Premier League 2018/19 Game week 5: Previews and Predictions

The game week four saw three teams maintaining a 100 percent start to the Premier League - Chelsea, Liverpool, and Watford. Liverpool is sitting pretty on top of the table with a better goal difference than the other two sides. So far Jurgen Klopp's men have looked solid in every aspect except one howler from Alisson which somewhat took the shine away from the nearly perfect weekend. Chelsea is looking a far more progressive side under Sarri, and with no Champions league responsibilities this time around, they are serious contenders for the title. Watford on the other hand, came from a goal behind to win 2-1 against Spurs which resembles fantastic progress they are making under Javi Garcia.

Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United have all won their respective games. It was a must-win game for Jose Mourinho's side, and they managed to get crucial three points away at Turf Moor. However, for Manuel Pellegrini, the situation is not at all rosy with West Ham United yet to pen their mark for the campaign. Managers like Rafa Benitez and Sean Dyche are also on unknown territories with both Newcastle United and Burnley languishing in the relegation zone.

While Jurgen Klopp will look to continue their winning run, the former Reds boss Rafa Benitez would want to get one over Arsenal and register their first win of the season. Manchester United will have their task cut out against a resurgent Watford side while City would not want to drift further away from the top spot. Manual Pellegrini is under immense pressure at West Ham, and a game against Everton at Goodison could push him further to the exit door.

Here's a look at the fixtures and predictions from Matchday 5 of the Barclays Premier League 2018/19 season.

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1 Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool

Tottenham will be itching to get back to winning ways after losing to Watford in the previous match day.

Both clubs won its first three games, but Spurs faced their first defeat of the season last time around against Watford. Last season this fixture saw Spurs thoroughly outplaying Liverpool and smashing four past a hapless Reds defense.

But Mauricio Pochettino knows his team will have to be at their very best if they want to get anything out against this Liverpool side who are looking unstoppable at the moment winning all four games and conceding just once in the process. The Spurs boss confirmed that Dele Ali and captain Hugo Lloris would be out for the Liverpool clash due to injuries which makes their job even tougher considering how influential those two have been to the squad.

However, Klopp knows well that this Spurs side can defeat any team on their day. There are no major injury concerns on the Liverpool camp, and with such bench strength, they won't be facing any such challenges which they did last season.

Prediction: Spurs 2 - 2 Liverpool

#2 Man City vs. Fulham

Man City will look to keep the pressure on for Liverpool at the top of the table.

Manchester City will be looking to continue on their merry ways when they play host to Fulham who is coming from the back of a draw against Brighton. For Manchester City, however, Kevin De Bruyne and Claudio Bravo are long-term absentees due to injury while winger Raheem Sterling is fit for selection. Fulham will be without Tom Cairney and Neeskens Kebano for injuries.

The game promises another goal feast affair for City, but Fulham also has Mitrovic upfront who is now the joint leading scorer this campaign. With the squad they got, Jokanovic's team may not be able to hold City for long but do possess some threats going forward and as Wolves have shown previously, the best way to play against Man City is to attack them. Defending only for 90 mins will not pay any dividends.

Prediction: Man City 4 - 1 Fulham

#3 Newcastle vs. Arsenal

Rafa Benitez's Newcastle is looking for their first win of the campaign

Standing at 18th position in the League table, things are not looking glossy for Newcastle United whose problems are not only reflected on the pitch but off as well with the board not backing the manager enough in the transfer market. The fans have also expressed their disgust towards the Newcastle hierarchy time and again.

But the game against Arsenal is an excellent chance to put all these dramas into bed. Last time Newcastle won this fixture 2-1 which might give Rafa Benitez's men some confidence going into the game at St. James Park. There may be some tactical twist, but both teams seem to go with the same team for the match. Unai Emery's men are coming from back-to-back victories and will be hoping to make it three in a row. However, the defense is still a concern for Arsenal who has failed to keep a clean sheet yet in this campaign. Peter Cech has looked vulnerable playing from the back, and any such mistakes could prove costly for the London outfit.

Prediction: Newcastle 1 - 3 Arsenal

#4 Bournemouth vs. Leicester City

Bournemouth will be looking to get back to winning ways.

It's tough to separate these two sides based on the quality and stats. Eddie Howe's team suffered their first league defeat of this campaign last time around against Chelsea while Leicester has won two and lost two from their first four games.

Claude Puel must be delighted with Harry Maguire signing a new contract and Demarai Gray getting a call to the England squad. Jamie Vardy will also be back from suspension. This game could be a cracker with both teams looking to attack and play on the front foot.

Prediction: Bournemouth 2 - 3 Leicester

#5 Chelsea vs. Cardiff City

Chelsea is yet to drop a point this season.

The two sides are on the different sides of the fortune metric. While Chelsea is yet to lose a game, however, Cardiff is yet to register a win on their Premier League return.

None can argue the fact that Maurizio Sarri has instilled his philosophy at Chelsea. This Chelsea team always want to keep the ball and move forward at every instance. Though defensively they are still vulnerable, they can more than cope up for it with their attacking intent this season. Jorginho from Napoli has been one of the signings of the summer so far with the Brazilian (who plays for the Italian national team) controlling everything from the midfield. It doesn't look like Cardiff's winless streak could be broken anytime soon as many have seen in the past, beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is a near impossible task.

Prediction: Chelsea 3 - 0 Cardiff

#6 Huddersfield vs. Crystal Palace

David Wagner's side is still winless in the campaign.

Both sides have been weak in front of the goals and are coming off on the back of some disappointing results lately. Injury boost for Crystal Palace as their talisman Wilfried Zaha is expected to be fit for the match.

But there are some injury concerns for David Wagner's side with both Juninho Bacuna, and Collin Quaner doubtful after picking up minor knocks. Midfielder Jonathan Hogg is out after being sent off against Cardiff City. The terries will be looking for their first win of the season and must be buoyed by their performances against Cardiff and Everton while the Eagles are eyeing for their second away victory of the campaign.

Prediction: Huddersfield 1 - 1 Crystal Palace

#7 Watford vs. Man United

The Red Devils were back to the winning ways against Burnley in their last game.

With two wins and two defeats from their first two games, Jose Mourinho's side is not having a smooth sail at the moment while Watford is yet to drop a point this campaign. Javi Gracia has turned Vicarage Road into a fortress and a team will have to be at their very best to go there and get anything out of the game.

Like Spurs saw in the last game, nothing can be taken for granted against this Watford side who are looking devastating in the attack. It will be a test for the Man United's weak defense who could be without their left-back Luke Shaw after he picked up a head injury during the International break. Apart from that, both sides won't be looking to make too many changes to their team.

Prediction: Watford 1 - 2 Man United

#8 Wolves vs. Burnley

Sean Dyche's men are far away from the form they showed last season.

The unpredictability of Premier League is once again justified with Burnley's campaign so far. The team which surprised everyone last season with their stellar performances and even qualified for a Europa League play-off is sitting at 19th position in the league and yet to win a single game in the season. Defeat at home against Manchester United last time out has pulled them further down.

Sean Dyche's men will be desperate to avoid a fourth straight defeat of the season against a Wolves side whose manager has been rumored to be taking over from Jose Mourinho as the next United manager. Nuno Espírito Santo has squashed all those speculations and intensely focused for this game where a win could see them move into the top half of the table.

Prediction: Wolves 2 - 1 Burnley

#9 Everton vs. West Ham United

West Ham is still searching for their first point of the campaign.

Manuel Pellegrini's side is in all sort of troubles at the moment losing all four games of the season. The defense is in absolute shambles at the moment conceding ten goals and scoring only two in the process. Though on paper Everton is a better side, they have their injury problems with Coleman expected to be out for two weeks, and their leading goalscorer, Richarlison, still suspended.

Marco Silva knows that this won't be a walk in the park and West Ham will be coming out with all guns blazing looking for their first point of the season. It would be an entertaining match to watch nevertheless.

Prediction: Everton 2 - 1 West Ham United

#10 Southampton vs. Brighton

Mark Hughes would be hoping that his side can carry the momentum after the International Break.

There is not much to choose from between the two sides regarding performances. Both of them are on four points. Brighton had already won one of their biggest games of the season against Manchester United, and they are more than capable of winning against Mark Hughes's Southampton side who has recently shown glimpses of a good run of form.

Both sides have already met in the Carabao Cup where Southampton beat Brighton. There aren't much injury concerns on both camps and both managers will have a luxury of players to choose from. An exciting Monday night football to look forward to.

Prediction: Southampton 1 - 1 Brighton