Premier League Week 5 Fixtures: EPL TV Schedule, Live Stream and Predictions
The fifth week of the Premier League season will be dominated by the heavyweight clash between Manchester City and Chelsea.
The former are the reigning champions, while the latter are many people's favourites for this season's crown, following a summer of excellent transfer business.
Away from the marquee clash at the top of the table, a lot of focus will be on Arsenal. Manager Arsene Wenger's team has stumbled through the start of a season that was supposed to herald a new era of success following last season's FA Cup win.
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However, three draws in a row, along with misfiring key players, have put the Gunners under a lot of pressure. A trip to a suddenly more resolute Aston Villa could pile on the misery for Wenger and his brittle squad.
Here's the full list of this week's fixtures, along with television and live streaming information, as well as predictions:
| Fixture | Date | Time | TV | Stream | Prediction |
| Queens Park Rangers vs. Stoke City | Saturday, September 20 | 12.45 p.m. BST / 7.45 a.m. ET | BT Sport 1 / NBCSN | BT Sport App / NBC Sports Live Extra | 1-2 Stoke win |
| Aston Villa vs. Arsenal | Saturday, September 20 | 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET | NBCSN | NBC Sports Live Extra | 2-2 |
| Burnley vs. Sunderland | Saturday, September 20 | 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET | NBC Sports Live Extra | 1-1 | |
| Newcastle United vs. Hull City | Saturday, September 20 | 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET | NBC Sports Live Extra | 2-1 Newcastle win | |
| Swansea City vs. Southampton | Saturday, September 20 | 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET | NBC Sports Live Extra | 1-1 | |
| West Ham United vs. Liverpool | Saturday, September 20 | 5.30 p.m. BST / 12.30 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 / NBC and mun2 | Sky Go / NBC Sports Live Extra | 2-1 West Ham win |
| Leicester City vs. Manchester United | Sunday, September 21 | 1.30 p.m. BST / 8.30 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 / CNBC | Sky Go / NBC Sports Live Extra | 2-3 United win |
| Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Bromwich Albion | Sunday, September 21 | 1.30 p.m. BST / 8.30 a.m. ET | NBC Sports Live Extra | 1-0 Spurs win | |
| Everton vs. Crystal Palce | Sunday, September 21 | 4 p.m. BST / 11 a.m. ET | NBC Sports Live Extra | 2-0 Everton win | |
| Manchester City vs. Chelsea | Sunday, September 21 | 4 p.m. BST / 11 a.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 / NBCSN and Telemundo | Sky Go/ NBC Sports Live Extra | 3-1 City win |
Stream Links: BT Sport App. Sky Go. NBC Sports Live Extra.
A shock could be in store when West Ham host a Liverpool side that just seems primed for a fall at the moment. The fear factor has been steadily diminishing in Brendan Rodgers' team since controversial genius Luis Suarez left for Barcelona.
Ironically, it will be Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, the antithesis of the stylish, attacking football Rodgers loves, who exposes the decline.
Elsewhere, Liverpool's great rival Manchester United will continue to be buoyed by mega-money new arrivals. In particular, £59.7 million schemer Angel Di Maria will torment Leicester and be the catalyst for a two-goal win.
Here's a closer look at this week's two most notable fixtures:
Aston Villa vs. Arsenal
Wenger has got more than a few problems at the moment. He's missing top striker Olivier Giroud and right-back Mathieu Debuchy through long-term injuries.
The Gunners chief is also regularly facing questions about his choice of formation. Wenger has opted for a 4-1-4-1 look this season in a clear attempt to get as many of Arsenal's centralised attacking midfielders on the pitch as possible.
However, the team seems to lack coherence in its new structure. In particular, £42.5 million playmaker Mesut Ozil is floundering.
He's been pushed to the left flank in the new look. It doesn't help that the switch in positions hasn't improved form that has been poor since the second half of last season.
Wenger has been forced to defend Ozil after every game. His most recent attempt to quell the criticism cited Ozil's involvement at the 2014 FIFA World Cup as a factor in his struggles, per Jack De Menezes of The Independent:
"The criticism is unfair because it's post-World Cup. It takes a few months for them to get back to their best.
Fans need to be patient. You want your best players in every game but you have to be united and go through hard periods.
Why should Özil be a scapegoat? We've lost one game since 1 April [in the Premier League]. We had very difficult games against teams like Besiktas.
Everybody judges players on one game but football is played with many ups and downs.
"
Working out what to do with Ozil is a puzzle Wenger must solve and fast. There's no denying the mercurial 25-year-old is a terrific talent, but how long can Wenger wait for him to perform?
It's a conundrum Amy Lawrence of The Guardian has spelled out well:
"So what is Wenger’s plan now? Does he keep Özil in the team and hope he summons some hunger, some rhythm? Or does he contemplate the double effect of dropping him? Not only would it give a player such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Tomas Rosicky the opportunity to add some drive to the collective, it would also be fascinating in the long run as a test of Özil’s character. Does he have the personality to react?
"
It will be fascinating to see what Wenger decides at Villa Park and how Ozil reacts to the storm of negativity currently hovering over him.
At least Wenger has received positive news on the injury front. The embattled Frenchman confirmed that midfielders Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Flamini, along with defender Calum Chambers, are available, per Arsenal.com.
Wenger will need his squad close to full strength and at its best to deal with a confident Villa group. Manager Paul Lambert has solidified things by installing a two-man shield in front of his defence.
Fabian Delph and United loanee Tom Cleverley are a stout deep-lying duo. They can give Villa security at the back, as well as encouraging the team to be more expressive and bold in attack.
Forward Gabriel Agbonlahor's pace has caused Wenger's teams major problems in the past. He could again be a nightmare for the Gunners.
Manchester City vs. Chelsea
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea couldn't win the league last season. But his team did beat City's eventual champions twice.
The second win, a 1-0 triumph at City's Etihad Stadium, portrayed Mourinho as a tactical guru. Meanwhile, City boss Manuel Pellegrini was painted as naive for playing two strikers.
BBC Sport writer Phil McNulty gave contrasting assessments of both managers:
"The talk about Mourinho erecting a defensive screen to stifle free-scoring City proved to be nonsense. Yes, Chelsea were fiercely disciplined at the back, with John Terry and Gary Cahill outstanding, but the key to this win was a counter-attacking plan that played on City's nerves and vulnerabilities.
Mourinho used Nemanja Matic and David Luiz to anchor midfield, so releasing Eden Hazard, Willian and Ramires to run at City in support of Samuel Eto'o. Terry revealed days of specific planning had been put in by Mourinho and it showed.
Pellegrini's default option is to attack - and if that does not work, attack some more. It has worked brilliantly for so much of the season but not here. Barcelona, forthcoming Champions League opponents, will have taken note of Mourinho's success.
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Yet for all the talk of tactics, it was Pellegrini who won the race for silverware. Frankly, his attack-minded team were a breath of fresh air in modern football's era of congratulating negation as tactical innovation.
Pellegrini's current squad still has the weapons to trouble a Chelsea team that has been superb going forward but can't shake hints of fragility at the back.
By signing midfield pass-master Cesc Fabregas and free-scoring striker Diego Costa this summer, Mourinho has revitalised Chelsea's attack. That partnership is currently the most devastating in the league.
However, the Blues have still conceded seven goals in five matches in all competitions this season. Those who can survive the early onslaught from Costa, Fabregas and Co. will find they can have joy against this Chelsea defence.
City might weather the storm thanks to their midfield power embodied by towering trio Yaya Toure, Fernandinho and Fernando. If Pellegrini's men don't fall behind early, they will stun Chelsea with an impressive win.
