Premier League Preview Week 5
After a two-week break due to international duty, the Premier League is back this weekend! After few high-profile fixtures in the opening four weeks, Gameweek five is packed with big clashes and derbies. The biggest match this weekend takes place at Goodison Park in the early Saturday kick-off as high-fliers Everton take on Merseyside rivals Liverpool. Everton have set the pace in the Premier League and top the table with four wins from four while Liverpool will be more desperate than ever to bounce back from their 7-2 loss to Aston Villa two weeks ago.
Manchester City face Arsenal at the Etihad with City struggling in their last two. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, however, will be looking to secure another victory over his old boss. Tottenham take on West Ham in a London derby with the Hammers turning their poor start around recently. Elsewhere, another derby takes place at Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace hosting Brighton. Fulham and Sheffield United will also be looking to get their first points of the season this weekend in their fixture.
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Everton v Liverpool
Everton have made their best start since 1938 with six wins from six in all competitions. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are free-scoring currently and have scored a joint high 12 goals in the Premier League this season. The Toffees will be looking to end their long-standing run of 22 successive fixtures without a win against Liverpool, which stretches back to a 2-0 win in 2010. They have, however, drawn their last three home ties against Liverpool.
Liverpool’s defeat to Aston Villa two weeks ago was the first time in 57 years the Reds have conceded seven goals. Villa exposed Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian and highlighted vulnerabilities in their back four which Jurgen Klopp will be looking to address swiftly this weekend. The Reds now have the joint second worst defence in the league, conceding 11 in their last four. All of Liverpool’s draws or losses in the Premier League have come away from Anfield; they have dropped points in four of their last seven away games.
Everton will be without Cenk Tosun (ACL), Mason Holgate (ankle), Jarrad Braithwaite (ankle) and Jonjoe Kenny (ankle). Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes, Allan and Yerry Mina could all return after picking up minor injuries recently. Allison (shoulder), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin (knee) and Naby Keita (COVID-19) are ruled out for Liverpool. Konstantinos Tsimikas, Sadio Mane, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara should all be back in contention.
Everton are a team on the up and will throw everything at Liverpool, who could be tentative after their 7-2 humiliation. This could be the game which ends Everton’s 10-year drought in the Merseyside derby.
Manchester City v Arsenal
Man City have gained just one point from their last two games following a 5-2 defeat to Leicester and a 1-1 draw with Leeds before the international break. Pep Guardiola’s side are yet to keep a clean sheet in their three Premier League games this season. However, their recent home form is exceptional with eight wins and just one loss in their last nine games at the Etihad.
Arsenal have made a strong start to the season, losing just one game in their opening six in all competitions. Although they only had six shots on goal in their 2-1 win over Sheffield United, the Gunners showed a ruthlessness in front of goal to earn all three points. Arsenal’s only recent win against City came in the FA Cup semi-final last season when they won 2-0. City have won five of the last six meetings between the sides, scoring 14.
Six players could return for Man City this weekend with Raheem Sterling (thigh) and Sergio Aguero (knee) likely to feature. Kevin De Bruyne Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ilkay Gundogan should all be available after picking up knocks recently. Defenders Calum Chambers (knee), Kieran Tierney (coronavirus), Gabriel Martinelli (knee), Shkodran Mustafi (thigh) and Pablo Mari (ankle) are all ruled out for Arsenal. Emile Smith-Rowe and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang should be available after respective shoulder and ankle injuries.
City will be favourites for this fixture and, because Arsenal are still without most of their defence due to injury, Guardiola’s side showed secure a comfortable victory this weekend.
Tottenham v West Ham
Despite a congested fixture list to start the season, Spurs have begun well and lost just one of their opening eight games. Jose Mourinho has brought a consistency to Spurs; the North London side are unbeaten in their last three Premier League games, have scored 12 goals and conceded just five – leading to the joint best goal difference (+7) in the league.
West Ham have turned their poor start to the season around with two big wins in their last three – a 4-0 victory over Wolves and 3-0 away at Leicester before the international break. However, they look like a side who will blow hot and cold this season after also losing three games by two or more goals in all competitions this season. West Ham have only beaten Spurs once in their last six meetings including back to back losses last season.
Gareth Bale (knee), Giovanni Lo Celso (thigh) and Eric Dier (thigh) should be available for Spurs this weekend but the fixture may come too soon for Japhet Tanganga (muscular injury). Issa Diop (coronavirus), Ryan Fredericks (thigh) and Arthur Masuaku (knee) are likely to be back in contention for West Ham.
Spurs should secure all three points in this London derby on Sunday. Their consistency has been impressive while West Ham are still working on finding a balance between defence and attack which will play into Spurs’ favour.
Leeds United v Wolves
Leeds have settled into the Premier League well after a three-match unbeaten run recently. Big results against Fulham and Sheffield United were followed by an all-action 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City. They have scored in all four of their matches and are unbeaten in their three home matches at Elland Road this season in all competitions.
Wolves have struggled to display the same consistency they showed in their impressive 2019/20 campaign. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have already conceded seven goals this season in four Premier League matches, but two wins with clean sheets against Sheffield United and Fulham will give Wolves’ hope they can reclaim their defensive identity from last season.
Leeds will be without Gaetano Berardi (ACL) and Adam Forshaw (groin) but Pablo Hernandez (groin), Kiko Casilla (ankle), and Liam Cooper (knock) could return this weekend. Jonny remains out long-term for Wolves with a knee injury while Fernando Marcal could return following a calf injury.
This will be an interesting match up between Marcelo Bielsa and Espirito Santo. However, their contrasting styles could lead to a low scoring stalemate.
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