EPL Predictions and Key Players: Manchester United vs. Liverpool Tops the Action

Gameweek 5 in the English Premier League this weekend features a heavyweight rival clash between Manchester United and Liverpool on Sunday and a bottom-of-the-table clash between Stoke and West Ham.

Here are the possible outcomes and the key players in each game:

Saturday

Stoke vs. West Ham

West Ham, without a point so far this season, will take to the field in Saturday's early kickoff (12:45 BST) without manager Avram Grant and central defender Tal Ben Haim, who will both miss the game in observance of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.

The Hammers have been beaten by Chelsea and Manchester United in their previous two league games and will look forward to not having to play one of the league's top sides, although they meet Stoke having failed to score in an away match this season.

Stoke themselves came from a goal down to win, 2-1, late against Aston Villa on Monday for their first three points of the season. Kenwyne Jones scored in that game and will likely be Stoke's main threat again on Saturday, while the unpredictable Ricardo Fuller will hope to be in the starting lineup after an impressive performance against Villa.

Sooner or later West Ham have to pick up their first points of the season but I can't see it being on Saturday. They have yet to settle on a formation which gives their key players the freedom to attack, and Keiron Dyer, one of their main threats in recent games, needs to get a run of games under his belt after his long injury absences.

Prediction: 2-0

Aston Villa vs. Bolton

While new boss-to-be Gerard Houllier takes over after this match, his new charges will be keen to impress him at home where they have won both their games this season.

Youngsters Marc Albrighton and Barry Bannan may get another chance to feature in the squad under Kevin MacDonald but with Gabby Agbonlahor returning and Stewart Downing in goal-scoring form of late, Villa have plenty of options in attack. Houllier hasn't even taken over properly yet and already the papers are filled with rumours about players he wants to sign, so whoever starts at Villa will certainly have their work cut out to cement their place in the team.

Bolton will be without suspended defender Gary Cahill as well as Finnish goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, so Adam Bogdan will continue to deputise in goal. Forward Johan Elmander has netted three times for Bolton this season and will look to continue his run in front of goal.

Owen Coyle is slowly putting the pieces in place to shape the team in his own image but I fancy a home win here for Villa before Houllier takes over.

Prediction: 2-1

Blackburn vs. Fulham

Fulham have started the season strongly and are unbeaten so far under Mark Hughes in the Premiership, but Ewood Park is a tough place to go. Rovers claimed a respectable point against Manchester City last weekend and, in Nikola Kalinic and the two Dioufs, they pose a threat in attack.

Bobby Zamora's broken leg and damaged ankle ligament will keep him sidelined for several months, but Fulham will be hopeful of coping without him in attack as Moussa Dembele has made a promising start to his Fulham career. Clint Dempsey or Zoltan Gera are likely to partner him in attack.

This could turn out to be a scrappy midfield battle, but I'm betting attack will come out on top of defence in an action-filled draw.

Prediction: 2-2

Everton vs. Newcastle

The Toffees have had a very poor start to the season that sees them lying in 19th place and without a win. However last weekend's magnificent late comeback against Manchester United—from 1-3 down to 3-3 in the last minutes of injury time—should give them a big confidence boost.

David Moyes is yet to settle on a regular centre forward, with Louis Saha, Jermaine Beckford, Tim Cahill and Ayegbeni Yakubu all featuring in the role recently. Sylvain Distin had a terrible game against United but in Phil Jagielka, Tim Howard and Mikel Arteta they have some talented players.

Newcastle have had a bit of a yo-yo season already, with a big win against Aston Villa and a respectable away draw to Wolves tempered by last week's defeat at home to Blackpool. Andy Carroll has been impressing everybody up front and has been ably supported by Kevin Nolan and Wayne Routledge, but doubts remain over their defensive solidity. Manager Chris Hughton will hope that summer signing Sol Campbell is fit enough to play soon.

Everton will no doubt get a run of form soon and start climbing the table but I'm backing the Magpies to sneak a point on Saturday.

Prediction: 1-1

Tottenham vs. Wolves

Spurs had an exhilarating midweek fixture in the Champions League and this will be their first real experience of playing two high-profile games in quick succession and it remains to be seen whether they suffer from the so-called "Champions League hangover."

Rafael van der Vaart picked up a knock in the game but is not expected to be sidelined for long, which manager Harry Redknapp will be thankful for given Spurs are already missing Jermaine Defoe and Michael Dawson to long-term injuries.

Wolves have made a steady start to their season, winning one and drawing two of their four matches, with their first loss coming last week at Fulham. Kevin Doyle has been playing well and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake has netted twice, which already equals his total for the whole of last term.

Wolves have the potential to cause Spurs some problems if they are at all tired and not able to bring their best passing game, but I think the home side will have too much, especially since Redknapp is able to switch attackers if need be as only Crouch started midweek.

Prediction: 3-1

West Brom vs. Birmingham

The Baggies have won and drawn at home this season and, with Peter Odemwingie and Marc-Antoine Fortune, have more of a goal threat about them now. They restricted Liverpool to just a one-goal victory at Anfield and held Tottenham to a draw last week, so are no pushovers despite only being promoted this season.

Technically sound and well organised under Roberto Di Matteo, West Brom have tried to address their major problem: a lack of cutting edge and goal threat. Chris Brunt possesses a fierce shot from range, which will trouble many 'keepers this season.

Birmingham also picked up a good draw last week at home to Liverpool in a match they could have won by halftime had Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina not been in exceptional form. Cameron Jerome provides the main goal threat for Birmingham but they also have a sound rearguard with Ben Foster in goal and Roger Johnson and Scott Dann in defence. A good season for the Blues last season was based on hard work and a consistent team and they will no doubt look to build on that this term.

New signing Nikola Zigic will start firing sooner or later, but both these teams at the moment lack a clinical edge and I'm betting on an entertaining, but ultimately goalless, draw.

Prediction: 0-0

Sunderland vs. Arsenal

Steve Bruce will again be without suspended captain Lee Cattermole after he picked up his second red card of the season last week. New signing Asamoah Gyan may make his full debut after scoring as a substitute last week, with Darren Bent a certainty to start up front.

Sunderland went through spells last season of being very good and being utterly useless, and at the moment they seem to be in a good patch. The trick for Bruce will of course be to keep it going this season. They have a fast and potent strike force and a hard-working midfield, though the defence will certainly have their work cut out against Arsenal.

The Gunners battered Portuguese outfit Braga in the midweek Champions League fixture by a 6-0 score, and the fact is that this talented team are capable of doing that to any team when they really turn it on.

Cesc Fabregas and Marouane Chamakh have really clicked early on while Andrey Arshavin, while not being at the top of his game yet, is contributing both goals and assists in equal measure. Alex Song should start leaving Wenger to likely choose between Tomas Rosicky, Samri Nasri, Vassikiri Diaby and Jack Wilshere for the final two slots in his fluid lineup, though Carlos Vela is pressing for a recall after scoring three in his previous two substitute appearances.

Sunderland are a strong team and they won't make it easy for any team at the Stadium of Light, but I expect Arsenal to continue their form and pick up a convincing victory.

Prediction: 1-4

Sunday

Manchester United vs Liverpool 

One of the biggest fixtures of any Premiership season, United vs. Liverpool is a match that usually throws up as many questions as answers about each team.

Individual battles will probably run the game as the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Fernando Torres, Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard, and Wayne Rooney and Jamie Carragher battle against each other for control of the game.

United rested many players from the midweek draw against Rangers and will have the luxury of having an additional two days' rest compared to Liverpool's Europa League match on Thursday night.

Vidic, Dimitar Berbatov, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, and Edwin van der Sar are all certain to come back into the starting eleven, while the injury to Antonio Valencia means Nani should start out wide.

Liverpool's team for the weekend should feature a rested Gerrard and Torres, but certain positions may depend on the fitness of players who featured in the 4-1 win over Steaua Bucharest.

Neither side has made a spectacular start to the campaign, with United yet to win away and Liverpool yet to even score away, so I imagine this will continue in the same vein with both sides having to settle for a point—a result which will probably please Liverpool fans more.

Prediction: 1-1

Wigan vs. Manchester City

Wigan have been shocking for nearly every minute of the season so far, yet still have managed to rack up four points from their four games. A win against Spurs and a point against Sunderland have given the team renewed optimism but a much-improved display will be called for to take maximum points at home to City on Sunday.

One of their problems is that Mauro Boselli has failed to open his scoring account yet, despite several great chances that would have probably gotten his team more points. Hugo Rodallega scored against Spurs and is always a threat but he needs more of his teammates to help him out.

Roberto Mancini has the choice of being able to take out pretty much his entire team, so strong in depth is City's squad these days. Goalkeeper Joe Hart's mistake last week against Blackburn was put behind him in the same game, while Nigel de Jong may return to the squad after missing out.

Carlos Tevez is City's only player to have scored twice this season so far, while the likes of Adam Johnson, David Silva, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jo have all had runs in accompanying him up front. Like Liverpool, they were in action on Thursday night, defeating FC Red Bull Salzburg, 2-0, in the Europa League.

Wigan have had improved results lately but their play has been poor. I'm backing City to return to winning ways at the DW Stadium.

Prediction: 0-2

Chelsea vs. Blackpool

Chelsea rested several players midweek in Champions League play but still did the job, picking up a 4-1 win in the process. Nicolas Anelka netted twice to give his confidence a boost, while Essien made it three goals in two games with another strike. Manager Carlos Ancelotti could hand recalls to Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole and Ramires after they were all left out of the starting lineup.

Free-scoring Chelsea have seen both Drogba and Florent Malouda net four times this season already, with the team scoring 17 times and conceding just once in the Premiership.

Blackpool picked up a valuable three away points last week at Newcastle for their second win of the season. While it is still very early, Ian Holloway's team will be filled with confidence sitting in the Champions League zone.

However, the Tangerines' previous experience of playing an actual Champions League team this season ended in despair: a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal. In all honesty even if Blackpool lose this game, Holloway shouldn't be too downhearted, so long as they keep picking up the points against the teams expected to be around them come the end of the season.

In Luke Varney, DJ Campbell, Marlon Harewood and Gareth Taylor-Fletcher, Blackpool have options in attack and could look to make the most of them instead of trying to defend a much more talented trio of Chelsea forwards.

The home side have won all four Premier League games this season and in all fairness, it is highly unlikely that Blackpool will be the team to end that run—though stranger things have happened in football!

Prediction: 5-0