EPL Week 5 Predictions: Picks for Each Club in Upcoming Weekend Slate

The Premier League has gotten off to a high-flying start for the 2013-14 campaign, and it's only set to continue heating up as the schedule wears on.

There have been a handful of surprises early on in the season slate—from Liverpool's success, to Aston Villa's lack of success, to Manchester United and Manchester City's waffling—but it's only getting better by the week as clubs position themselves for a long run toward the title.

Let's take a look at predictions for each match on the weekend slate, as well as a breakdown of the biggest showdowns.

Note: an updated table of EPL standings can be found at PremierLeague.com.

Liverpool vs. Southampton 

No club has impressed more given the expectations than the boys at Anfield, who have a solid 10 points in their first four matches played—good for the lone spot at the top of the table through four weeks of play.

They're set for a fortunate pairing on Saturday, as Southampton come to town preparing to face arguably their first top-six-caliber opponent in a hostile environment.

Despite the fact that Reds manager Brendan Rodgers retained prized striker Luis Suarez over the transfer period, it hasn't been the Uruguayan leading Liverpool to victories. Instead, Daniel Sturridge has come on with four goals in as many matches.

Just as well, Liverpool's defense has been impenetrable, holding Manchester United to a clean sheet and not giving up a goal until their fourth match. 

If Sturridge can score for his fifth straight game at home, Liverpool should be too much to handle for a Southampton squad that needs to get some experience playing upper-tier squads.

Prediction: Liverpool 2, Southampton 0

Cardiff City vs. Tottenham

Only a few weeks removed from playing their first ever Premier League match, Cardiff City have become one of the surprise stories of the EPL with five points in four matches.

Cardiff City faced a tall task in their first ever home Premier League match against Manchester City, and came out with a 3-2 victory over the 2011/12 title winners. To prove that wasn't a fluke, they drew at home to Everton and notched a 1-1 tie on the road against Hull City.

Meanwhile, Tottenham is entering a tough transition with the recent departure of Gareth Bale. They've done well to minimize that damage thus far, but it's bound to catch up to them—especially against an easily-overlooked foe such as Cardiff.

Fraizer Campbell has led a Cardiff attack that has seen its fair share of success thus far in the EPL season slate, and he'll do so again by way of a big one point against a club that could still very well finish in the top four this season.

Prediction: Cardiff City 1, Tottenham 1

Manchester City vs. Manchester United

It just doesn't get much better than this—whether you're talking about the Premier League, or world football in general.

Coming off another Premier League title, Manchester United look poised to welcome in the David Moyes era with more of the same. Led by a formidable attacking duo of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, United are hoping to build off a dominating 2012-13 run.

Meanwhile, City followed up their title campaign from two seasons ago by underperforming and allowing their crosstown rivals to stroll to the top of the table and ease out of the final few weeks of the season.

The Manchester derby has a flair for the dramatic—and this year, with high expectations on both sides and hopes for a title, should be no exception. This matchup is a push in most circumstances, so the advantage goes to the home squad. 

Prediction: Manchester City 3, Manchester United 2

West Ham vs. Everton

Coming off an upset win, momentum tends to ride with that club and that will take Everton to three points despite going on the road Saturday.

Everton picked up a thrilling 1-0 victory over Chelsea this past weekend to move up in the standings, while West Ham struggled to a scoreless draw on the road against Southampton.

The road team isn't only coming off an improbable win, but also a solid 2012/13 league season as they finished in the top six by holding off Liverpool. 

If Everton's aspirations this season are for a top-six (or better) finish, they need to pick up points in matches like this. After drawing on the road against Cardiff City earlier in the season, they could use some road wins. 

Expect Everton's recent familiarity playing against elite EPL clubs to show in a road win.

Prediction: Everton 2, West Ham 1