EPL Week 6: Storylines to Watch in the Premier League This Week

It was as if Week 5 of the English Premier League season was a great turning point in the campaign, with spectacular goals, thrilling matches, and of course, that contentious penalty decision at Anfield.

We enter Week 6 under a similar cloud of controversy and speculation, with several key storylines bound to dominate discussions throughout the week. 

We've got all the storylines that you need to watch out for in the Premier League this weekend; read on to find out exactly what they are.

1. The Absence of John Terry

Despite being found not guilty of racism by a British court earlier in the year, the FA's official website reports Chelsea captain and star defender John Terry has been banned for four matches for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

The England international will now miss Chelsea's huge match this week, when the Blues travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal. The Gunners are fresh off picking up a huge win over Coventry City in midweek and a result against Manchester City last weekend.

The European champions will survive defensively without Terry, but it will be fascinating to see whether the team's organization on the pitch suffers without his presence at the back.

2. Manchester City on the Road

At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City are one of the toughest sides in world football, with no losses in Premier League competition to speak of.in the last two years.

However, once they move out on the road, something seems to happen to the reigning Premier League champions. It happened last year, and it's happening again this year. They simply can't seem to get the job done away from home.

They've already been held to a draw at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke City, and were incredibly fortunate to pick up a draw against Liverpool at Anfield. The team must now travel to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham, who have been a breath of fresh air following the summer transfer window.

The Cottagers are particularly good at home this season, and could well give the Manchester club a run for their money in this match. It will be interesting to see whether Roberto Mancini can finally get the Citizens playing good football away from home.

3. Can Liverpool Break Their Drought?

Liverpool's start to the 2012-13 English Premier League season has been well-documented—five games, zero wins and an increasingly large amount of pressure on the face of manager Brendan Rodgers.

Despite how well the Reds may have actually played throughout that time, they need results to succeed in the EPL. The club is currently sat in the relegation zone, and need to start picking up points as soon as possible.

An away match at Norwich seems like their best chance yet to pick up their maiden win of the season. The Canaries sit just a single spot above them on the table in 17th position and don't look like providing any serious competition for the top sides this year.

Surely this is the week where it all comes together for Liverpool. Surely.

4. The Return of Wayne Rooney

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will make his return from injury this weekend after sitting on the sidelines for four weeks with a leg gash.

The striker actually returned for the Red Devils in midweek in a game against Newcastle United in the Capital One Cup, but this will be his first Premier League match since the injury.

Whilst the England international has been out, new addition Robin van Persie has shown that he hasn't lost any of the goal-scoring class that he had last season. He has netted five EPL goals already to lead all scorers through the opening five weeks.

How his involvement in the Red Devils' attack will fare with the return of Rooney still remains to be seen, and is bound to be one of the more interesting storylines to watch this week.

5. Just How Good Are Tottenham Hotspur?

Andre Villas-Boas' revolution at White Hart Lane is bound to take some time, but with the depth of talent and skill currently available at the North London club, there's no reason why they cannot genuinely challenge for a spot in the top four this season.

Jan Vertonghen, Gareth Bale, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Moussa Dembele, Clint Dempsey—all world-class players who currently reside at the club. What's more, all of them have the potential to turn Tottenham into a very good Premier League team this year.

Spurs haven't lost this year since their defeat on opening day to Newcastle on the road, so just how good can this team be once they truly get going?

Playing Manchester United at Old Trafford will surely provide an excellent gauge of exactly where this team is, and what we can expect from them this season.

6. Can the Goalless End Their Streak?

It was all smiles for Papiss Cisse and Alan Pardew at Newcastle United last season. The striker was netting goals at will and dominating opposition all over the pitch.

However, it hasn't exactly been the same this year for Cisse, who is yet to record a Premier League goal through the opening five matches.

In fact, Cisse is only one of a number of forward players who haven't netted in the EPL this season.

Juan Mata, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Wayne Rooney, Clint Dempsey, Mario Balotelli, Antonio Valencia, Carlton Cole, Grant Holt—the list goes on and on and on.

Who can break their goal-scoring drought this weekend?

7. Will West Brom Continue to Impress?

One of the genuine sleepers in this year's competition, West Bromwich Albion, have started the season in excellent style.

The Baggies are currently sitting in the top four, and have a great opportunity to extend that solid start when they take on Aston Villa this weekend.

West Brom have big wins over Liverpool and Everton, and while they are clearly a better side at the Hawthorns than they are on the road, Aston Villa shouldn't pose too much of a threat.

Villa appear to have already played their biggest match of the year, beating Manchester City in the Capital One Cup earlier this week. It was a wonderful moment and a result that is sure to buoy the Villans throughout the season when times are tough.

However, I still think that it could all come crashing down for them this week if West Brom show up and attempt to make a statement as to why they are a top-class team in the Premier League this season.

What are you most looking forward to seeing this weekend?

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