International breaks do exactly that – break up the flow of the domestic football season. This interlude featured the newly minted Nations League, so at least some of the matches were competitive, tight affairs, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the two week gap, so early on in the season, can have an effect on the momentum of the sides in the league who may have got off to a great, or not so great start.
This is your guide to the fifth weekend of the Premier League season – what should you expect from all 20 teams?
Tottenham vs Liverpool, 1230 (GMT +1) on Saturday
The Reds have had an excellent record against the other teams in the big 6 since Jurgen Klopp was appointed manager in 2015, but they haven’t always had it so easy against Tottenham. Last time out at Anfield Mo Salah scored a 90th-minute goal to put them 2-1 up before Harry Kane scored a contentious penalty in the 95th minute to equalise! And the time before that Tottenham ran out 4-1 winners at Wembley. Whatever happens, I don’t think it’ll be a boring 0-0.
Prediction: Tottenham 2 – 2 Liverpool
Bournemouth vs Leicester City, 1500 (GMT +1) on Saturday
Leicester, similarly, are without the talismanic Jamie Vardy, though he is out through suspension, not injury. But if James Maddison can continue his early season form then they could be in with a chance of spoiling Bournemouth’s party.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1 – 2 Leicester
Chelsea vs Cardiff, 1500 (GMT +1) on Saturday
Cardiff meanwhile, have started as pretty much everyone expected they would – poorly. But they have still managed to get two points on the board (one courtesy of a last minute penalty miss by Newcastle’s Kenedy) and two goals (although they both came against an Arsenal side whose away form has been abysmal for over a year). Manager Neil Warnock has said that they won’t come to Stamford Bridge and park the bus, but that seems like it would be the only way they’d have any chance of getting a third precious point
Prediction: Chelsea 4 – 0 Cardiff
Huddersfield vs Crystal Palace, 1500 (GMT +1) on Saturday
Huddersfield surprised everyone by staying up last season, but manager David Wagner will be hard pressed to repeat the miracle on such a shoestring budget compared to the rest of the league. Crystal Palace also surprised everyone by doing the same thing, but only because they had started the season with a gigantic run of consecutive defeats.
This season they look far more assured, and will be challenging the top half for sure. The Terriers will have another tough match on their hands, even if they are the home team.
Prediction: Huddersfield 0 – 2 Crystal Palace
Watford vs Manchester United, 1730 (GMT +1) on Saturday
Watford, like Chelsea and Liverpool, have won their first four games of the season. But unlike those two giants of English football, the fact they have done so is somewhat inexplicable. A remarkable comeback win against Tottenham last time out showed that their form wasn’t a flash in the pan. Eagle-eyed stats checkers have spotted that Watford’s start to the season has been identical to Leicester’s in the season they won the title, so make of that what you will.
Man United suffered a shocking loss to Brighton and a thumping one to Tottenham in back to back games, but seem to have righted the ship somewhat with a convincing takedown of Burnley in their last outing. However, many fans remain unconvinced by manager Jose Mourinho, who has come into a lot of criticism for his style of play. He doesn’t really care about that though, and knows that he will only really be judged on results, so that is what he needs to change.
Prediction: Watford 2 – 2 Manchester United
Wolves vs Burnley, 1330 (GMT +1) on Sunday
Burnley had the season of their lives last year, with 7th place getting them a spot in the qualifiers for the Europa League. The qualifying campaign, during which they beat Aberdeen and Bursaspor and came close to knocking out Olympiacos in the playoff round, appeared to be taking it out of them in the domestic league, with only one point on the board so far. With that out of the way they can finally concentrate on moving up the table again, but I don’t think Wolves will make it easy for them.
Prediction: Wolves 2 – 0 Burnley
Everton vs West Ham, 1600 (GMT +1) on Sunday
Hopes were high for Everton in pre-season, with an exciting new manager and a host of brilliant new signings, including the rapid winger Richarlison, who came from Watford at a cost of £50m. He duly scored 3 goals in his first 2 games, but then got himself sent off against Bournemouth so remains sidelined for this game. He did score a brace in his first start for Brazil in the week though, so the signs are promising for the rest of the season, and the Merseyside team remain unbeaten.
West Ham meanwhile, have started the season with four consecutive losses and are rock bottom in the table. They too have an exciting new manager and a host of brilliant new signings, but we are yet to see any of that promise being fulfilled. Whatever happens, Manuel Pellegrini should be given some more time – he won the Premier League with Man City for heaven’s sake – so will surely come good for the Hammers at some point.
Prediction: Everton 2 – 2 West Ham
Southampton vs Brighton, 2000 (GMT +1) on Monday
Southampton beat Brighton 1-0 in the EFL cup a few weeks ago, and picked up their first win of the league season a few days later away at Crystal Palace. Brighton have looked pretty formidable at home, but lackluster on the road, so this would appear to be pretty cut and dry, but you can never be too sure when making predictions in the Premier League. However, I do think that the Saints should run out pretty comfortable winners against the Seagulls.
Prediction: Southampton 2 – 0 Brighton
