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The fifth matchday of the 2021-22 Premier League presented us with a nice blend of one-sided affairs and closely-contested battles.
While Liverpool and Chelsea cruised to 3-0 wins over Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, Manchester City were held to a goalless draw at home by Southampton. Manchester United, on the other hand, had to rely on a last-minute penalty save by David de Gea to snatch maximum points from West Ham. Arsenal, meanwhile, recorded their second consecutive win in the 2021-22 Premier League campaign, beating Burnley 1-0 away from home.
The sixth matchday of the English Premier League is bringing two blockbuster clashes, with Chelsea and Arsenal taking on Manchester City and Spurs, respectively. If these two mega clashes do not float your boat, there are many other top fixtures to look forward to.
We will take all matchday six fixtures into account and give you our top five predictions for the weekend. Let's get straight to it!
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo to extend his scoring streak
Cristiano Ronaldo has featured twice in the Premier League for Manchester United since returning to the club from Juventus this summer. In those two matches, he was Manchester United’s best-performing forward, scoring three goals. Following a brace in his second debut for the Red Devils against Newcastle United, he scored the opener last week at West Ham United. Ronaldo found the back of the net in the Champions League opener as well, but he could not save Manchester United from a 2-1 defeat against BSC Young Boys.
Ronaldo was rested for Manchester United’s EFL Cup tie against West Ham United, which ended in a humiliating 1-0 defeat for the Old Trafford outfit. Ronaldo is set to return to action this Saturday against Aston Villa and we expect him to keep his goalscoring form intact.
#4 Liverpool to have a tough time unlocking Brentford's defense
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are currently enjoying an excellent run. They are tied with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League and are yet to taste defeat in the English top flight. They were also victorious in their Champions League and EFL Cup openers against AC Milan and Norwich City, respectively.
The Reds are making the trip to Brentford this weekend and we suspect the hosts will not make things easy for the Merseyside giants. Liverpool, who have scored 12 goals in their last four games across all competitions, are still the favorites, but Brentford’s defense could present a formidable challenge.
The hosts for Saturday’s fixture have only conceded two goals in the division, holding the second-best defensive record in the Premier League this season. We still expect Liverpool to bag all three points, but they might have to settle for a slightly less flamboyant win.
#3 Harry Kane to shine in crucial north London derby
Gameweek six of the Premier League will see north London clubs - Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur - go up against each other at the Emirates. As of now, Spurs sit three points ahead of the Gunners in the league table. However, the Lilywhites’ recent form is a cause for concern.
Tottenham have not won any of their last four matches in regular time, registering their only win against Wolves on penalties in the EFL Cup. Their last two Premier League matches ended in 3-0 defeats, against Crystal Palace and Chelsea, respectively.
Their talisman Harry Kane has also been way below his usual sky-high standards. However, his goal against Wolves in the EFL Cup has released some of the pressure. We expect Kane to be in rather impressive shape against Arsenal on Sunday. He could be the catalyst Tottenham need to end their four-game winless run this weekend.
#2 Manchester United to punish Aston Villa at home
Manchester United were defeated 1-0 at home by West Ham United in the third round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday. The second-string United side could not keep the revenge-seeking West Ham outfit at bay and ultimately crashed out of the knockout tournament. The defeat marked United’s second defeat in three games across all competitions, which is alarming, to say the least.
Manchester United are now set to play Aston Villa in their own backyard on Saturday. All first-choice players are set to return to the fold, which should help United return to winning ways. After Wednesday’s result at Old Trafford, United will not be satisfied with a narrow win. They will come at 10th-placed Villa with everything they have and are likely to get a comfortable win at home.
#1 Chelsea to edge Manchester City at Stamford Bridge
Defending Premier League champions will make the trip to Stamford Bridge this Saturday, marking the rematch of last season’s Champions League final. Manchester City and Chelsea are arguably the two strongest teams in the division and should present us with an unpredictable affair.
Both Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel have managed their respective squads brilliantly and have only conceded once in their opening five Premier League matches. Manchester City will face Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool back-to-back after taking on Chelsea, which could force Guardiola to be a bit more experimental with his team.
Chelsea are currently at the top of the Premier League and have not been bested by any team in Europe. At home, the Blues are even stronger, scoring six goals without reply in their last two games.
On their day, City can beat any team in the world. However, given their tight schedule and injury worries, we cannot help but give Chelsea the advantage. A narrow victory seems to be on the card for Tuchel’s European champions.
Also read: 5 most in-form midfielders in the world right now
