Premier League Gameweek 31 serves up nine fixtures across the weekend, including a fiery Tyne-Wear derby and a Friday night clash between Bournemouth and Manchester United.
Peter Bankes takes charge of the Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday, meaning there’s plenty of action for card market bettors to get stuck into.
Here’s a full breakdown of every referee on duty this weekend, their cards-per-game average so far in 2025/26, and what it means for your bets.
| Fixture | Referee | Cards/Game | Betting Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth vs Man Utd (Fri 20 Mar) | Stuart Attwell | 4.9 | High |
| Brighton vs Liverpool (Sat 21) | Darren England | 4.4 | High |
| Newcastle vs Sunderland (Sun 22) | Anthony Taylor | 4.0 | High |
| Arsenal vs Man City – Carabao Cup Final (Sun 22) | Peter Bankes | 4.2 | High |
| Fulham vs Burnley (Sat 21) | Chris Kavanagh | 3.9 | Moderate |
| Leeds vs Brentford (Sat 21) | Jarred Gillett | 3.9 | Moderate |
| Everton vs Chelsea (Sat 21) | Sam Barrott | 3.8 | Moderate |
| Aston Villa vs West Ham (Sun 22) | Paul Tierney | 3.8 | Moderate |
| Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest (Sun 22) | Michael Oliver | 3.1 | Low |
Stuart Attwell: The Most Card-Happy Referee This Weekend (Bournemouth vs Man Utd)
Stuart Attwell leads the Premier League this season with 4.9 cards per game from 19 appearances, having shown 91 yellow cards and two red cards.
Friday night’s Bournemouth vs Manchester United is the most attractive fixture of the weekend for booking bettors.
Both clubs carry busy disciplinary records of their own, and Attwell’s tendency to reach into his pocket early makes games he officiates reliable targets for over-4.5 booking markets and anytime-booking bets.
Darren England: A Reliable Booking Bet for Brighton vs Liverpool
Darren England averages 4.4 cards per game from 18 Premier League matches in 2025/26, having issued 76 yellow cards and three red cards. Find out what the AI models are tipping in this Brighton vs Liverpool clash.
England’s booking profile makes him a reliable source of cards, and high-pressing midfielders and physical centre-backs in both squads are worth targeting in the individual booking markets.
Anthony Taylor at the Tyne-Wear Derby: Newcastle vs Sunderland Booking Bet Guide
Few fixtures in English football are as combustible as the Tyne-Wear derby, and Sunday’s Newcastle vs Sunderland clash sees Anthony Taylor in the middle.
Taylor averages 4.0 cards per game across 23 Premier League outings, issuing 89 yellow cards and two reds in 2025/26.
A North East derby — synonymous with emotion, physicality, and confrontation — combined with an official of Taylor’s disciplinary profile is a compelling combination.
Peter Bankes Referees the 2026 Carabao Cup Final: Arsenal vs Manchester City Booking Markets
Peter Bankes has been confirmed as referee for the 2026 Carabao Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley — his first major cup final appointment, widely regarded as recognition of a strong season.
In Premier League action this season, Bankes averages 4.2 cards per game across 22 matches, issuing 88 yellow cards and a division-high four red cards.
His record of four red cards in PL action this season also means second-yellow and red-card markets deserve attention alongside standard booking lines.
Michael Oliver: The Lenient End of the Scale – Avoid the Booking Markets for Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest?
At the other end of the scale is Michael Oliver, who averages just 3.1 cards per game from 22 Premier League appearances, having issued only 65 yellow cards and two red cards – the most lenient rate of any referee with 20 or more matches this season.
Oliver’s preference for letting games flow means overs markets and anytime-booking bets carry more risk here than in other fixtures this weekend.
Best Fixtures for Booking Bets This Weekend: A Summary
The clear standouts are Stuart Attwell’s Bournemouth vs Manchester United (4.9 cards/game), Darren England’s Brighton vs Liverpool (4.4), and the Tyne-Wear derby under Anthony Taylor (4.0).
The Carabao Cup final also merits serious attention given Peter Bankes’ 4.2 average and the magnitude of the occasion.
Moderate options include Kavanagh at Fulham vs Burnley and Gillett at Leeds vs Brentford (both 3.9), Barrott for Everton vs Chelsea (3.8), and Tierney for Aston Villa vs West Ham (3.8).
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest with Michael Oliver (3.1) is the least likely to generate heavy card action based on seasonal averages.
Bet of the Weekend: Over 4.5 Cards in Bournemouth vs Man Utd @ 4/6
Stuart Attwell is the highest-carding referee in the Premier League this season, averaging 4.9 cards per game — meaning his matches clear the over 4.5 cards line on average.
Friday night’s clash at the Vitality between a combative Bournemouth side and a Manchester United team who have struggled for consistency this season has all the ingredients for a feisty affair.
With Attwell in the middle, backing over 4.5 cards looks like a strong value play.
🤖 Claude’s Tip Betting – Over 4.5 cards @ 4/6
