Premier League Predictions: Matchweek 5

FRIDAY:

BRENTFORD V CHELSEA

Brentford are still unbeaten this season but haven't won since the opening game of the season where they comfortably eased past Spurs.

They'll definitely get chances in this one because Chelsea do look open and vulnerable at the back as we saw against Hull.

The blues have looked exciting to watch going forward but defensively they susceptible and have down for a while.

They haven't kept a clean sheet in the league since January and if you want a reason why they won't challenge for the title this season, this is it.

This fixture has ended in a draw in each of the last four seasons and I'm going for another one here because I can see both teams cancel each other out.

Both teams will score because they both have goals in them but I still see both teams cancel each other out.

PREDICTION: 2-2

SATURDAY:

TOTTENHAM V ASTON VILLA

We might only be five games in, but this game feels like a must-win for both sides given the poor starts they've made to the season.

Spurs are still without a goal in the league this season but they did score in the Carabao Cup against Liverpool in midweek.

Whilst that will give them some sort of encouragement, their confidence is still very low and after spending all that money in the summer, I wonder if Roberto De Zerbi is under pressure.

Villa broke their Premier League goal duck last weekend against Forest but went on to lose 2-1 and they appear to be a side in transition.

They lost a lot of players in the summer and the players they brought in to replace them are still adjusting to the Premier League and their new team.

This game has a 0-0 draw written all over it given the struggles they've both had in front of goal this season.

But I think there will be a winner and I think it will be Villa because of how dreadful Spurs are at home and I don't see them scoring either.

PREDICTION: 0-2

BRIGHTON V ARSENAL

Brighton were outstanding against Man United in midweek and especially in the second half as they caused them all sorts of problems with Pascal Gross at the heart of everything they did.

It's been a promising start to the season for Fabian Hurzeler's side as they currently lie in 5th but their season will become more challenging after the international break because their Europa Conference League campaign will be kicking off and will test the depth of their squad.

Arsenal have been a class above everyone this season and they showed once again how strong their squad is against Ipswich in midweek where they made a lot of changes.

Max Dowman will be hoping to feature in this one following his impressive play in midweek and he has some future ahead of him.

Brighton won't make it easy for the Gunners here as they showed against Man United in midweek, but the Gunners are a much stronger team and should have enough in them to come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 1-2

EVERTON V IPSWICH

Everton are still unbeaten this season and it makes my predictions look embarassing as I haven't predicted them to win a single game so far.

I haven't predicted a win for Ipswich either and they're currently sitting in 9th which makes my predictions even more embrassing.

The Tractor Boys appear to be better equipped this season than they were two seasons ago as they're looking more competitive and have more top level proven players than they did last time.

Everton are also a competitive side and especially under a manager like David Moyes who sets his teams up to be tough to beat and well drilled.

This should be a close game because of both teams being competitive sides and I think Everton will be the side that come out on top.

PREDICTION: 1-0

NEWCASTLE V HULL

I don't think anyone saw Newcastle's defeat at Leeds on Monday coming given the descent start they've made under Matthias Jaissle and I for one was one of them.

They did lose Nico Gonzalez and Anthony Elanga to injury early on in the game which may have played a part, but to see them beaten the way they were was a shock.

They're going to have to show a reaction here and especially with the way Hull have started the season.

The Tigers have looked very solid defensively and have also caused teams problems on the counter attack like they did against Chelsea last weekend.

At the moment they're looking the most likely team to stay up out of the teams that came up and no newly promoted team has gone down with the amount of points they've picked up after four games.

Sergej Jakirovic's side will definitely cause Newcastle problems here but as the Magpies are at home where they're usually strong, I think the points will be shared because Newcastle will have the home crowd on their side to help them get a result.

PREDICTION: 1-1

NOTTINGHAM FOREST V COVENTRY

Forest got their first win under Oliver Glasner last weekend against Villa and it was good to see Liam Delap get on the scoresheet and put in an all-round good performance.

His move to Chelsea came too soon for him in my opinion and in Forest he's at a club that is on his level and he's playing under a manager who can help him develop.

It's been a nightmare start to the season for Coventry and their confidence must be very low following no points and no goals scored from their four games so far.

They had their moments against Brighton and although they got hammered on the day, the chances they had will give Frank Lampard some form of encouragement.

I can only see their misery deepen here as I'm backing Forest to come out on top because they have a bit more in quality.

PREDICTION: 2-0

SUNDAY:

BOURNEMOUTH V LIVERPOOL

Bournemouth come into this game off the back of making their debut in Europe and might feel a bit tired as a result of it.

Being in Eurpe will definitely test their squad depth because of the amount of games they'll be playing and we could find out in this one if they have the squad to compete on both fronts.

Their ex-manager Andoni Iraola will be returning to the Vitality for the first time since he left them in the summer and I'm hoping that he gets a good reception because of the job he did during his three seasons there.

His Liverpool side haven't really got going since he took over but they did look pretty good against Spurs in the Carabao Cup in midweek where he made a number of changes and gave opportunities to a few youngsters.

The youngsters who came in stepped up and delivered and they were arguably a better team when they were on the pitch as Spurs did look more threatening when they came off.

Although the reds have looked far from convincing in the league, Bournemouth do have a tendency to concede late goals and will be coming into this game off the back of playing in Europe.

Because of these reasons, I can see the points being shared with the reds scoring a late equaliser to earn a point.

PREDICTION: 1-1

LEEDS V CRYSTAL PALACE

Leeds were outstanding against Newcastle on Monday and to see them win the game the way they did was completely unexpected.

They look a more complete side under Daniel Farke than they did under Marcelo Bielsa in that they're tougher to play against and are more adaptable whereas under Bielsa they only had one way of playing and no Plan B.

Farke deserves a lot of credit for the job he's done because it wasn't that long ago that fans were calling for him to be sacked and the way he's turned things around since has been extraodinary.

Palace come into this game off the back of playing in Europe during the week and are likely to feel tired as a result of it as they learned last season.

Europe had a big impact on their league form last season due to a lack of squad depth and it's likely to be the same again this season as they are still short in one or two areas.

Because of Leeds being strong at home and Palace likely to feel tired as a result of them being in Europe, I think Daniel Farke's side will be the side that come away with the three points here.

PREDICTION: 3-1

MAN CITY V SUNDERLAND

Man City were better after going down to ten men in the Manchester Derby and were the deserved winners even though their goal probably shouldn't have stood.

Iliman Ndiaye made a difference when he came on as he put in a shift at both ends and especially defensively as City knew that United would have most of the ball after they went down to ten men.

It's been a positive start to the Enzo Maresca era and it has to be given that he's won every competitive game so far since he took over.

Sunderland come into this game off the back of playing in Europe during the week and are likely to feel a bit tired as a result of it.

Being in Europe will test them both physcially and mentally in terms of their squad depth and mentality because they've never been in Europe before and most of their squad were playing in the Championship only two seasons ago.

Because of Sunderland likely to feel tired as a result of them being in Europe, I can only see this being a rather straightforward and comfortable win for City.

PREDICTION: 3-0

FULHAM V MAN UNITED

Fulham got a good and deserved point last weekend against Liverpool and were unlucky not to get more because they were easily the better side.

That point should give them something to build on moving forward and also the confidence to get their season properly up and running.

It has been far from an ideal start to the season for Man United and it now looks like the pressure is already on Michael Carrick.

They got ripped apart by Brighton in midweek and especially in the second half as they simply had to answer to them and looked all over the place defensively.

I've been saying this for a while and I'm going to say it again. They have no leaders in their team and especially in defence and their lack of leadership is why they've been conceding goals.

Fulham will look to exploit their defensive weakness in this game as they do carry an attacking threat despite their lack of points.

But they also do look vulnerable at the back and United have players who can exploit that and because of that, I think United will just edge this one.

PREDICTION: 1-2