Premier League predictions: Gameweek 5

God, soccer’s relentless, however can there actually ever be an excessive amount of of it? Rodri definitely thinks so.

Anyway, following an enormous midweek serving of Champions League and Carabao Cup motion, the Premier League returns this weekend. With one other busy midweek within the offing subsequent week, there isn’t any fancy Friday or Monday night time motion on Matchday 5 with eight video games being performed on Saturday and simply the 2 on Sunday.

And whereas we’re barely a month into the brand new season, the weekend’s motion already feels vital at each ends of the desk, notably on the backside. Whereas Manchester Metropolis’s conflict with Arsenal is not going to essentially resolve the title, the shortage of factors in the direction of the underside means Southampton’s matchup with Ipswich City and Everton’s journey to Leicester Metropolis bear nice significance.

This is how 90min initiatives Gameweek 5 within the Premier League to unfold.

Saturday 22 September

Earlier than we get into the nitty gritty stuff that would have a say in how the highest and backside of the desk look come season’s finish, there is a London derby to take pleasure in within the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

West Ham United are but to persuade underneath Julen Lopetegui, whereas Chelsea are providing glimmers of progress with new head coach Enzo Maresca. The Blues are three video games unbeaten within the Premier League since shedding to Man Metropolis on the opening weekend of the season. They battered the Hammers 5-0 of their most up-to-date assembly.

There is a monster blackout slate this weekend which is certain to spark a rise in Match of the Day viewership on Saturday night time. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are among the many groups in motion as they face Bournemouth and Brentford respectively, whereas Aston Villa, recent off their Champions League overcome Younger Boys, host Wolves in a West Midlands derby.

The three pm strain factors arrive on the King Energy and St Mary’s, although. Everton’s woes continued within the week as they had been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Southampton, they usually desperately have to safe their first league win of the season at Leicester. In any other case, it may very well be curtains for Sean Dyche on Merseyside.

The Saints, in the meantime, welcome fellow newly promoted facet Ipswich all the way down to the south coast. With factors set to be laborious to return by for each groups this time period, each Russell Martin and Kieran McKenna will view this fixture as one every of their sides may win.

Fulham had been denied three factors by a late Danny Ings equaliser final weekend, they usually’re again at Craven Cottage on Saturday as they tackle Newcastle. The Magpies struggled mightily away from dwelling final season, however they gained twice on Fulham’s dwelling patch.

The day’s motion concludes in south London with Crystal Palace, who’re but to seek out their groove underneath Oliver Glasner at first of the Austrian’s first full season, taking over Manchester United. The Purple Devils have proven indicators of life over the previous week, however the Eagles accomplished the double over Erik ten Hag’s group in 2023/24.

Sunday 23 September

We’re all trying ahead to the inevitable stalemate between probably title rivals Arsenal and Metropolis, however earlier than that, there must be a extra entertaining bout on the Amex as Brighton & Hove Albion tackle Nottingham Forest.

Forest, in fact, head into the sport having secured an extremely uncommon victory at Anfield final weekend. Brighton had been held final trip by Ipswich within the Premier League, however they superior into the fourth spherical of the Carabao Cup by advantage of a 3-2 victory over Wolves in midweek.

The bulk are backing a fairly uninteresting draw within the weekend’s standout fixture – one thing just like what we noticed on the Etihad in March. Mikel Arteta will certainly undertake a sport plan which revolves round stout deep defending and profiting from your moments on the counter-attack or from set-pieces. He’ll be additional emboldened by Inter’s success in shunning the Cityzens on Wednesday night time.