PL Preview: Any Big Upsets this Weekend?
The PL reaches Matchweek 5 with Arsenal setting the early pace, Manchester City maintaining their perfect start and several clubs already under pressure after difficult opening weeks. Let’s take a closer look at this weekend’s football action from England!
The action begins with an intriguing west London derby on Friday night as unbeaten Brentford welcome Chelsea. Saturday brings five matches, including Arsenal’s difficult visit to Brighton and a meeting between two struggling sides when Tottenham host Aston Villa.
Manchester City will attempt to make it five wins from five when Sunderland visit the Etihad on Sunday, while Manchester United travel to Fulham needing a response after successive defeats to City and Brighton.
Here is our preview of all ten PL matches this weekend.
Brentford vs Chelsea
Friday night’s opener has the ingredients to be one of the most entertaining games of the weekend.
Brentford remain unbeaten after four PL matches, beginning with an impressive 3-0 victory over Tottenham before drawing with Leeds, Sunderland and Bournemouth. Their attacking approach has been particularly notable: the Bees rank third in the division for shots per 90 minutes and have already scored 15 goals across domestic competitions.
Chelsea have been even more entertaining under Xabi Alonso, although not always for the right reasons. Their four PL matches have produced 19 goals, with the new attacking combination of Cole Palmer, João Pedro and £117m signing Morgan Rogers already contributing heavily.
The concern is at the other end. Chelsea conceded three against Brighton and two against Hull, while Arsenal also found a way past them twice.
Brentford are particularly dangerous from set pieces and have registered more attempts from those situations than any other PL side this season. Chelsea’s greatest strength has been almost the opposite: Alonso’s side have been devastating when allowed to counter. That combination should produce an open game.
Chelsea have more individual quality, but Brentford’s unbeaten start and home advantage make an away victory far from straightforward.
Prediction: Brentford 2-2 Chelsea
Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Something has to improve for at least one of these teams. Tottenham have made a dreadful start to the PL season under Roberto De Zerbi, taking only two points from four matches and, remarkably, failing to score a single league goal.
They have lost to Brentford and Newcastle before consecutive 0-0 draws against Nottingham Forest and Everton. Tuesday’s 3-1 League Cup defeat at Liverpool did little to improve the mood.
Aston Villa have hardly been better. Unai Emery’s team have collected only one PL point and finally scored their first league goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Forest. Their performances in other competitions have been better, however. Villa beat Club Brugge 3-2 in the CL before overcoming Coventry 3-1 in the League Cup on Wednesday, with Tammy Abraham scoring twice.
Spurs should at least welcome Pedro Porro back after his muscular problem, which gives De Zerbi another attacking outlet from right-back.
This is difficult to call because neither side has offered much reason for confidence domestically. Villa’s midweek victory and Abraham’s goals may provide a psychological lift, while Tottenham’s failure to score in four consecutive league games is becoming impossible to ignore. We expect a tense game rather than a classic.
Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Aston Villa
Brighton vs Arsenal
This could be Arsenal’s biggest examination of their perfect start. The defending champions have won all four PL games and conceded only once, following victories over Coventry, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Sunderland. They also won away at Napoli in the CL before beating Ipswich 4-2 in Tuesday’s cup tie.
Mikel Arteta could hardly have asked for a stronger opening. Brighton, however, are dangerous. Fabian Hürzeler’s side have seven points and have already scored 13 PL goals, including four against Aston Villa, three at Chelsea and five in Sunday’s demolition of Coventry. They then produced another impressive result on Wednesday, recovering from 2-0 down to eliminate Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford.
Brighton’s attacking options are nevertheless being stretched. Kaoru Mitoma, Yankuba Minteh and Stefanos Tzimas are among those unavailable, while Arsenal’s principal concerns are defensive, with William Saliba out and Jurriën Timber among those whose fitness has required monitoring.
Brighton have enough attacking ambition to make Arsenal uncomfortable, but that same willingness to play forward could leave spaces for the champions.
Arsenal have repeatedly demonstrated that they can win different types of games, and we narrowly favour them to maintain their perfect record.
Prediction: Brighton 1-2 Arsenal
Everton vs Ipswich Town
Everton remain unbeaten since losing their opening game and have quietly put together a solid start.
David Moyes’ side beat Crystal Palace before drawing three consecutive league matches against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Tottenham. They also progressed in the cup on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over Wolves.
The defensive improvement is encouraging. Everton kept Tottenham scoreless last weekend and have conceded only three times across their last four PL matches.
Ipswich arrive with six points and considerably more unpredictability. They beat Sunderland on the opening weekend before suffering heavy defeats against Manchester United and Liverpool, but responded brilliantly at Crystal Palace last Saturday. Zian Flemming’s stoppage-time goal secured a dramatic 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park.
Tuesday’s 4-2 cup defeat to Arsenal showed again that Ipswich can create opportunities but remain vulnerable defensively.
That makes Everton favourites for us. Moyes’ side are currently more difficult to beat, and home advantage at Hill Dickinson Stadium should matter against an Ipswich team that has already conceded heavily against stronger opponents.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Ipswich Town
Newcastle vs Hull City
This looked like a relatively comfortable Newcastle home fixture when the schedule was released. It does not anymore.
Hull are unbeaten in the PL after four matches. Sergej Jakirović’s newly promoted side have already beaten Manchester United and Coventry, drawn with Aston Villa and then produced an excellent performance to earn a 2-2 draw at Chelsea last weekend.
Newcastle, meanwhile, were thrashed 4-1 at Leeds on Monday. Matthias Jaissle’s side had previously taken five points from meetings with Liverpool, Tottenham and Bournemouth, so one poor result should not erase everything positive from their start. The concern is an injury list that includes Dan Burn, Joelinton and Will Osula, while Amar Dedić has also been dealing with a hamstring problem.
Hull have fitness problems of their own and could be without several first-team players, but their organisation has already frustrated multiple PL opponents.
St James’ Park makes Newcastle favourites, particularly with a response required after Monday’s performance. We do not expect Hull to make it easy.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Hull City
Nottingham Forest vs Coventry City
Nottingham Forest finally got the result their early performances had threatened when they beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park last weekend.
Forest had previously drawn away to Liverpool and at home to Tottenham, and their five-point total does not look particularly spectacular. The underlying trend is more encouraging, with their only league defeat coming against an impressive Leeds side.
Coventry’s situation is much more concerning. Frank Lampard’s promoted side have lost all four PL matches without scoring, conceding 10 times in the process. Sunday’s 5-0 home defeat to Brighton was particularly damaging, and Wednesday’s 3-1 cup defeat to Aston Villa means they have now lost five of their last six matches in all competitions.
Lampard also has attacking problems. Taiwo Awoniyi is suspended following a red card and Haji Wright is injured, leaving Coventry without two important centre-forward options.
Forest are not prolific enough to assume this becomes another heavy Coventry defeat, but the difference in confidence is considerable.
At the City Ground, this looks like an excellent opportunity for Forest to record consecutive PL victories.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Coventry City
Bournemouth vs Liverpool
Bournemouth are still searching for their first league victory, but their results deserve some context.
Andoni Iraola’s former club have drawn their last three matches against Everton, Newcastle and Brentford after beginning with a narrow 2-1 defeat at Manchester City. They are therefore winless rather than hopeless, and the Vitality Stadium remains an uncomfortable place for visiting teams.
Liverpool have six points from four games and have also drawn three times. Their goalless home draw with Fulham last weekend was particularly frustrating, although a 3-1 cup victory over Tottenham on Tuesday provided a better response. Liverpool had also beaten Atlético Madrid in the CL immediately before the Fulham game.
The broader issue is consistency. Liverpool have shown flashes of quality without yet controlling league matches as regularly as expected. Their current injury list also remains relevant, with Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa among those unavailable, although Bradley Barcola’s recent issue was not considered serious.
Bournemouth have drawn every game since losing to City, and another close match would not surprise us.
Liverpool still possess greater attacking quality and should eventually find enough openings, but this looks considerably harder than the league positions might suggest.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool
Leeds United vs Crystal Palace
Leeds have been one of the early surprises of the season. Their 4-1 demolition of Newcastle on Monday took them to eight points from four matches, having previously beaten Nottingham Forest and drawn with Brentford and Brighton. Daniel Farke’s side remain unbeaten and already look considerably more comfortable at PL level than many expected.
Crystal Palace have experienced almost the opposite start. They have three points from four matches and lost 3-2 at home to Ipswich last weekend. Injuries have not helped, with Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaïla Sarr, Eddie Nketiah and Chadi Riad among their current absentees.
Palace do possess enough counter-attacking quality to cause Leeds problems, particularly if the hosts become carried away by Monday’s victory and leave too much space behind their defence.
Even so, Elland Road has quickly become an advantage again. Leeds have taken seven points from their last three league matches and should enter this one with far more confidence than Palace.
Prediction: Leeds United 2-1 Crystal Palace
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Manchester City are the only team capable of matching Arsenal’s perfect start and will expect to make it five PL victories from five when Sunderland visit the Etihad.
Enzo Maresca’s team followed their CL victory at Porto by winning 1-0 at Old Trafford last weekend, despite playing much of the Manchester derby with 10 men following Phil Foden’s red card.
Foden is therefore suspended on Sunday, while Jérémy Doku is attempting to recover from a calf problem.
Sunderland should not simply be dismissed. They have seven points after beating Fulham and Hull and drawing at Brentford, although last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal demonstrated the difficulty of competing with the league’s strongest teams.
Régis Le Bris will also be without suspended defender Reinildo Mandava, while Romaine Mundle and Habib Diarra are injured.
The absence of Foden removes one creative option for City, but Maresca still has an enormous advantage in attacking quality, so he probably won’t be too worried about it.
Sunderland may keep this competitive for periods, but anything other than a City victory would be a major surprise.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland
Fulham vs Manchester United
Sunday’s final fixture brings together two teams badly in need of a PL victory.
Fulham are 18th with one point from four games, although their latest performance offered genuine encouragement. Álvaro Arbeloa’s team became the first side to prevent Liverpool from scoring this season when they earned a 0-0 draw at Anfield last Saturday.
They followed that by beating West Ham 3-2 in the cup, giving Arbeloa consecutive encouraging results after three league defeats.
Manchester United are under much greater scrutiny. Michael Carrick’s team have four points from four PL matches and lost the Manchester derby 1-0 on Sunday. Things became considerably worse on Wednesday when United threw away a 2-0 lead against Brighton to lose 3-2 at Old Trafford.
It was the first time in 50 years that United had lost at home after leading by two goals. Carrick described the collapse as unacceptable, and Sunday’s trip to Craven Cottage suddenly carries considerably more pressure than United would have wanted this early in the season.
Carlos Baleba is getting closer to making his United debut after his ankle injury, although this weekend may still come too soon. Fulham, meanwhile, are without Tom Cairney and could again miss Ryan Sessegnon because of a groin problem.
United undoubtedly possess the stronger squad, but current form makes them extremely difficult to trust. Fulham’s display at Anfield suggests Arbeloa is beginning to find a more resilient formula.
A draw would not do much to ease the pressure on either side, but it looks the most plausible outcome.
Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Manchester United
Recommended Bet
Arsenal to beat Brighton at 1.70.
There are several short-priced favourites this weekend, most obviously Manchester City at home to Sunderland and Nottingham Forest against Coventry. Arsenal’s trip to Brighton offers a more interesting test.
Brighton are in excellent attacking form and have just scored five at Coventry before knocking Manchester United out of the League Cup, so this is certainly not a routine away fixture. The champions have nevertheless been exceptionally convincing.
Four PL games have produced four victories, while Arsenal have also won away at Napoli in the CL and progressed in the League Cup. Their ability to control difficult away matches was demonstrated at Aston Villa and Sunderland, and they have enough attacking quality to exploit a Brighton side that rarely approaches games conservatively.
We expect Brighton to make them work for it, but Arsenal are our strongest selection from the more competitive fixtures this weekend.
Don’t forget that we also have Early Payout on this match, which you can read more about here.
Odds might have changed since the writing and/or publication of this article.
Last Updated: 18.09.2026
