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Premier League matchweek 5: Staff picks and predictions

By Staff

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Marcos Alonso of Chelsea controls the ball during the FA Community Shield between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Marcos Alonso of Chelsea controls the ball during the FA Community Shield between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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The FanSided soccer staff make their predictions for the weekend’s Premier League games, including Chelsea vs. Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Things are getting tight at the top of the Premier League table heading into matchweek 5. Manchester United dropped their first points of the season last Saturday, drawing 2-2 away to Stoke, allowing Manchester City to pull level on 10 points, with Chelsea only a point back in third place.

This weekend, United play Everton, who have been convincingly beaten by top six opponents two matches in a row, at Old Trafford, City travel to high-flying Watford and, in the marquee match of the week, Chelsea host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

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Liverpool, meanwhile, are trying to bounce back after their thrashing by City. The Reds conceded four of their five goals after Sadio Mane was sent off for kicking Ederson full in the face, which provided Jurgen Klopp with a ready-made excuse for the loss, but it was a bad look all the same. They play Burnley at Anfield on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Bournemouth look for their first win of the season in a Friday game against Brighton; new Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson leads his team against Southampton; Huddersfield host Leicester; West Ham, fresh off their first win of the season, travel to West Brom; Stoke try to maintain their good start against Newcastle; and, in Saturday’s late kickoff, Tottenham try to win their first league match at Wembley.

FanSided’s soccer staff will be competing in a weekly picks league all season. The rules are simple: three points for a correct score, one for a correct result and none for an incorrect result. Here are the picks for matchweek 5:

Chelsea are heavily favored against Arsenal, with all of our writers tipping the Blues to win at home. United’s draw against Stoke last week has done little to deter our writers from picking them either, with all but one going with Jose Mourinho’s side. Here’s how the table stands heading into the weekend:

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