Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 5

SATURDAY:

LIVERPOOL V EVERTON

Liverpool are the king of late goals at the moment after scoring yet another another in stoppage time in midweek against Atletico Madrid.

Whilst it is brilliant seeing them score these late goals, they need to stop letting teams back into games after going 2-0 up because the longer they do this, the sooner it will eventually catch up with them.

Everton have a positive start to the season were unlucky not to come away with the win against Villa last weekend as they were better side on the day.

Their promising start will give them confidence heading into this game and they'll arguably be feeling more confident heading into a Merseyside Derby for the first time in a while.

But their record at Anfield is poor and so is David Moyes' and because of that I think Liverpool will come out on top here.

The Toffees will make it a tough game for the reds by being organised and competitive. But I think the reds will again do what they've done all season in find a way to win with a late goal.

PREDICTION: 1-0

BRIGHTON V TOTTENHAM

Brighton haven't started this season at all well compared to recent seasons but they are unbeaten at home.

They beat Man City in their last home game and they've also won this fixture in each of the last two seasons including last season's comeback win from 2-0 down.

Spurs come into this game off the back beating Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday and although they have arguably a stronger squad this season, they might still feel a bit tired depending on how much they rotate their team.

Being in the Champions League will definitely test Thomas Frank and his team this season and this game could tell us how strong Spurs' squad is and if it's deep enough to compete on all fronts.

I think they'll make changes as Frank will want to keep his squad fresh and free of injuries because of the competitions they're in.

But Brighton are a side who have character and because of this I can see them nick a draw here as I think they could cause Spurs some problems here.

PREDICTION: 2-2

BURNLEY V NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Burnley gave a good account of themselves against Liverpool and had Hannibal Mejbri not stuck his arm out to give away the penalty, they would've picked up a well deserved point.

They'll again have their backs against the walls for this one as Forest will have more of the ball and press them very high.

Forest made a lot of chances against Swansea on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup which was a game they failed to close out after being 2-0 up.

It is in all fairness still early days in Ange Postecoglou's reign and that game was only their second game under him, but they still should've been able to see the game out better.

They'll bring all the rested players back in for this one and because of this I'm backing them to get off the mark under Big Ange.

PREDICTION: 0-2

WEST HAM V CRYSTAL PALACE

The pressure appears to be back on West Ham boss Graham Potter with his side back in the bottom three following their defeat to Spurs who won the game rather comfortably.

The Hammers have some difficult games coming up over the next few weeks starting with Everton away next weekend and their run of games could determine Potter's future at the club.

Palace have a good record in this fixture and are unbeaten in their last six visits to the London Stadium.

Their new look attack didn't instantly click against Sunderland last weekend and it could take time for them to gel.

Their new frontline may be getting used to each other, but they're all still capable of posing a threat and I can see them cause West Ham a number of problems here.

With West Ham looking leaky at the back and their midfield lacking energy, I think Palace will overpower them in this one.

PREDICTION: 1-3

WOLVES V LEEDS

Wolves simply have to win this game following a start of four straight defeats which have put the pressure on them.

Despite their poor start to the season, the club are planning on extending Vitor Pereira's contract which I find very surprising.

But it does show that the board are very much behind him and confident that he'll turn things around.

Leeds were beaten by a bizarre own goal at Fulham last weekend and are yet to pick up a point on the road since their promotion.

Both sides have struggled for goals this season and it's going to be one of the reasons why they're both going to be down there scrapping it out.

But I do think there will be a winner and I think Wolves will be the side that get it.

PREDICTION: 1-0

MAN UNITED V CHELSEA

Man United need to show some kind of response in this one after being outplayed and schooled by Man City in the Manchester Derby.

I asked in my key points of the weekend post if Ruben Amorim is under pressure and a number of people think he already is which doesn't really surprise me.

I've said previously that I haven't been sure if he's the right man for the job and I still think that because his system doesn't suit the players and the players don't fit the system.

I read a quote from Paul Merson during the week saying that Amorim would've been a better fit at Chelsea and I can understand why he would say that as Chelsea have players that fit his system.

Chelsea were also taught a lesson in their previous game by Bayern Munich in midweek but their performance wasn't as bad as United's was against City.

Their record at Old Trafford is terrible with their last win there coming all the way back in 2013, but they'll still go into this game as favourites as they're in better form and have players who can punish United.

Because of that I've got to give them the points here and especially with Cole Palmer back in form.

PREDICTION: 0-2

FULHAM V BRENTFORD

Fulham needed two late stoppage time goals from Harry Wilson to win this fixture last season with both of his goals coming form the bench.

Marco Silva's side have often turned to their bench for inspiration in recent seasons and they may do again in this one.

Brentford have lost both of their away games so far this season against Forest and Sunderland respectively, and they made a similar start last season where they didn't pick up a point on the road till at least December or January.

I haven't predicted them to get any points so far this season and I'm afraid that run to going to extend as I'm backing Fulham to take the points here.

Especially as they're at home where they've had a strong record in recent seasons.

PREDICTION: 2-1

SUNDAY:

BOURNEMOUTH V NEWCASTLE

Bournemouth have won all but one of their games so far this season with the game they didn't win being their opening day defat at Liverpool.

Their start to the season has been very impressive considering the players they lost in defence and if they can keep it up, they could maybe have as good if not a better season than last season.

Newcastle gave it a good go against Barcelona last night and especially in the first half where they caused Barca a lot of problems.

They didn't have the squad depth the last time they were in Europe and I fear that will be the case again this season due to their lack of activity in the transfer market.

Because of Bournemouth's strong start and Newcastle likely to feel a bit tired as a result of them playing in midweek, I'm going to back the Cherries to take the points here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

SUNDERLAND V ASTON VILLA

Sunderland have won both of their home games so far this season against West Ham and Brentford respectively which will give them a lot of confidence heading into this one.

They had to rely on keeper Robin Roefs to keep them in the game against Palace last weekend as he made a number of top saves and he'll need to have more games like that if they're to stay up.

Aston Villa finally got their first goal of their season against Brentford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday only for their elation to be short lived as they later went out on penalties.

But finally getting off the mark in terms of goals will give them a big boost nevertheless because scoring goals can give a team confidence.

I think they will get a goal in this one, but not their first win as I think Sunderland will make it difficult for them and especially as they're at home.

PREDICTION: 1-1

ARSENAL V MAN CITY

Arsenal won this fixture 5-1 last season with a dominant and classy display and they'll again come into this one as the favourites.

They will again be without Saka and Odegaard, but they've shown in recent games that they can cope without them as they have a much stronger squad this season.

They've shown signs of having a strong squad in each of their last two games including the one against Bilbao in midweek, where they brought Martinelli and Trossard off the bench with both players making an impact by scoring the goals to give the Gunners the win.

I wrote about their squad depth in my key points of the weekend post after they beat Forest and I mentioned that it gives them a better chance of winning the title this season because to win a title, you need to have players who can come in and step up and Arsenal now appear to have that.

Man City have had a good week following back-to-back wins over Man United in the league and Napoli in the Champions League with both wins being fairly straightforward.

They're going to be tested more in this one as the Arsenal side they'll be facing will be stronger and will offer more than the United and Napoli sides they faced.

I still have my doubts about City defensively and because of that, I think Arsenal will hurt them as they have players in Madueke and Eze who can hurt them in wide areas.

Viktor Gyokeres will also hurt them and he netted four times the last time he faced City in the Champions League last season when he was with Sporting.

I think he'll bag another in this one and for Arsenal to win the game..

PREDICTION: 3-1