Premier League Week 5 Predictions: Teams on Course for Victory This Weekend

There’s never a “sure thing” in any sport, despite how favourably the odds may be for one side.

This campaign has already given us its fair share of upsets, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea all being stung by smaller opposition.

However, some of the division’s more in-form outfits are ready to keep their current trajectory going for a while longer, and look like a safe bet to claim three points this weekend.

Liverpool

Prediction: Liverpool 1-0 Southampton

Although their 2-2 draw away at Swansea City this weekend blemished Liverpool’s 100 percent record, Brendan Rodgers’ side can be satisfied with the result given that they were firmly under the thumb for a lot of that game.

This weekend sees the Reds pitted against a Southampton side who have been struggling to make things happen in the final third of the pitch thus far and have now gone two games without scoring a goal.

Rodgers’ defence has been especially solid at Anfield so far this season, and even though Mamadou Sakho will clearly take some time in adapting to the new surroundings, Liverpool should be able to stage a shutout against the Saints.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men face a hard trip to Merseyside. Barring a sudden change in dynamic from Pablo Osvaldo or Rickie Lambert, they are all but set for a loss.

Arsenal

Prediction: Arsenal 1-0 Stoke City

What’s been encouraging about Arsenal’s most recent form is not how well their summer signings are performing, but how well the club’s more long-term features are finally raising their game.

Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey have both been firing on all cylinders of late and will look to break down a Stoke City defence that left Manchester City looking clueless last weekend, drawing 0-0.

Mesut Ozil should again be playmaker-in-chief against the Potters, but it’s more a case of how the Gunners can protect a clean sheet, as goals look assured for the North London club right now.

Manchester United

Prediction: Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United

The first Manchester derby for both David Moyes and Manuel Pellegrini marks the first time since 1986 that two new managers of both clubs will manage the fixture.

A good luck charm for City of late, Howard Webb will referee the match, as announced by ESPN:

United have bounced back well from their Liverpool defeat and head into this fixture with three points firmly within their sights, looking to hand their local rivals their second defeat of the campaign.

A 4-2 Champions League group win over Bayer Leverkusen this week showed that the Red Devils still have the ability to win dirty, building on the back of a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Citizens have looked slightly frenetic going forward so far this season, with a draw and loss against Stoke and Cardiff being particular low points. However, a midweek win over Viktoria Plzen could put them in better stead.