Premier League Predictions, Week 5
Welcome back to the weekly predictions, Premier League fans! It's always hard to believe yet another season is underway each time a new one kicks off, and this one felt particularly hard to believe, as it seems like Week 38 of last season on Memorial Day weekend bled seamlessly into a summer filled with international football. But we are, indeed, back!
In fact, we've been back. Nearly a month of play is already in the books, it's true, but I had to allow for a buffer thanks to a Women's World Cup, worldwide travel (related to the aforementioned Cup), and last weekend, a break for international fixtures. But back from the break, with all the attention on the Premier League, at long last I am ready and rarin' to go!
Last season my final tally came out to 70/130, which was good enough for a 53.85% rate on the season. That's not exactly a sterling record, but it is a nearly 2% improvement from my 2021-22 campaign, so we're moving in the right direction! At this rate, by the 2046-47 season, I will complete a perfect year of picks!
Now, the matches are less than 24 hours from kicking off, so let's not waste any more time with sunny optimism. Here are your 5 for Week 5!
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Liverpool
It's been a bit of a slow churn at the start of the season for the new-look Reds, but (LIKELY OVERREACTION ALERT) look a little closer, and it actually eerily mirrors Liverpool's start in both their 97-point 2018/19 season and their quadruple-chasing 21/22 season. A perhaps frustrating 1-1 draw with Chelsea, but otherwise 3 solid wins and within the top 4. Now, before the team and fans alike go booking their tickets for the Europa League Final in Dublin and emotionally preparing to lose the Premier League to Manchester City by 1 point on the last day, they need to prove they're a different team from last season, and tomorrow presents the first great chance to do so. An early kickoff on the road, returning from the international break, an often-stodgy opponent, and several key players missing from injury; it felt like Liverpool had this exact type of match every other week last year, and just about every time lost an ugly 1-0 match. I do think this Liverpool team is improved, but I've seen this story so many times that I can't in good faith pick a Red win.
The Pick: Draw, 1-1
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Sheffield United
No Harry Kane? No problem, at least so far for Tottenham. Under new manager Ange Postecoglou, Spurs opened with a draw at Brentford, but have since rattled off three consecutive victories to slot in at 2nd place heading into the international break, and earn Big Ange Premier League Manager of the Month for August. It's sunnier days in North London, to be sure, but Tottenham fans would do well to be wary; the level of competition will kick up sharply from here, and both Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo earned Manager of the Month in their first months on the job before uncremoniously dismissed. Still, the buy-in from the club is evident, and they should be good enough to dispatch of Sheffield without much trouble.
The Pick: Tottenham, 2-0
Manchester United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Despite the hopes (on one side) and fears (on the other) from supporters of these two clubs that their form might about-face, these two teams have thus far pretty much picked up where they left off from last season. For Manchester United, who finished a good season overall by somewhat sputtering down the stretch, that's meant a choppy first several matches, whereas for Brighton, who were the darling overacheivers last season, they have three wins under their belt, including a domiannt display over Champions League-bound Newcastle, the Gulls' sole blemish coming at West Ham. Couple their current 11th-place standing with off-the-field issues surrounding multiple players, and you would forgive Manchester United fans for feeling as if this is a downright nightmarish start to the 23/24 campaign. Yet, I just can't help but feel as if they're going to come out on top tomorrow. All signs point to Brighton taking at least a point at Old Trafford, if not all 3; Roberto de Zerbi's men might legitimately be the better team at this moment in time. But they always seem to capitulate right as everybody is boarding the hype train, and conversely, around this time last year, everyone was fleeing the Manchester United bandwagon before ten Hag and co. rattled off 10 wins out of 11, including over Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle. In an almost must-win scenario, in front of a home crowd, I imagine tomorrow is when the Red Devils get back on track.
The Pick: Man United, 3-2
West Ham United vs. Manchester City
Speaking of picking up where you left off, there is exactly one Premier League team who has won every single match of the season thus far. Any guesses? Yup, it's three-time defending champions and bidders of the United Arab Emirates royal family, Manchester City. They, too, have a new-look midfield, but thus far it's been the same story: conceding just two goals, while Erling Haaland and his friends belt in 12 on the other end. West Ham's start to the season has been much closer to their Top 4 push in 21/22 than their season-long struggle last year, and get to host this showdown, but City are different gravy.
The Pick: Man City, 3-1
Everton vs. Arsenal
One of the bizarre anomalies of last season was that, in the midst of their title charge, Arsenal lost to releagtion-threatened Everton twice. So far this season, the Gunners once again look the part of contender, while Everton once again look a prime relegation candidate. Arsenal also have a potentially massive North London Derby next weekend they might be looking ahead to. Can lightning strike thrice? Personally, I don't think so. This Toffees team is in dire condition. They real bad.
The Pick: Arsenal, 2-0
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