tips

Matt Doherty - Wolves

Wolves’ marauding full-back Matt Doherty has been a shining star for the West Midlands outfit since their promotion to the top-flight in 2017. Exactly like his Liverpool counterpart van Dijk, the Republic of Ireland defender has also registered 11 shots on target and scored four goals this term, and is a huge threat for Nuno Santo’s side each time they’re in action.

With speed-merchant Adama Traore terrorising opposing defenders on a weekly basis, Wolves tend to overload the right hand side, with Doherty continually looking to overlap and create chances in the final third, whether that be supplying crosses for the likes of Raul Jimenez to latch onto, or getting shots away at goal himself. 

Although officially classed as a defender, Doherty is as effective as a midfielder, with his attacking talents making him a decent option for SOT bets. His price is a lot higher than someone like Raul Jimenez or Ruben Neves due to his position, so is certainly a player worth looking at next time Wolves are in action. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool

Free-kick specialist Trent Alexander-Arnold makes his way into the top-three with nine shots on target and three goals this term. The Liverpool prodigy is probably the best right-back in world football at the minute, with his delivery from the right hand side proving a pivotal part in the Reds’ success throughout the previous two seasons.

It is his capabilities from set-pieces which has seen him become one of the deadliest defenders in the Premier League this time out, however, with two of his three goals this season coming from free-kicks on the edge of the area. 

With Liverpool having such a destructive three-pronged attack in the form of Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino, they often draw in fouls on the edge of the box which result in free-kicks, in turn presenting plenty of opportunities for TAA to get shots away on goal. 

Harry Maguire - Manchester United

Level with Trent is Manchester United’s Harry Maguire. The England international has also registered nine shots on target this term, though has only scored once. This is purely down to his aerial ability from corners and free-kicks, with new signing Bruno Fernandes effortlessly delivering pin-point crosses straight to the somewhat oversized head of his teammate (sorry Harry).

To put it into context, Maguire is priced up at 6/5 to register 2+ shots on target against Aston Villa this evening, while Fernandes - the Premier League’s very own shots on target maestro - is priced at 1/25 for the very same bet. 

Of course, that is down to Fernandes’ strength in this particular market and the fact he is an attacking midfielder, but it does also render backing the Portuguese a little pointless from a value perspective, making Maguire’s price all the more appealing against a team who have really struggled defensively this season.

So there you have it, a comprehensive breakdown of the Premier League’s most dangerous defenders when it comes to the increasing-in-popularity shots on target betting market. There are plenty more worthy of consideration listed in our beautiful graphic below, while Fox Sports will have an updated list of defenders with the most SOT updated weekly. 

Minav4
Free Bets

Related Articles

30th May 2023

Sevilla vs. Roma Betting Tips: Best bets for the Europa League Final

By Tipster Wizard
30th May 2023

Sevilla vs. Roma Bet Builder Tips: Back Brazilian duo to be carded in Europa League Final

By Anthony Eadson
30th May 2023

Harry Kane Next Club Odds: Man Utd odds-on to sign England captain

By Steven McQuillan
30th May 2023

Next Crystal Palace Manager Odds: Roy Hodgson, Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter all linked

By Jack Kitson
29th May 2023

Four options to lead Leeds in the Championship

By Jack Kitson
29th May 2023

Four candidates to replace Russell Martin at Swansea

By Gabriel Sutton
26th May 2023

Leeds vs. Tottenham Betting Tips: King Kane to bag 29th of the season at Elland Road

By Dean Woodward
26th May 2023

Coventry vs. Luton Betting Tips: Best bets for the Championship Play-Off Final

By Tipster Wizard
26th May 2023

Mason Mount Next Club Odds: Man Utd the new favourites to sign Chelsea midfielder

By Steven McQuillan
26th May 2023

Barnsley vs. Sheffield Wednesday Tips: Palmer to be carded for the seventh time in eight matches

By Anthony Eadson
Advert Disclaimer
Bettingodds.com is a free online resource which endeavour to provide helpful and useful content and odds comparison to its visitors. Please be advised that Bettingodds.com accepts affiliate commission from the companies appearing on the site, and agreed commission levels impact the location and order in which the companies (and/or their products) are presented on the website. Any ratings that appear on this site is determined by our subjective opinion of the brand but also based on market share and reputation, each brand's conversion rates, commission paid to us and general consumer interest. Company listings on this page don't imply our endorsement. We do not feature all providers on the market. Except as expressly set forth in our terms and conditions, all statements and warranties regarding the information presented on this page are disclaimed. The information, including odds, which appear on this site is subject to change at any time.
Bet £10 Get £20 + £10 Casino Bonus
#AD New UK customers (Excluding NI) mobile only. £30 in FREE Bets (FB) as £20 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7 day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply
Bet £10 get £20 in Free Bets
#AD 18+ New members only. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from crediting (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. T&Cs apply, BeGambleAware.org
Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets
#AD. *New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of each-way bets only. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. each-way & multiple bets), stakes not returned. **Max Free Bet £10. Bet must be placed within 48hrs of 1st race each day - 1st cash bet on the 1st race each day of Cheltenham Festival (main market, ex antepost & specials). Win part e/w bet. Selection must lose. Free Bet: non-withdrawable, use in 7 days on sportsbook only. Stake not returned. Full T&C's apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+
Money Back As A Bonus Up To £40 If Your First Bet Loses + £10 casino
#AD 18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's.
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
#AD 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus, credited as 3x £10 bets. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply.
Bet £10 & Get up to £30 In Free Bet Builders
#AD New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £10 in Free Bet Builders. Rewards valid for 30 days. Repeat up to 3 times (max £30 in free bets). Only deposits via cards will qualify. Please Gamble Responsibly. T&Cs apply.
Bet £20 & Get it Back As CASH If It Loses
#AD New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any market at odds of min 2.0 (EVS) and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply.. Please Gamble Responsibly.
Welcome Offer
#AD Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
Bet £5 Get £30 In Free Bets
#AD 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £5 at odds 1/1 or greater within 7 days of registering, no cashout. Get 3x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 1/1+. 7 day bonus expiry. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.
Double the odds, any sport, any bet, any odds!
#AD 18+ begambleaware.org Only valid for new registrations to Grosvenor Existing members do not qualify, Bet must be placed using real money in combination with the Odds Boost Token, Offer applies to Sport bets only. Max stake is £10. Each way bets are a maximum of £5 each way (£10 total). Customers have 60 days after registration to use the Odds Boost token. T&Cs apply.
Bet £10, Get £20 in Free Bets
#AD 18+, New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any sports (odds 2.00+) in 7 days. No cash out. Get 4x£5 sports free bets for set markets (odds 2.00+), which expire in 7 days. Offer is valid from 10:00 UK time on 16/01/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply. begambleaware.org | Please Gamble Responsibly
£30 Matched Free Bet if Your First Acca Loses + 50 Bonus Spins
#AD 18+ New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 50 Bonus Spins credited on placement of qualifying Acca bet.50x bonus wagering applies as do weighting requirements, bonus Spins only available on selected games and expires 7 days after being awarded. Debit card deposits only (exclusions apply). 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full terms apply
Bet £25 get £50 In Bonuses
#AD Place a qualifying £25 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater and get £50 in bonuses 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets, 4 x free £5 spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. T&Cs Apply. 18+ begambleaware.org
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets (APP Only)
#AD New UK, IE & Malta customers only. Min £10/€10 first deposit using a Debit Card. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 1.5 and get £10. A further £10 credited after 7 days and a further £10 credited after 14 days. 18+. BeGambleAware.org, T&Cs apply.
£35 Free Bet + 10 Free Spins
#AD If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day's betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free Spins. Even if your account is up, you're guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 10 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.org
100% Profit Boost up to £100 (Mobile Only)
#AD New UK customers only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via "My Offers" page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excluded. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. Max. extra winnings £100.T&C's apply, 18+ begambleaware.org
Bet £10 get £15
#AD New customers only. 18+ begambleaware.org 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement.T&C's apply.
Bet £10 get £10
#AD 18+ begambleaware.org, Welcome Bonus: This offer is for new customers only and is available once per household. Max. FreeBet amount: £10 Minimum Deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Free Bet is: £10 void/cancelled or cashed out bets do not count towards wagering to activate the free bet. Offer valid only to customers making a first deposit of £10 or more. T&Cs apply.
Bet £10 get £20
#AD New customers only, welcome bonus: 1st deposit, min deposit: £10, max £20 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. system bets are not eligible. Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal are not eligible. , 18+ begambleaware.org
50% Up To £50 Welcome Bonus
#AD 18+ begambleaware.org; New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms.
gamcare logo 18 plus icon be gamble aware logo gambling therapy logo raig logo

BettingOdds.com is committed to supporting Reponsible Gambling Initiatives - For additional information visit : GamCare | BeGambleAware | Gamblers Anonymous

Content on BettingOdds.com is not intended for anybody under 18 years of age.

  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Contact Us
  • Betting Sites
  • New Bookmakers
  • Free Bets
  • Responsible Gambling
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Free Bets Disclaimer
  • USA Betting Odds
twitter youtube instagram

* Odds are updated regularly using our bookmaker partners feeds but all are subject to change. Please click through to the bookmaker to view the very latest odds.

All original material is Copyright © 2023 by BettingOdds.com. Other material is copyright their respective owners.

Bet £10 Get £20 + £10 Casino Bonus
#AD New UK customers (Excluding NI) mobile only. £30 in FREE Bets (FB) as £20 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7 day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply
get offer