After goals were the order of the weekend on match day four, the fifth round of matches of the 2017/2018 Premier League season promises to be just as special, with the battle of blue and red on Sunday and Slaven Bilic’s boys traveling to The Hawthorns.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brighton & Hove Albion (Friday 8 PM)
In what not only promises to be a feisty derby but also a vital crunch match, under pressure Eddie Howe welcomes Chris Hughton and his team to The Vitality Stadium live on Sky Sports’ Friday Night Football.
The hosts are under significant cosh after becoming the second side to lose all four of their opening Premier League fixtures this term, the other being Crystal Palace.
Whereas, The Seagulls have enjoyed a very respectable start to their first ever PL campaign, picking up a draw at Vicarage Road before the break and a thumping victory over West Bromwich Albion last Saturday at The Amex.
Interestingly, this will be the first ever top-flight encounter between the two sides. But for Jermain Defoe, Brighton could become a 39th different Premier League opposition that he has featured against, scoring in games with 35 of them.
However, the visitors have a star striker of their own in the form of Pascal Gross, who has been directly involved in all of his side’s goals this season and could be set to inflict more misery on The Cherries tonight.
Glanville’s Prediction: 2-2.
Crystal Palace vs Southampton (Saturday 12:30 PM)
All eyes will be on Selhurst Park tomorrow lunchtime, as Roy Hodgson faces his first test back in English football against Mauricio Pellegrino’s Southampton in Sky’s early kick-off.
The off-field headlines have been dominated this week by the controversial sacking of former Eagles manager Frank De Boer, after just five matches as boss in South London.
In his replacement, the former England manager Hodgson was appointed, to the surprise of many in the world of football.
Having shattered his reputation at EURO 2016, the 70-year-old will be looking to gain his credibility back by steadying a wrecked Palace ship.
For all The Eagles’ troubles, The Saints have been having some difficulties of their own on The South Coast, with just one victory so far in this campaign.
The stats clearly point to a triumph for the visitors, but Hodgson will know that the game isn’t played on paper.
But, should The Saints hold out for just 78 minutes in the capital, the home side will break the Premier League record for most minutes without a goal.
Glanville’s Prediction: 1-2.
West Bromwich Albion vs West Ham United (Saturday 3 PM)
In one of five 3 PM kick-offs, we make the trip to The West Midlands in search of our first away points of the season, but standing in our way will be a stern Baggies Side.
Slaven Bilic will be heading into the tie feeling a little easier than he did before our return to The London Stadium, as we overcame David Wagner’s Terriers to climb off the foot of the table.
However, the heat isn’t quite off for The Croat just yet, but three points on the road would go a long way to helping to end speculation surrounding his future.
Up until last weekend, the home side were enjoying another fantastic start to the season but were well beaten in Brighton on Saturday.
However, midfielder Gareth Barry may well be buoyed by equalling the all-time Premier League appearance record tomorrow and inspire his side to victory.
Or, can Chicharito continue his marvelous record against Tony Pulis’ men and deliver us another vital victory at The Hawthorns?
Glanville’s Prediction: 1-3.
Watford vs Manchester City (Saturday 3 PM)
Having leveled bitter rivals Manchester United on points at the top of the table last weekend, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City travel to Vicarage Road, as two of the League’s form teams meet.
The Hornets, under new Boss Marco Silva, are one of only three teams still unbeaten so far, with their opposition one of the others.
They have impressed wildly with a swashbuckling attacking style in their opening four encounters, having won both of their away matches against Bournemouth and Southampton up until this point.
Despite this, The Citizens will be the overwhelming favorites heading into the clash as they continue to display title winning quality.
City blew away a strong Liverpool side with an incredible 5-0 romp last Saturday and will have eyes on their next prey in the form of Watford as a chance to overtake The Red Devils tomorrow afternoon.
Danger man Sergio Aguero could prove to be the difference for Blue Moon, as he has netted six and assisted one in six career starts against the Hertfordshire club.
Glanville’s Prediction: 0-3.
Liverpool vs Burnley (Saturday 3 PM)
In yet another tasty Saturday matchup, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool welcome Sean Dyche’s Burnley at Anfield, as a turbulent few weeks for the home side continues.
The Reds have only taken seven points from a possible 12 for a mediocre start by their standards. While the Philippe Coutinho Saga has cast a shadow over the club off the field, another poor Champions League result in midweek followed.
Meanwhile, The Clarets are at the opposite end of the form spectrum, having condemned Frank De Boer to the sword on Super Sunday as they sit above Liverpool in the standings.
However, Klopp’s men have only lost once in their last six meetings with the Lancashire club, the last time coming around a year ago when they ran out 2-0 winners at Turf Moor.
Glanville’s Prediction: 3-1.
Newcastle United vs Stoke City (Saturday 3 PM)
An in-form Newcastle United side face off with another of the league’s better-performing teams on Saturday as Rafa Benitez makes a touchline return after surgery in The North East.
All was lost for The Magpies after a disappointing opening two defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town, but they have managed to turn things around with victories over Bilic’s boys and Swansea City either side of the international break.
But, The Potters roll into town on a wave of confidence after becoming the side to halt Manchester United’s 100% record at The Bet 365 last weekend.
Additionally, Mark Hughes’ men will draw optimism from the fact that they have not lost in their last five encounters with The Toon.
But, if the home side does manage a victory, it will be the first time that they have scored three consecutive victories in The PL since November 2014.
Glanville’s Prediction: 1-0.
Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City (Saturday 3 PM)
The final of the Saturday 3 PM kick-offs will see The Terriers clash with The Foxes, in one of the more intriguing matchups of game week five at The John Smith’s Stadium.
The hosts sampled Premier League defeat for the first time on MNF this week, a knock which is expected to be a blow to their confidence as the promotion high begins to wear away.
However, there is no taking away from David Wagner what he has done at the start of this season, as his side sit 6th having beaten The Toon and The Eagles.
Meanwhile, there are worrying times at The King Power Stadium for Craig Shakespeare’s side as they have now had over a full year to reflect on their inexplicable 2015/2016 Premier League campaign, with three defeats from their opening four.
Curiously, both sides have made a League low amount of changes to their starting line-ups so far, making tomorrow’s encounter a pure battle of consistency.
Glanville’s Prediction: 0-2.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Swansea City (Saturday 5:30 PM)
Wembley Stadium will host just its third ever Premier League fixture on Saturday evening when Spurs face Paul Clement’s Swansea City live on BT Sport.
Much has been made of Mauricio Pochettino’s side’s tendency to struggle at their new temporary home. But, all of the talk was washed away in midweek as The Lilywhites managed to gain their first victory at the venue with a Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund.
Harry Kane was on target twice that night to make it four in two for the England forward. However, The Swans have European pedigree of their own in the form of Bayern Munich loanee Renato Sanches.
It has been a mixed bag for the Welsh side so far as they occupy 15th spot with four points but are only one victory’s margin away from their opposition.
However, Tottenham have never lost a PL game against Swansea and that is a run that they look like they are going to continue on Saturday night.
Glanville’s Prediction: 3-0.
Chelsea vs Arsenal (Sunday 1:30 PM)
The Super Sunday battle of the red and blue teams begins at Stamford Bridge, with the pick of the weekend’s action, as Antonio Conte’s Chelsea and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal face off.
The last two times that the two sides met were contested at Wembley Stadium, with The Gunners defeating The Blues in both the FA Cup Final and the Community Shield.
However, Chelsea are the team that have enjoyed the more prosperous start after taking nine points from 12 to Arsenal’s six.
The hosts will also have the benefit of two days’ extra rest from the midweek European action after they were involved in Champions League on Tuesday evening.
However, Wenger’s side had to wait until Thursday to play their Europa League tie against FC Koln.
Furthermore, Chelsea have won their last five home meetings with Arsenal in the league, as Eden Hazard has notched in three of the last four against Gunners’ sides.
Glanville’s Prediction: 2-1.
Manchester United vs Everton (Sunday 4 PM)
From one Europa League side to another, as The Toffees make the trip to Old Trafford to face last year’s Europa League Champions Manchester United in the second Super Sunday clash.
The Red Devils showed their first signs of slipping up last weekend as they left The Bet 365 Stadium without all three points but resumed normal service on Tuesday night with a 3-0 victory over Basel in the Champions League.
Whereas, Ronald Koeman’s men are beginning to show signs of European duties affecting their league form as consecutive defeats either side of the international break saw them drop to 16th place.
The clash will offer a chance for Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney to show his old club what they’re missing, despite all of the controversies that have been following him off the field.
But, the hosts will have a prolific former Everton striker of their own in Jose Mourinho’s ranks, as Romelu Lukaku aims to become the fourth youngest player ever to reach 90 Premier League goals with a superb performance against The Blues.
Glanville’s Prediction: 4-0.
So, with all of the vital information needed for game week four well and truly covered, who will steal the headlines? Who will falter as autumn kicks in? And more importantly, which team will be leading the way come Sunday night?