Premier League Matchday 5 Predictions
Two of Attacking Football’s writers, Alex and Yassin, went head-to-head this week ahead of Matchday 3 of the 24/25 Premier League season and gave their thoughts.
Check out the matchday four predictions to see how the lads did!
Premier League Matchday 5 Predictions & Previews
West Ham vs Chelsea
West Ham: The Hammers have had a mixed bag of a start to their 24/25 Premier League campaign, winning two, losing two, and drawing one. With the fixtures they had, some would say this is a strong start, considering all factors. West Ham will go into this London Derby confidently, as Chelsea has only managed to win once at the London Stadium since West Ham moved in, making this fixture a happy day for the hammers of recent years.
Chelsea: Chelsea were lucky to beat Bournemouth. The Cherries had the better chances; Sanchez saved a penalty and dominated most of the proceedings. Every Chelsea game this season has been a rollercoaster. The Blues are progressing in attack but still make amateur defensive mistakes. Chelsea constantly struggle at the London Stadium.
Predictions:
Alex’s prediction: 2-0 West Ham. More Derby Day blues for the Blues as they fail to beat West Ham away from home. West Ham will perform well, capitalising on Chelsea’s defensive errors.
Yassin’s prediction: 3-2 West Ham. West Ham followed a not-so-good performance against City with another not-so-good one against Fulham. They conceded 1.54 Xg and four big chances to Fulham. Both teams play open, expansive football. Michail Antonio always scores against Chelsea. West Ham wins this London Derby because their season spirals out of control.
Liverpool vs Bournemouth
Liverpool: As Alex correctly predicted, Liverpool succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend in a performance that was probably worthy of victory. They just couldn’t finish their dinner, similar to Bournemouth vs. Chelsea. However, their performances have been there, and I don’t feel like Bournemouth will cause too much of an issue.
Bournemouth: The Cherries did everything against Chelsea except score. Their bad finishing cost them three points easily against the Blues. They were one of the best teams performance-wise at the start of the season, although their points total does not reflect that.
Predictions
Alex’s prediction: 3-0 Liverpool. Brilliant bounce back from Liverpool as they show their class and quality in their performance, brushing aside a Bournemouth side who don’t put up a challenge.
Yassin’s prediction: 2-1 Liverpool. The Reds put in a bad performance against Forest and lost at Anfield. Liverpool found their mojo against Milan at San Siro. Bournemouth are a better team than Forest, but it is difficult to see Liverpool losing two consecutive games at Anfield to mid-table teams.
Tottenham vs Brentford
Tottenham: Tottenham were not very good against Arsenal. After the first 30 minutes, the Lilywhites did not create anything and played into Arsenal’s hands. They need a win, as four points from four games is not good enough. Frustration is starting to appear in the Australian manager’s statements.
Brentford: The Bees have had a decent start to their season, winning two and losing three. However, these losses came against Newcastle, Liverpool, and Manchester City, so they were somewhat expected on paper. Brentford have done well to fill the Ivan Toney-shaped hole in their squad; however, their form could stutter with Wissa now out for an extended period with an ankle injury.
Predictions
Alex’s prediction: 2-1 Brentford. Pressure increasing on Ange, combined with the way Brentford plays, could cause major transitional issues for Tottenham, leading to their demise and subsequent defeat as they cannot break down the Brentford low block.
Yassin’s prediction: 2-1 Brentford. Brentford are experts in setting in a low block, playing on the counter, and benefiting from set pieces. Tottenham plays in a high line, does not dismantle low blocks, and struggles against set pieces. The Bees sting Tottenham at White Hart Lane, making Postegoclu’s seat hotter.
Aston Villa vs Wolves
Aston Villa: The Villans are one of the best teams in the league. They create chances for fun; they have nine points from four games. The only issue Villa struggles with is finishing their chances. Villa opponents always seem to find their shooting boots against them. They conceded six goals from 5.85 Xga.
Wolves: Wolves have had a slow start to their season and will have another tough test with Villa next. They struggled in front of the goal and were leaky in the back. Gaining points against the very on-form Aston Villa will be a considerable challenge.
Predictions
Alex’s prediction: 4-0 Villa. The Vilans dismantled the Wolves, and total domination from the Claret and Blue side swept aside the woeful Wolves on the day.
Yassin’s prediction: 3-1 Villa. Wolves had a bad start to the season and did not finish their chances anyway. The Birmingham Lions, motivated by their dismantling of Young Boys in midweek, finally have an easy win this season.
Southampton vs Ipswich Town
Southampton: The Saints were on top vs United for the best part of 35 minutes up until Cameron Archer’s woeful penalty miss. This miss resulted in a squad-wide flip in mentality, which led to them concerning three and a red card on a miserable Saturday afternoon for Russell Martin’s men. Ipswich is up next, and although Ipswich won both home and away vs Southampton last season, both games could have gone either way.
Ipswich Town: Ipswich are starting to get some points. The draw against a team of Brighton quality is a good result. They now have a rematch against a team they used to play against last season. They beat Southampton home and away last season in the Championship.
Predictions
Alex’s prediction: 2-1 Southampton. It’s finally time for Russell Martin to get his first points on the board as Southampton’s gaffer in the Premier League. A dominant performance that could of been worthy of even more goals for the Saints.
Yassin’s prediction: 2-0 Ipswich. The Tractor Boys know how to beat the Saints. Southampton does not score goals even when they create chances. Ipswich is starting to amass points and grow in confidence, and they play an opponent whose quality is close to theirs. Kieran Mckenna’s squad gets their first win of the season.
Fulham vs Newcastle
Fulham: Fulham dominated the Hammers, creating chance after chance but not finishing them. While they only have five points, Fulham is underperforming its Xg and overperforming its Xga.
Newcastle: Newcastle have had a cracking start to the season, with late goals vs. Wolves netting all three points. They remain unbeaten in 24/25.
Predictions
Alex’s prediction: 3-2 Newcastle. A close encounter on the Thames leaves Fulham dismayed, and the Geordie faithful delighted as Newcastle edges out 3-2 winners in a close-contested tie.
Yassin’s prediction: 2-0 Fulham. Newcastle has been overperforming their Xg. They have conceded only three goals from opponents’ 7.59 Xga, which signals that their opponents created enough chances but did not finish them. The way Newcastle is winning is not sustainable, and Fulham will be the first team to punish them for their below-par performances.
Leicester vs Everton
Leicester: Leicester were unlucky not to pick up full points vs. Crystal Palace on Saturday. A controversial offside decision led to one of Palace’s goals, leaving boss Steve Cooper fuming at Full Time, especially when his side could have easily taken the points.
Everton: The Toffees blew two consecutive 2-0 leads. They conceded 13 goals since the start of the season. Their defence is atrocious, and they score based on individualism. At least they are scoring now.
Predictions
Alex’s prediction: 1-1. Neither team wins; a boring score draw in which very little is created from either side demonstrates their lack of quality.
Yassin’s prediction: 2-2. Nobody knows which one of these two teams is worse. They blow leads; they concede goals for fun. They don’t create the chances. This feels like a relegation six-pointer that will end in a draw. At least Leicester has some points.
Manchester United vs Crystal Palace
Manchester United: For 30 minutes against the Saints, United looked like the newly promoted team. For the rest of the game, they looked like title contenders. The Red Devils steamrolled over Barnsley mid-week, and confidence levels are rising at Old Trafford.
Crystal Palace: Palace have had a rough and bumpy start to the 24/25 season, and not one most would have expected after the fantastic end to last season for the Eagles. Glasner’s side have been somewhat underwhelming at both ends of the pitch. Similar to United…
Predictions
Alex’s prediction: 2-1 Palace. A result that feels like it’s written in the stars and one that feels like it happens often. Palace dominate United at Old Trafford, leaving home supporters sunned at the abysmal display
Yassin’s prediction: 3-1 Manchester United. Palace did not have a good start to the season. They try to dominate the game and possession. They conceded seven goals in four games, but the Eagles did not play against elite opponents. Ten Hag looked done last season at Selhurst Park, but he finally gets his first win there in this game.
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest
Brighton: The Seagulls had 1.66 Xg, created three big chances and had 21 shots against Ipswich but could not find the net. Although they had a great start to the season against tough opponents, Brighton tends to struggle against opponents they are expected to beat.
Nottingham Forest: Forest proved to be the Premier League underdogs as they pulled off a historic 1-0 win at Anfield last weekend. Their pace and power in the forward line can hurt any side. However, Brighton is compact and resilient when defending, so it will be an exciting contest.
Predictions
Alex’s prediction: 3-1 Brighton. The Albion show their class and quality as they dismantle Nuno’s side and really put their name into the hat for a potential top-four place come the end of May.
Yassin’s prediction: 2-1 Forest. Nuno Esprito knows how to nullify a team that plays expansive football. Forest are brimming with confidence, and they have eight points from four games. They used the Liverpool blueprint to win another unexpected win at the Amex stadium.
Manchester City vs Arsenal
Manchester City: City have had their usual start to the season with Haaland proving to everyone he is still an absolute Machine and proved so again vs. Brentford last time out, where he scored a brace after a sensational Ederson assist.
Arsenal: Arsenal has 10 points from four games. The Gunners fans will be grateful because their team is still not playing to its potential. In the NLD, they were pragmatic, setting in a low/midblock, trying to nullify Spurs and snatch a win through a counter or a set piece. Arteta pragmatism won them the NLD.
Predictions
Alex’s prediction: 1-0 Arsenal. A resilient Etihad performance that will go down into the history books with Arsenal scoring early and taking a leaf out of Inter’s book from Wednesday night and sitting deep in a low block and waiting for any transitional chances to come their way where they can try hurt City even more.
Yassin’s prediction: 3-1 Manchester City. Arsenal scored six goals from 6.58 Xg. They conceded only once from 4.5 Xga. Manchester City are not Tottenham. Pep is not Ange Postegoclu. Guardiola always finds a tactical innovation for opponents he struggled against in the season before. The Citizens have Haaland making it inconceivable that they don’t finish their chances like most of the Gunner’s early-season opponents. Pep beats his student after failing to do it last season, and City makes it a five-point lead at the top of the table.
And of course, check out Scott’s predictions over on our Tik Tok!
The current scores:
| Predictor | Points Last Week | Total Points |
|---|---|---|
| Alex | 7 | 22 |
| Yassin | 6 | 16 |
| Scott | 6 | 21 |
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