Matchday Six of the Premier League Preview and Tips

In last week’s article, we explained that unbeaten Liverpool faced a massive test away to Tottenham Hotspur following the International break, however the Reds produced a superb display away to Spurs to claim a 2-1 win that was actually far more comprehensive than the result suggests and could easily have been a four or five goal victory for the visitors, had they been more clinical in front of goal.

One of the other perfect records in the Premier League going into the weekend was Chelsea and they continued that run with their fifth win in five games, a 4-1 hammering of Cardiff City, achieved despite going a goal down to Neil Warnock’s men. Eden Hazard was the man in form, netting a hattrick to inspire the Chelsea to victory and also to top spot in the table ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

Watford however came unstuck at home to Manchester United, the Hornets losing 2-1 thanks to two rapid-fire first half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling. Andre Gray pulled one back for Watford but United hung on to record their second away win in successive Premier League games.

The other notable result this weekend came on Sunday at Goodison Park where a previously pointless West Ham United put that poor form behind them to stun Everton and claim a 3-1 victory to earn their first points of the season and delight manager Manuel Pellegrini on what was his 65^th birthday.

Here’s the full set of results from Matchday Five.

Premier League Results – Matchday Five

• Tottenham 1-2 Liverpiool
• Bournemouth 4-2 Leicester City
• Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff City
• Huddersfield 0-1 Crystal Palace
• Manchester City 3-0 Fulham
• Newcastle Utd 1-2 Arsenal
• Watford 1-2 Manchester United
• Wolves 1-0 Burnley
• Everton 1-3 West Ham
• Southampton 2-2 Brighton

Premier League Table (18^th Sept 2018)

Leading Goalscorers

5 Goals – Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

4 Goals – Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham), Glenn Murray (Brighton), Romelu Lukaku (Man Utd), Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

Premier League Matchday 6 Preview and Tips

Last week’s games produced a good mix of the expected (big wins for City and Chelsea) and the unexpected (West Ham’s fine win at Everton and Liverpool’s dominant display away to Spurs). We have now taken a look ahead to Matchday Six, the fixtures for which will be played over the weekend. We have outlined the games as well as our tips for each match below.

We landed a very creditable 7/10 correct results last week with our tips, so I am hopeful of hitting a similarly profitable amount this week with the tips I have outlined below.

• Fulham v Watford – Draw

It will be interesting to see how these teams bounce back after defeats by both Manchester clubs last week. For Watford, the loss to United was the first of the season but Fulham’s 3-0 defeat of the City leaves them near the foot of the table and in need of getting something from this game. I’ve been impressed with Fulham’s attack but defensively I see Watford causing them real problems, hence I think this is a game that will finish as a high scoring draw.

• Burnley v Bournemouth – Draw

Burnley have to stop the rot that has seen them lose all of their last four Premier League games sooner rather than later, but they face a Bournemouth side that is in great form following a 4-2 win over Leicester that moved them up to 5^th in the Premier League. The Cherries are confident and flying high and I feel they will take something back with them, but I am backing Sean Dyche to ensure his team get something from this game as I expect the points to be shared.

• Cardiff City v Manchester City – Away Win

Cardiff City have given Arsenal a run for their money at home and now they face an even greater test against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s team did drop two points away at another newly promoted side, Wolves, earlier on in the season but I can’t see Cardiff getting a result here against a City side that are flying at the moment. City to win this one by at least two goals.

• Crystal Palace v Newcastle United – Away Win

Crystal Palace finally got the win their performances have merited last week away to Huddersfield but it was far from convincing. Newcastle are still without a win this season but drew at Cardiff City and I think they could be the shock winners of this weekend. Palace are frustratingly inconsistent at times and I can see Benitez setting his team up to nullify Zaha and pinch a goal on the break and I think that may well be how Newcastle can win this one.

• Leicester City v Huddersfield Town – Home Win

Huddersfield are one of those teams that have a knack of pulling out an unexpected result from somewhere, like they did when earning a draw at Everton. However, I can’t see David Wagner’s men having too much joy here against a Leicester side that should be stung into action following their dismal performance in their 4-2 loss to Bournemouth. In front of their home fans, I expect the Foxes to win this one well.

• Liverpool v Southampton – Home Win

Having gone 2-0 up against Brighton, Mark Hughes was furious as his side conceded two goals to hand the Seagulls a point and now they face a daunting trip to Liverpool, who retained their 100% record with a fine win at Spurs last week. Southampton are well organised but if Liverpool get an early goal, it could be a long, long day for the Saints back line. I am backing Liverpool to win this one relatively comfortably.

• Manchester United v Wolves – Home Win

This for me is one of the most intriguing games of the weekend. Wolves frustrated Manchester City at home a few weeks back and I think they’ll set their stall out to do the same here. United though have won two in a row in the Premier League and I think they’ll want to get that 3-0 home defeat to Spurs out of their system here and I am backing them to do precisely that with a solid home victory against the newly promoted side.

• Brighton v Tottenham – Away Win

Brighton will be delighted with a point following their 2-2 draw with Southampton, Glenn Murray’s last minute penalty handing the Seagulls a vital and rare away point. Tottenham come into this game on the back of two defeats in a row and Maurizio Pochettino will know that they need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible. Brighton are no mugs at home, as Manchester United can attest to, but I think this is the game where Spurs will get their mojo back and claim the win.

• West Ham v Chelsea – Away Win

The fixture computer hasn’t been particularly kind to West Ham but that win at Everton last week will certainly have given Manuel Pellegrini’s team a massive boost. However they now face an unbeaten Chelsea that look in superb shape under Maurizio Sarri and who blew away Cardiff City 4-1 last weekend thanks to Eden Hazard’s superb hattrick. I think this will be a close one but I am backing Chelsea to get the win.

• Arsenal v Everton – Home Win

The Gunners have won their last three Premier League games, albeit somewhat fortunately at times, while Everton’s loss at home to West Ham was the first defeat of the season for Marco Silva’s men. Richarlison is back, which will help Everton a great deal, but I think Arsenal are well set up to exploit Everton’s fitness issues in central defence and the Gunners should get the win here.