Premier League Gameweek 5 Preview

The 2025/26 Premier League campaign is now in full swing, as we settle in for the second weekend of action following the early-season international break. Saturday lunchtime serves up an intriguing Merseyside derby, as an improving Everton outfit make the short trip to Anfield to face reigning champions Liverpool. Following the conclusion of the four 3pm kick-offs, Manchester United and Chelsea meet at Old Trafford before Fulham host London rivals Brentford in the final match of the day. 

A mouthwatering clash between title-chasing Arsenal and Manchester City headlines Sunday’s fixture card, which also features both North-East clubs. Sunderland will hope to secure maximum points against an out-of-sorts Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light, while familiar foes Newcastle United travel south to face Bournemouth. 

Here’s this weekend’s Premier League fixtures in full: 

Saturday

• Liverpool vs. Everton – KO 12.30pm (TNT Sports 1/Ultimate)
• Burnley vs. Nottingham Forest – KO 3pm
• Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Tottenham Hotspur – KO 3pm
• West Ham vs. Crystal Palace – KO 3pm  
• Wolves vs. Leeds United – KO 3pm
• Manchester United vs. Chelsea – KO 5.30pm (Sky Sports Main Event)
• Fulham vs. Brentford – KO 8pm (Sky Sports Main Event)

Sunday

• Sunderland vs. Aston Villa – 2pm (Sky Sports Main Event)
• Bournemouth vs. Newcastle United – 2pm (Sky Sports Premier League)
• Arsenal vs. Manchester City – 4.30pm (Sky Sports Main Event)

No surprises for Reds in derby clash

Tip 1: Liverpool to win @ 10/21 with Coral

Liverpool have lost just one of their last 28 home meetings with Everton, with this defeat coming way back in February 2021. Following that rare blip, the Reds have beaten their cross-city rivals at Anfield on four consecutive occasions, although it’s been almost a century since they registered five straight victories against Everton on home turf. There’s a genuine feel-good factor surrounding the Toffees at the moment, who are already reaping the rewards of an encouraging summer transfer window and a brand new state-of-the-art stadium. 

David Moyes’ men have impressively taken seven points from their opening four Premier League fixtures, but avoiding defeat on Saturday seems an unlikely scenario. Everton have failed to score in five of the last seven Merseyside derbies, although they did snatch a dramatic late equaliser in April as Goodison Park staged this famous fixture for the final time. 

Expect Mateta to pile misery on hapless Hammers

Tip 2: Jean-Philippe Mateta to score anytime @ 6/4 with bet365

Having shipped more goals than any other Premier League outfit so far, West Ham’s leaky defence now face the daunting task of trying to contain Jean-Philippe Mateta. Crystal Palace’s powerful Frenchman has netted four times in his last three appearances against Saturday’s opponents – a statistic that certainly won’t be welcomed by under-fire Hammers boss Graham Potter.

Mateta bagged a brace in a 5-2 thrashing of West Ham in April 2024, before repeating the feat at the London Stadium nine months later. The 28-year-old former Mainz striker has only scored once this season, coolly converting an early penalty beyond Aston Villa keeper Marco Bizot. However, there’s certainly more to come from Mateta, who concluded the 2024/25 campaign with 14 Premier League goals.

Stalemate on the South Coast

Tip 3: Correct Score – Bournemouth 0-0 Newcastle United @ 11/1 with Sky Bet

Two clubs with high aspirations for the 2025/26 campaign, Bournemouth and Newcastle could end up cancelling each other out on Sunday afternoon. Although both Andoni Iraola and Eddie Howe will set up to win the match, the stats suggest we’re in for a tight and cagey affair at the Vitality Stadium, with a goalless draw arguably the most likely outcome. The Cherries are the only current top-five side to register fewer than eight goals this term and haven’t managed to score more than twice in any of their first four fixtures.

Meanwhile, the Magpies failed to find the net in each of their last three Premier League away fixtures, missing a golden opportunity to break this unwanted record against ten-man Villa on the opening weekend. Furthermore, United are one of just four teams to have kept three clean sheets during the season’s initial exchanges, with London trio Arsenal, Spurs, and Crystal Palace also benefiting from possessing watertight defences.