Saturday Football Tips: Henderson's card relish in Serie A

• Strict referee and two team who atract cards in action

• Henderson carded 14 times in last 45 Serie A appearances

• Back cards-based Bet Builder at around 5/16.00

Empoli v Genoa
Saturday 28 December, 14:00
Live on OneFootball

This early kick-off in Serie A on Saturday should feature cards.

Legs 1 & 2: Both teams over 1.5 cards

Empoli have committed more fouls than any other side in Italy's top flight this season and sit ninth in terms of bookings received.

Genoa are up in fifth in the list and also sit in the top half of the fouls-committed table.

With the duo separated by only three points in the overall standings, it should be competitive too.

The referee is Antonio Rapuano and he's the second strictest of the Serie A regulars this season in card terms, averaging 5.71 yellows per game. He's also produced three reds in his seven games thus far.

Empoli have received over 1.5 cards in six of their last seven matches, while Genoa have delivered on the same front in their last eight.

Frankly, I'm surprised to be getting virtually even money about both teams receiving 1.5 cards here and that looks the best bet.

Leg 3: Liam Henderson to be shown a card

For something bigger, try adding Liam Henderson to be shown a card - that produces a Bet Builder approaching 5/16.00.

Empoli's Scottish midfielder has received five cards in his 16 appearances this season, while he was also booked in three of his last five of last season when playing for Palermo in Serie B.

He's got a great card record in the top flight, having picked up nine in 2022/23, meaning he's been carded in 14 of his last 45 Serie A appearances.

Many of those have been from the bench so when you look at time on the pitch, Henderson has actually been carded once every 148 minutes.

Whichever metric you take, odds of 3/14.00 about another Henderson card look generous, particularly when taking the referee into account.

It's worth adding that Signor Rapuano has carded Henderson in both of the Scot's Serie A starts he's taken charge of.

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