Premier League Preview: Sep 15-17th 2018

International breaks do exactly that - break up the flow of the domestic football season. This interlude featured the newly minted Nations League, so at least some of the matches were competitive, tight affairs, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the two week gap, so early on in the season, can have an effect on the momentum of the sides in the league who may have got off to a great, or not so great start.

Teams like Liverpool, Watford and Chelsea will be hoping that the time away won't put a pin in the electric starts they've had to their seasons. However, Newcastle and West Ham may well have relished the time on the training ground, and will have delighted in the opportunity to fix up some of the glaring issues they have.

This is your guide to the fifth weekend of the Premier League season - what should you expect from all 20 teams?

Tottenham vs Liverpool, 1230 (GMT +1) on Saturday

Liverpool have started the season with a 100% record over their first 4 games, their best start to a Premier League season ever. They will be hoping to equal Newcastle United's record of 5 wins in a row from the 94/95 season when they take on Spurs at Wembley. It was supposed to be Spurs' first game at their new stadium, but development has stalled so they will once again be taking the field at the national stadium.

The Reds have had an excellent record against the other teams in the big 6 since Jurgen Klopp was appointed manager in 2015, but they haven't always had it so easy against Tottenham. Last time out at Anfield Mo Salah scored a 90th-minute goal to put them 2-1 up before Harry Kane scored a contentious penalty in the 95th minute to equalise! And the time before that Tottenham ran out 4-1 winners at Wembley. Whatever happens, I don't think it'll be a boring 0-0.

Prediction: Tottenham 2 - 2 Liverpool

Bournemouth vs Leicester City, 1500 (GMT +1) on Saturday

Bournemouth have started the season well and find themselves in 6th place, ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal. But they find themselves without tricky winger Ryan Fraser, who is out with an injury, so will need to look elsewhere for that creative spark.

Leicester, similarly, are without the talismanic Jamie Vardy, though he is out through suspension, not injury. But if James Maddison can continue his early season form then they could be in with a chance of spoiling Bournemouth's party.

Prediction: Bournemouth 1 - 2 Leicester

Chelsea vs Cardiff, 1500 (GMT +1) on Saturday

Chelsea FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League

Chelsea have started the season in imperious form under new manager Maurizio Sarri. He is playing exciting, attacking football unlike his predecessor, Antonio Conte, and unlike Conte (in his second season) he is winning. The Blues are yet to drop a point and Eden Hazard looks rejuvenated after a slump of a year last year. If Sarri can get Alvaro Morata firing on all cylinders up front then they could be ones to watch for the title.

Cardiff meanwhile, have started as pretty much everyone expected they would - poorly. But they have still managed to get two points on the board (one courtesy of a last minute penalty miss by Newcastle's Kenedy) and two goals (although they both came against an Arsenal side whose away form has been abysmal for over a year). Manager Neil Warnock has said that they won't come to Stamford Bridge and park the bus, but that seems like it would be the only way they'd have any chance of getting a third precious point

Prediction: Chelsea 4 - 0 Cardiff

Eden Hazard scored in both of Belgium's internationals over the break

Huddersfield vs Crystal Palace, 1500 (GMT +1) on Saturday

Huddersfield surprised everyone by staying up last season, but manager David Wagner will be hard pressed to repeat the miracle on such a shoestring budget compared to the rest of the league. Crystal Palace also surprised everyone by doing the same thing, but only because they had started the season with a gigantic run of consecutive defeats.

Once Roy Hodgson had got them playing how he wanted then it was only a matter of time before they got out of the relegation zone.

This season they look far more assured, and will be challenging the top half for sure. The Terriers will have another tough match on their hands, even if they are the home team.

Prediction: Huddersfield 0 - 2 Crystal Palace

Manchester City vs Fulham, 1500 (GMT +1) on Saturday

Sergio Aguero says he feels like he's in the shape of his life following knee surgery in April

Man City dropped points away at Wolves, which some may have seen as odd, but Wolves are a decent side, and they also dropped points to Everton early on last season, before going on to record a record-breaking consecutive run of victories. Their home form against lesser teams is also incredible, with Sergio Aguero having scored 11 in his last 7 home league games. He looks sure to continue that form against the newly promoted Fulham.

The Whites aren't renowned for having the best defense in the country, but they'll have to step up their game and hope that Aleksander Mitrovic can keep up his excellent goal-scoring record if they're hoping to get anything out of the game.

Prediction: Manchester City 5 - 0 Fulham

Newcastle vs Arsenal, 1500 (GMT +1) on Saturday

Arsenal had one of the worst away records in the league last season, with humiliating defeats coming from all over the table. The Gunners registered only 4 away wins all year, with their sole victory on the road in 2018 coming after a run of 7 consecutive defeats away from the Emirates. They've already managed one away win so far this season, though that was against Cardiff so they still have a lot to prove.

Newcastle meanwhile have endured a troubled start to the season, and find themselves in the relegation zone with only one point from their opening four games. They need to sort themselves out sharpish or they could be pulled into the season-long relegation battle. They came out 2-1 victors when the sides last faced at St James' Park, but Arsenal are a new beast under Unai Emery than they were under Arsene Wenger, and it seems only a matter of time before they sort themselves out and start playing through teams.

Prediction: Newcastle 1 - 2 Arsenal

Watford vs Manchester United, 1730 (GMT +1) on Saturday

Romelu Lukaku scored twice last time out against Burnley

Watford, like Chelsea and Liverpool, have won their first four games of the season. But unlike those two giants of English football, the fact they have done so is somewhat inexplicable. A remarkable comeback win against Tottenham last time out showed that their form wasn't a flash in the pan. Eagle-eyed stats checkers have spotted that Watford's start to the season has been identical to Leicester's in the season they won the title, so make of that what you will.

Man United suffered a shocking loss to Brighton and a thumping one to Tottenham in back to back games, but seem to have righted the ship somewhat with a convincing takedown of Burnley in their last outing. However, many fans remain unconvinced by manager Jose Mourinho, who has come into a lot of criticism for his style of play. He doesn't really care about that though, and knows that he will only really be judged on results, so that is what he needs to change.

Prediction: Watford 2 - 2 Manchester United

Wolves vs Burnley, 1330 (GMT +1) on Sunday

Wolves were touted by many as serious challengers this season, with a top half finish all but assured. After failing to dispatch a ten man Everton in their opening game the heat cooled on them a little bit, and they were then beaten soundly by Leicester. Since then they've drawn at home to Man City and beaten West Ham on the road so they are starting to show signs that they're getting used to the Premier League.

Burnley had the season of their lives last year, with 7th place getting them a spot in the qualifiers for the Europa League. The qualifying campaign, during which they beat Aberdeen and Bursaspor and came close to knocking out Olympiacos in the playoff round, appeared to be taking it out of them in the domestic league, with only one point on the board so far. With that out of the way they can finally concentrate on moving up the table again, but I don't think Wolves will make it easy for them.

Prediction: Wolves 2 - 0 Burnley

Everton vs West Ham, 1600 (GMT +1) on Sunday

£50m man Richarlison receives his marching orders

Hopes were high for Everton in pre-season, with an exciting new manager and a host of brilliant new signings, including the rapid winger Richarlison, who came from Watford at a cost of £50m. He duly scored 3 goals in his first 2 games, but then got himself sent off against Bournemouth so remains sidelined for this game. He did score a brace in his first start for Brazil in the week though, so the signs are promising for the rest of the season, and the Merseyside team remain unbeaten.

West Ham meanwhile, have started the season with four consecutive losses and are rock bottom in the table. They too have an exciting new manager and a host of brilliant new signings, but we are yet to see any of that promise being fulfilled. Whatever happens, Manuel Pellegrini should be given some more time - he won the Premier League with Man City for heaven's sake - so will surely come good for the Hammers at some point.

Prediction: Everton 2 - 2 West Ham

Southampton vs Brighton, 2000 (GMT +1) on Monday

Southampton beat Brighton 1-0 in the EFL cup a few weeks ago, and picked up their first win of the league season a few days later away at Crystal Palace. Brighton have looked pretty formidable at home, but lackluster on the road, so this would appear to be pretty cut and dry, but you can never be too sure when making predictions in the Premier League. However, I do think that the Saints should run out pretty comfortable winners against the Seagulls.

Prediction: Southampton 2 - 0 Brighton