What “Player Offsides” Means in Betting
- This market tracks how many times an individual player is caught offside during a match.
- The bet is usually in the form of:
- Over/Under offsides for a player (e.g. “Player X over 1.5 offsides”)
- First player to be offside (less common)
- Most offsides between players (head-to-head)
How it’s Settled
Stats come from official data providers (Opta, StatsPerform, etc.). If a player is subbed off before accumulating the number, only the offsides before substitution count.
Example With a Real Team
Let’s use Liverpool and their striker Darwin Núñez as an example (because he’s known for playing on the shoulder of defenders):
- Market: “Darwin Núñez – Over/Under 1.5 Offsides”
- You bet Over 1.5 Offsides
- Match stats: Núñez is flagged offside 3 times in the game
Bet wins
Another example with a winger:
- Mohamed Salah – Over/Under 0.5 Offsides
- You bet Under 0.5 Offsides
- He’s never flagged offside all game
Bet wins
Factors That Influence Player Offside Bets
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Player’s style | Strikers or fast wingers (Núñez, Haaland, Mbappé) run behind defences = more offsides. |
| Opponent’s defensive line | Teams with high defensive lines (Arsenal, Man City) catch attackers offside more often. |
| Team tactics | Counter-attacking sides may create more offside chances. |
| Referee & VAR strictness | Tight calls stand with VAR, meaning more accurate offside counts. |
| Match state | A team chasing the game may send attackers forward → increased offsides. |
Betting Market Formats
| Market Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Over/Under Offsides | “Haaland Over 1.5 Offsides” @ 2.10 |
| Most Offsides (H2H) | “Which Player Will Have More Offsides – Núñez vs Watkins” |
| First Offside Player | “First player flagged offside – Núñez @ 4.00” |
Betting Tips
- Check historical data: Look at average offsides per game for the player in the last 5–10 matches.
- Consider opponent’s line: A low-block team = fewer offsides; a high line = more offsides.
- Tactics matter: If the manager starts the player as a central striker rather than a winger, offside likelihood increases.
- Watch lineups: If your player isn’t starting, your bet is void in many books but not all.
- Combine in a bet builder: Player Offsides Over 1.5 + Player Shots Over 2.5 often correlate for high-risk strikers.
Quick Illustration
Bet: “Darwin Núñez Over 1.5 Offsides vs Tottenham”
Why: Spurs play a very high line under Postecoglou + Núñez likes runs behind
Outcome: Núñez flagged offside 3 times → bet wins
Would you like me to make a quick “cheat table” listing top players in Europe with the highest average offsides per game (to help spot good bets)?