Chelsea vs Liverpool
Friday 16th September 2016, 20.00
This is a fantastic fixture to kick off Gameweek 5 at Stamford Bridge. Without a doubt this is Chelsea's toughest game of the season so far, whilst Liverpool have already faced last season's top three, taking 7 points in the process.
Chelsea's 100% winning run came to an end last weekend in a 2-2 draw away to Swansea. The Blues were in total control at The Liberty Stadium before Thibaut Courtois' mistake gifted Gylfi Sigurdsson the chance to equalize from the penalty spot, and Antonio Conte's team were eventually left requiring late heroics from Man of the Match Diego Costa, who scored his fourth goal in just four league matches this season with a spectacular acrobatic effort.
Liverpool were scintillating at times in their first home game of the season against last season's champions Leicester. The Reds ended up winning 4-1, and are scoring goals for fun at the moment, particularly from midfield. Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino both have two goals already this season, as does Adam Lallana, who added to his first England goal vs Slovakia with a fine effort against the Foxes, and Phillippe Coutinho, who should return to the starting lineup for Klopp's men at the Bridge. Jordan Henderson will continue in his defensive midfield role, and he has completed the most passes of any player in the league this season, with 266.
I think that this is Liverpool's biggest test of the season to date, against a fierce Chelsea team with no Champions League football in midweek to think about. Their dynamic front four will cause Chelsea's back line problems, particularly the movement of former Blue Daniel Sturridge, but they also have a defensive mistake in them so I can see this being an entertaining score draw.
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| Costa and Henderson will do battle again on Friday (Getty Images) |
Hull vs Arsenal
Saturday 17th September 2016, 15.00
Both teams go into this one having benefited from late, late goals in their last matches. Hull needed a 95th minute free-kick from Scotland's hat-trick hero Robert Snodgrass to salvage a point at Burnley, while Arsenal beat Southampton with virtually the last kick of the game thanks to Santi Cazorla's contentious penalty. Arsene Wenger will be thrilled to have the little Spaniard back to full fitness, and will hope he can continue to add to his two goals already this season (both from the spot) in the coming weeks.
The last time Hull played at home they were desperately unlucky, with Marcus Rashford snatching a late winner for Manchester United in 'Fergie time.' I think Mike Phelan's game plan will be similar against the Gunners, looking to keep it tight, absorb pressure and play on the break.
Arsenal face a tricky trip to PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday before this one, but they have two wins from their last two in the Premier League following a defeat and a draw in their opening two matches. No matter what happens in Paris in midweek I can't see anything other than Wenger's men making it three on the bounce in the league on Saturday.
Prediction: 1-2
Leicester vs Burnley
Saturday 17th September 2016, 15.00
In March 2014 Leicester and Burnley were lining up against each other in the Championship. Leicester were 2-0 winners at Turf Moor that day, thanks to goals from David Nugent and Chris Wood, neither of whom are still at the club. Fast forward two-and-a-half years and Leicester are reigning Premier League champions, whilst Burnley are back in the top flight following a fantastic promotion season in which they won England's second tier.
Both sides will have been left frustrated at their results last weekend, leaving each on 4 points from 4 games so far. Burnley conceded a 95th minute goal in their 1-1 draw with Hull, while Leicester were later thumped 4-1 at Anfield. The Foxes have lost two games already this season, just one less than in the whole of their title winning campaign, and were shocking against Liverpool. Claudio Ranieri's men are missing the industrious N'Golo Kante, who left in the summer for Chelsea, and never really look like scoring against Liverpool through their own good play - Lucas Leiva gifted Jamie Vardy the easiest of finishes in front of the Kop.
Like Arsenal, Leicester play their first Champions League game in midweek, travelling to Belgium to face Club Brugge on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see how the Foxes fare in the league as a result of European football, but Ranieri has good squad depth now following a busy summer transfer window. Burnley will be on a downer after letting Hull back into a potential six-pointer last week, and I believe that this is a nice game to come home to for Leicester.
Prediction: 2-0
Manchester City vs Bournemouth
Saturday 17th September 2016, 15.00
These two sides meet at the Etihad Stadium having each gained three points in Gameweek 4. City won the Manchester Derby 2-1 at Old Trafford and Bournemouth were 1-0 winners at home to West Brom, thanks to Callum Wilson's first goal for nearly a year.
Saturday's hosts were breathtaking against United last weekend. David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne ran the game from midfield, running rings around the anonymous 89 million pound man Paul Pogba. Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up in Sergio Aguero's absence and ended up scoring the winner - he now has 9 goals from just 13 shots on target in the Premier League.
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| Iheanacho will be looking to add to his Derby winner (Getty Images) |
Eddie Howe will be pleased that his team managed to break down a tough Tony Pulis defence and earn their first league win of the season. Jack Wilshere managed the last 30 minutes at the Vitality Stadium and he will be hoping to get closer to the likes of Fernandinho, Silva and De Bruyne than Pogba managed last weekend.
Claudio Bravo endured a tough start to life in the Premier League last weekend, and was bailed out a couple of times by John Stones. Joe Hart made his own clanger on his Serie A debut for Torino, however, and that should make Bravo feel a little better going into his Champions League debut for City against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Tuesday. I imagine the Chilean's confidence will continue to grow with a clean sheet against the Cherries on Saturday, too, as Pep Guardiola's men make it five wins out of five.
Prediction: 3-0
West Brom vs West Ham
Saturday 17th September 2016, 15.00
Two of Gameweek 4's beaten sides clash at the Hawthorns on Saturday. West Brom went down 1-0 away to Bournemouth, while West Ham threw away a 2 goal lead at home to Watford, eventually ending up on the receiving end of a 4-2 defeat.
West Brom are now three games without a win following victory at Crystal Palace on the opening day, and there is a strange atmosphere around the club. Rumours were rife that Tony Pulis would quit the club having been disappointed at the club's summer business, but it has now been confirmed that he will stay. He will have been disappointed, then, that his side couldn't hold on for what would have been a decent point at Bournemouth, and at the performance of Saido Berahino. On the young forward, Pulis told BBC Sport: "In the 20 months I've been here he was a talisman for the first six months, but then we've lost him for the last year. It's been difficult."
Slaven Bilic will have been bitterly disappointed at how the Hammers' game against Watford ended. Dimitri Payet set up both of Michail Antonio's first half goals to seemingly put West Ham in control, but when Odion Ighalo pulled one back for Watford, the Irons went into meltdown.
The Baggies have only won one of the last 11 league meetings with West Ham. I believe that'll become one of 12 following Saturday's game, as West Brom are in freefall and Bilic possesses far more quality in his side than Pulis does.
Prediction: 1-2
Everton vs Middlesbrough
Saturday 17th September 2016, 17.30
Everton and Middlesbrough meet in the late kick-off at Goodison Park, and both teams have enjoyed decent starts to the season. Everton have won three matches in a row since drawing 1-1 with Spurs on the opening day, whilst Boro's unbeaten run came to an end last weekend with a 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Everton come into this one having smashed former manager David Moyes' Sunderland 3-0 at the Stadium of Light, courtesy of a Romelu Lukaku hat-trick (the first of any player in 2016/17). 23-year-old Lukaku scored his first Everton goal since the 12th March, ending a run of 1139 minutes without a goal for the Toffees. He went on to add another two goals to take Everton to third place in the table after their opening 4 games. Idrissa Gueye created the Belgian's opener, and he put in another fantastic performance in midfield; he looks to be a cracking signing by Ronald Koeman.
Boro lost their first game of the season last Saturday, in a tight affair with Palace. Aitor Karanka was left ruing defensive mistakes, after George Friend let Wilfried Zaha in far too easily to slot the winner. Daniel Ayala scored on his 100th appearance for the Teesiders from Stewart Downing's corner, but Karanka will be disappointed that his side never really looked like scoring from open play.
This is such a tough game for Middlesbrough. Everton are on a real run of form at the moment, and Romelu Lukaku's confidence will be sky-high after his hat-trick on Monday. I can't see Boro taking anything from Goodison on Saturday night.
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| Will Lukaku add to his treble against Sunderland? (Getty Images) |
Watford vs Manchester United
Sunday 18th September 2016, 12.00
United travel to Vicarage Road on Sunday to face a Watford side on a real high after coming from two goals down at West Ham to record a 4-2 victory. In contrast, Mourinho's men arrive on the back of defeat in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford, and with a tricky trip to Holland against Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord on the Thursday before this game.
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri will be buzzing about the manner of his sides' win against West Ham. Last season's talismans Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney drew Watford level following Michail Antonio's brace, before Etienne Capoue made it 3-2 with a carbon copy of his goal against Chelsea. The French midfielder incredibly now has 3 goals in 4 games this season, after scoring none in 33 appearances last term. Jose Holebas added a fourth to guarantee the Hornets all three points.
Jose Mourinho will know his team weren't good enough against rivals City last weekend, and could have lost by more. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already become the Red Devil's star player; his goal against Pep Guardiola's side made it 4 goals from 4 games so far this season. Jose will be looking for a reaction to derby day defeat from Zlatan and co, and I reckon he'll get one in Sunday's early kick-off.
Prediction: 1-3
Crystal Palace vs Stoke City
Sunday 18th September 2016, 14.15
Alan Pardew's Eagles earned their first victory of the season last week, whilst condemning Middlesbrough to their first defeat of the season. Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha were the heroes for Palace. Meanwhile, Stoke were hammered 4-0 at home to Tottenham, with Mark Hughes sent to the stands following his reaction to a challenge on Jon Walters.
Benteke scored a trademark header against Boro from Zaha's cross. If the likes of Andros Townsend, Jason Puncheon and Zaha can continue to provide quality ball in to the big Belgian, I can see the former Aston Villa and Liverpool striker comfortably reaching double figures this season, and without a doubt causing big problems to Ryan Shawcross and new boy Bruno Martins Indi on Sunday.
Stoke continue to prop up the rest of the Premier League, with a shocking goal difference of -8 (2 goals scored, 10 conceded) and just a solitary point to their name. They were second best in every department against Spurs last week, and are missing England's Jack Butland between the sticks.
making good progress with the rehab, started weight bearing, bike, strength and mobility work! feeling really good 💪🏼💪🏼— Jack Butland (@JackButland_One) September 12, 2016
Stoke will be fine this season in my opinion, and I think it's only a matter of time before Wilfried Bony opens his account for the Potters. However, Palace will be bolstered by their win at the Riverside, and I can see them making it two wins out of two and a decent start to the season.
Prediction: 2-0
Southampton vs Swansea
Sunday 18th September 2016, 14.15
The Saints go into this match against Swansea still searching for their first victory of the season. They were robbed of a point at the Emirates last Saturday; a harsh penalty awarded against Jose Fonte for a supposed foul on Olivier Giroud gave Arsenal all three points. Swansea came from a goal down to take the lead at home to Chelsea a week ago, Diego Costa's second of the game eventually meaning the points were shared.
Claude Puel will be hoping his side will have too much for the Swans, but he may be forced to rotate, with St Mary's hosting Saints' first Europa League tie of the season against Sparta Prague on the Thursday before this game.
Swansea will be buoyed by their second half performance against Chelsea. Francesco Guidolin's men scored twice in three minutes, firstly through Gylfi Sigurdsson who became the Swans' all time leading Premier League goalscorer (26), and then Leroy Fer, who kept up his impressive early season form by scoring his third in four games.
Swansea couldn't hold on against Chelsea, but they will be extremely happy with the point they earned at the Liberty Stadium. This, added to Europa League participation for Southampton, means that I'm going for a repeat of Swansea's result with the Blues last Sunday.
Prediction: 2-2
Tottenham vs Sunderland
Sunday 18th September 2016, 16.30
Like Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton, Spurs are unbeaten after their first four games of the season. They taught Stoke a footballing lesson at the Bet365 Stadium last weekend, winning 4-0 for the second successive season. Sunderland are winless going into this game, and couldn't deal with Romelu Lukaku on Monday night.
I said last week that Mauricio Pochettino needed Harry Kane to start finding some form in September, and his first goal of the season after a run of nine matches without one will be welcomed with open arms by everyone from White Hart Lane. Dele Alli also netted his first of the season, and Son Heung-min scored a stunning brace as Spurs cruised to victory.
David Moyes will be wondering where his first win as Black Cats boss is going to come from. His side were in a tight match with Everton until Romelu Lukaku broke the deadlock on the hour, and from there Sunderland capitulated, allowing the Belgian to complete a 12-minute hat-trick.
Tottenham host Monaco in the Champions League at Wembley on Wednesday, and Spurs fans will be buzzing about their return to Europe's elite club competition. I expect them to earn a positive result in midweek and earn another Premier League victory on Sunday; Moyes' men will come to defend, but I don't see them lasting the 90 minutes.
Prediction: 2-0
Prediction: 2-0
Southampton vs Swansea
Sunday 18th September 2016, 14.15
The Saints go into this match against Swansea still searching for their first victory of the season. They were robbed of a point at the Emirates last Saturday; a harsh penalty awarded against Jose Fonte for a supposed foul on Olivier Giroud gave Arsenal all three points. Swansea came from a goal down to take the lead at home to Chelsea a week ago, Diego Costa's second of the game eventually meaning the points were shared.
Claude Puel will be hoping his side will have too much for the Swans, but he may be forced to rotate, with St Mary's hosting Saints' first Europa League tie of the season against Sparta Prague on the Thursday before this game.
Swansea will be buoyed by their second half performance against Chelsea. Francesco Guidolin's men scored twice in three minutes, firstly through Gylfi Sigurdsson who became the Swans' all time leading Premier League goalscorer (26), and then Leroy Fer, who kept up his impressive early season form by scoring his third in four games.
Swansea couldn't hold on against Chelsea, but they will be extremely happy with the point they earned at the Liberty Stadium. This, added to Europa League participation for Southampton, means that I'm going for a repeat of Swansea's result with the Blues last Sunday.
Prediction: 2-2
Tottenham vs Sunderland
Sunday 18th September 2016, 16.30
Like Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton, Spurs are unbeaten after their first four games of the season. They taught Stoke a footballing lesson at the Bet365 Stadium last weekend, winning 4-0 for the second successive season. Sunderland are winless going into this game, and couldn't deal with Romelu Lukaku on Monday night.
I said last week that Mauricio Pochettino needed Harry Kane to start finding some form in September, and his first goal of the season after a run of nine matches without one will be welcomed with open arms by everyone from White Hart Lane. Dele Alli also netted his first of the season, and Son Heung-min scored a stunning brace as Spurs cruised to victory.
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| Harry Kane is back on the scoresheet (Getty Images) |
David Moyes will be wondering where his first win as Black Cats boss is going to come from. His side were in a tight match with Everton until Romelu Lukaku broke the deadlock on the hour, and from there Sunderland capitulated, allowing the Belgian to complete a 12-minute hat-trick.
Tottenham host Monaco in the Champions League at Wembley on Wednesday, and Spurs fans will be buzzing about their return to Europe's elite club competition. I expect them to earn a positive result in midweek and earn another Premier League victory on Sunday; Moyes' men will come to defend, but I don't see them lasting the 90 minutes.
Prediction: 2-0
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