After a busy week for many teams in the League Cup third round and European football, the Premier League returns on Saturday for Matchweek 6. Matchweek 5 provided some brilliant entertainment—particularly if you enjoy watching the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City physically and emotionally decimate one another for 90 minutes, resulting in both dropping points. Elsewhere, the Toffees and Saints picked up their first points of the season, quelling fears of remaining on zero points into October—while both continue on pace to break Derby County’s record for the lowest point tally in a Premier League season. Sit back, grab a pint, and settle in for some Matchweek 6 predictions.
Newcastle vs. Manchester City
12:30, Saturday, September 28th, St. James’ Park
The Toon welcome City to Tyneside for the lunchtime kickoff on Saturday. The two sides have produced some brilliant matches in the league against one another in recent seasons, with Oscar Bobb scoring a goal (that would not look out of place in a Joga Bonita advert) in added time at St. James’ Park last year to see Pep’s side come away as 3-2 victors. Newcastle come into this game in poor form off the back of a 3-1 defeat at Craven Cottage last weekend—the latest disappointment in a largely underwhelming and unconvincing beginning to the campaign. City come into the match hobbled, with the loss of Ballon d’Or finalist Rodri for what looks like the season during the clash with Arsenal on Sunday. While the loss of Rodri will undoubtedly have an impact as the season continues and the games mount, I believe that Mateo Kovacic is a more than capable deputy, and the Spaniard’s presence will not be (overly) missed this weekend. SJP has been known to act as an ever-present equalizer through the years, but given the home side’s abysmal run of form in recent weeks, I fear that not even a Jason Tindall stare into the closest television camera will be able to flip the Geordie’s fate this weekend.
Prediction: 1-2 Manchester City
First Goal Scorer: Erling Haaland
Anytime Goal Scorers: Anthony Gordon, Savinho
Arsenal vs. Leicester City
15:00, Saturday, September 28th, The Emirates
I have a feeling that this will be an absolute bloodbath. Arteta will be desperate to prove that he can do more than park 11 men behind the ball, time waste, moan, and kick the ball away from quick restarts—and against the likes of Leicester, I think he may be brave enough to attempt to play a semblance of football. While I’d love nothing more than to watch Jamie Vardy miming the loading and firing of an imaginary cannon directly into the undercarriage of Mikel Arteta at the death on Saturday afternoon, I simply cannot imagine it happening. It’s essential that Leicester get through the opening stages at The Emirates intact and at nil-nil to avoid complete annihilation; and while the Foxes haven’t conceded an abundance of goals this season, I fear that they may do so on Saturday.
Prediction: 5-0 Arsenal
First Goal Scorer: Bukayo Saka (x2)
Anytime Goal Scorers: William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz
Brentford vs. West Ham
15:00, Saturday, September 28th, GTech Community Stadium
The Bees welcome the Irons to the GTech on Saturday afternoon in a match that has the potential to either be excruciatingly boring or high-flying and scintillating; and there is really no in between. Thomas Frank’s side have scored in the opening minute in their last two matches in the league (surely they can’t do it three times, can they?) before being soundly defeated in both. To be fair, at the Etihad and at Spurs were some of the more difficult challenges that the Bees would face, and they did show themselves well for long spells in both. Julen Lopetegui’s seat may be beginning to warm due to the trying start that the Hammers have experienced thus far in the league, compounded by the 5-1 thumping at the hands of Arne Slot’s Reds in the League Cup mid-week; so it’s a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure, I suppose—shall we go for the excruciatingly boring or the high-flying and scintillating? Let’s be adventurous, shall we?
Prediction: 3-3
First Goal Scorer: Bryan Mbuemo (x2)
Anytime Goal Scorers: Yoanne Wissa, Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus (x2)
Chelsea vs. Brighton
15:00, Saturday, September 28th, Stamford Bridge
Chelsea welcome the Seagulls to the Bridge on Saturday afternoon in what I think will be the most interesting match of the weekend. The Blues looked strong last weekend at the London Stadium—putting together a solid 90-minute performance in all three areas of the pitch—something that they had yet to do this season in the league. Brighton fought to a 2-2 draw at The Amex last weekend with the superteam that is Nottingham Forest—a match that saw both sides remain unbeaten. Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler will both approach this game believing that they can secure all three points, and while it may be less likely for Brighton to do so away from home, it is very much within the realm of possibility. However, both sides have tended to leak goals—particularly after going ahead in games—and I think we will see this trend continue at the Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
Prediction: 2-2
First Goal Scorer: Nicholas Jackson
Anytime Goal Scorers: Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma, Christopher Nkunku
Everton vs. Crystal Palace
15:00, Saturday, September 28th, Goodison Park
Could this be the week that the Toffees pick up their first win of the campaign? Sure, it could. Will it be, though? Absolutely not. Until Everton actually win a game this season, I refuse to say otherwise—and I hope that I’m riding this train until Matchweek 38. Everton did look okay for spells against Leicester at the weekend, continuing a trend of the previous three match weeks where (at least) there are some positives to take away from otherwise abysmal results. The Toffees led at the King Power before conceding an obscenely cheap goal from a late corner to throw away yet another two points. Crystal Palace hosted Manchester United at Selhurst Park, playing to a decently entertaining nil-nil draw that saw the hosts unlucky to find a winner in the dying embers of the match. It was also a result that probably looked a bit better prior to United drawing with a numeral on Wednesday night in the Europa League. Either way, I cheered for the Palace last weekend, and this weekend will be no different.
Prediction: 1-2 Palace
First Goal Scorer: Dwight McNeil
Anytime Goal Scorers: JP Mateta, Adam Wharton
Nottingham Forest vs. Fulham
15:00, Saturday, September 28th, The City Ground
If someone had told me on the opening day of the season that Nuno’s Tricky Trees would be unbeaten going into the last weekend in September, I would have laughed in their face and immediately stopped listening to anything else that came out of their mouth. They’re a terrible side to watch, and an even worse side to play against—but by Christ, they just will not lose. The Cottagers are coming off an impressive 3-1 victory at the expense of a lifeless Newcastle—and while Fulham impressed for large spells of the match last weekend, I’m afraid that Forest is simply an immovable object at the moment. The City Ground will be up for it—it always is—and the stubborn flora will be moving into October in style, still unbeaten.
Prediction: 2-0 Forest
First Goal Scorer: Anthony Elanga
Anytime Goal Scorer: Chris Wood
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Liverpool
17:30, Saturday, September 28th, Molineux
The Reds travel to Molineux at the weekend for a fixture that I’m not nearly as confident about as I perhaps should be. I hate playing Wolves. I hate playing there. It’s never easy, and to be transparent, it’s the only game that I haven’t watched to completion in the last 10 years following Ruben Neves putting Wolves 3-0 ahead with 20 minutes to play two seasons ago. We always seem to go down early at Molineux, and even when we don’t go behind, it’s always a slog. The ground has produced some great memories, with Divock firing into the near post at the death in 21/22 in front of a delirious away end, as well as the Reds coming from behind to win 3-1 in last season’s edition of this fixture. Wolves have been bad to start this season, let’s put it plainly. The side does possess pockets of quality, but I do think we should have more than enough—especially with several key players rested mid-week to keep the recent run of form rolling.
Prediction: 1-4 Liverpool
First Goal Scorer: Mattheus Cunha (why not?)
Anytime Goal Scorers: Mohammed Salah, Diogo Jota, Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil Van Dijk
Ipswich Town vs. Aston Villa
14:00, Sunday, September 29th, Portman Road
Ipswich are back home following a third consecutive draw at St. Mary’s last weekend. The Tractor Boys found the leveler via the right boot of Captain Sam Morsy and the left pec of Joe Aribo—honestly, just ignore that it was deflected; it looked like an incredible goal before seeing the reverse angle replay. I will admit that I am beginning to fear for Ipswich. While they’ve done well to take points from three consecutive games, draws will not keep them in the division—particularly draws against the likes of Southampton. Villa remain in form following a 3-1 battering of Wolves last weekend, and while Kieran McKenna’s side will be spirited on Sunday afternoon in front of a raucous Portman Road, Unai Emery’s Villa simply will have too much for Ipswich to deal with.
Prediction: 1-3 Aston Villa
First Goal Scorer: Omari Hutchinson
Anytime Goal Scorers: Ollie Watkins, Jhon Duran, Leon Bailey
Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
16:30, Sunday, September 29th, Old Trafford
Dear oh dear, where to begin? Eleventh place Manchester United host tenth place Spurs on Sunday evening in a match that is poised to launch supporters on the end of defeat into total meltdown—and I’ve got a good idea of who it will be. United kicked off their Europa League campaign on Wednesday evening with a 1-1 draw against FC Twente in front of a demoralized Old Trafford. The most recent £50-million signing, Manuel Ugarte, played an uninspired 90 minutes—which is insane because I’ve been told that he’s the greatest midfield player in the world for the last month and a half. He’s clearly received the brief from the United media team as he immediately took to his social media to type an apology to United supporters a la Marcus Rashford. The first of many to come, God willing. Spurs came from behind to defeat Brentford handily last weekend before beating Qarabag 3-nil on Thursday evening, despite playing with 10 men for nearly the entire match. Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke seem to be finding form after netting at the weekend, and each once more on Thursday. Please recreate the 6-1, sit back, and enjoy the headloss.
Prediction: 1-3 Spurs
First Goal Scorer: Brennan Johnson
Anytime Goal Scorers: Dominic Solanke (x2), Alejandro Garnacho
Bournemouth vs. Southampton
20:00, Monday, September 30th, Vitality Stadium
A Monday night clash on the South Coast sees struggling Southampton travel to Bournemouth. While it’s been grim thus far for the Saints this season, youngster Tyler Dibling has been a rare bright spot in an otherwise overwhelming swamp of sadness. Southampton supporters will be happy to know that they will at least be able to watch him play for the club until December, when United purchase him for £250 million and immediately ruin his career. The Saints picked up their first point last weekend and will be desperate to build upon this progress. Bournemouth’s trip to Anfield last weekend started well enough before Kepa torpedoed any chance that the Cherries held of returning from Merseyside with points. Despite having Kepa between the sticks again this weekend, I don’t believe it will make a difference as I’m not sure that Southampton will produce a shot on target.
Prediction: 2-0 Bournemouth
First Goal Scorer: Antoine Semenyo
Anytime Goal Scorer: Marcus Tavernier
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