EPL Week 5 Predictions: Premier League Picks, Key Players and Fixtures
After a hiatus for the international break, the 2019-20 Premier League season gets back under way on Saturday.
League leaders Liverpool kick off the fifth round of action when they host Newcastle United at Anfield. Champions Manchester City visit Norwich City in Saturday's late kick-off.
Manchester United will be aiming to break a three-match winless run when they host Leicester City, and Chelsea visit Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Schedule
Saturday, September 14
12:30 p.m. BST/7:30 a.m. ET: Liverpool vs. Newcastle United (Liverpool)
3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Burnley (Draw)
3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET: Manchester United vs. Leicester City (United)
3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET: Sheffield United vs. Southampton (Southampton)
3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace (Spurs)
3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Chelsea (Draw)
5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. ET: Norwich City vs. Manchester City (Man City)
Sunday, September 15
2 p.m. BST/9 a.m. ET: Bournemouth vs. Everton (Everton)
4:30 p.m. BST/11:30 a.m. ET: Watford vs. Arsenal (Draw)
Monday, September 16
8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET: Aston Villa vs. West Ham United (West Ham)
Players to Watch
Sadio Mane, Liverpool
We're only four matches into the new season, and Liverpool's superlative front three of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino are already in fine form.
Between them, they have scored seven of the Reds' 12 goals during their perfect start to the campaign.
In Liverpool's most recent outing against Burnley, though, Mane was visibly furious when he left the pitch in the 85th minute, apparently because of Salah's failure to set him up for the Reds' potential fourth goal moments earlier.
There will be concerns among Liverpool fans about the relationship between two of their star forwards:
But any lingering issues could be solved with another victory against Newcastle.
The Magpies started the new season with back-to-back defeats but then beat Spurs away before getting a point against Watford last time out.
They will sit deep at Anfield, meaning the hosts will have to be clinical in breaking them down. Mane, Firmino and Salah have more than enough ability to do that, and if they are anywhere near their best, Liverpool should win comfortably.
But it will be crucial for Mane to prove that his outburst at Burnley was an anomaly in order to prevent it becoming a bigger issue.
Harry Maguire, Manchester United
The Red Devils made a superb start to the new campaign with a 4-0 home win over Chelsea.
In that match, £80 million summer signing Harry Maguire made a fine debut:
Since, though, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have failed to keep a clean sheet and have dropped points against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace and Southampton.
In the home defeat to Palace, Maguire was partially at fault for Jordan Ayew's opener:
If United are going to be able to compete again at the top of the Premier League table, they must tighten their defence. Maguire has the quality to be a vital player for the Red Devils in their rebuild, and he will be eager to make his presence known against former club Leicester City on Saturday.
He will be familiar with the danger posed by the likes of Jamie Vardy, James Maddison and Marc Albrighton. And given the quality of United's attack, if Maguire can help his new side to keep a clean sheet, they should pick up their second win of the season.
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