Saturday Football Tips: Back Cancelo to hit the target in 13/2 treble

It’s Gameweek 2 in the Premier League with seven matches taking place on Saturday. Our man @AnthonyEadson has put together a treble he likes the look of, that pays 13/2 and consists of three different players each having a shot on target.

I’ve focussed my attention solely on the shots on target market this weekend where I’ve combined three picks from BetVictor. The first of those is for Manchester City’s new number seven, Joao Cancelo to have a shot on target in the match against Bournemouth.

Readers of my ramblings will be aware that I put up Cancelo in various shot markets towards the back end of last season, where his shooting data was through the roof. In total, Cancelo let off 81 shots in 36 matches last season, 30 more than any other defender in the division across the course of the campaign. 

The 28-year-old also ranked as the top defender for shots on target in the 2021/2022 season, registering 23, eight more than his closest rival. A home match for City against Bournemouth should see the visitors camped deep in their own half for the majority of the game, with Cancelo hopefully getting into plenty of shooting positions in and around the penalty area. All things considered, even money looks a fair price in a game where he could rack up the shots in a demolition of Bournemouth. 

Next up I’m taking James Ward-Prowse to hit the target once or more, at 10/11. The set-piece specialist was on the scoresheet last weekend, opening the scoring with a strike from 18 yards, before his side went on to lose 4-1 away at Spurs. Saints now face Leeds at home, a game that they will believe they can take all three points from and kick-start their season.

Ward-Prowse scored 10 Premier League goals in a single campaign for the first time last season and registered 24 shots on target in total, with no other Southampton player having more. The midfielder also ranked first for shots for the south-coast club and I fancy him to hit the target at least once against Leeds on Saturday.

Rounding off this trio of shots on target plays is Christian Eriksen, who should feature from the off for Manchester United as they travel to the capital to take on Brentford. It was a poor first game for Erik Ten Hag as he saw his side lost 2-1 to Brighton last weekend, with the former Ajax boss choosing to start Eriksen in attack, before switching him back to midfield in the second half.

The Dane recorded two shots on target at home to Brighton last weekend and looking back at his data for Brentford last season, he recorded nine shots on target in just 10 starts. Betfair and Paddy Power go just 2/5 for Eriksen to have 1+ shot on target, giving plenty of appeal to the even money over at BetVictor. 

To recap, that's a treble at 13/2 for Joao Cancelo, James Ward-Prowse and Christian Eriksen, all to hit the target. Best of luck to anyone following the selections this weekend.