Premier League Picks Of The Week 5

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 5

Here are my Premier League Picks Of The Week 5:

33 goals - most by Bournemouth and Chelsea = 4 each

262 shots - most by Wolves = 30

92 on target - most by Liverpool = 10

99 corners - most by Man City and Newcastle = 10 each

234 fouls - most by Tottenham and Palace = 17 each

29 bookings - most by West Ham = 5

2 red cards - Morgan for Leicester, Matic for United

5 penalties - 5 scored (King for Bournemouth, Maddison for Leicester, Hazard for Chelsea, Ings for Southampton, Murray for Brighton)

What a game! The clash of the weekend was Tottenham against Liverpool, but it ended up half the competition it was thought and previewed to be at Wembley. The Reds could and should have wiped out Spurs by four or five goals, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah both guilty of wasting that decisive final ball quite a few times. Mauricio Pochettino’s men were without keeper Hugo Lloris and Dele Alli due to injuries, and it showed. Replacement keeper Michel Vorm handed Georginio Wijnaldum the opener, the ref’s watch confirming the header crossed the line in the keeper’s gloves, and served Roberto Firmino with the second, spilling the spinning ball to the Brazilian striker for an easy tap in from close range. The home side did pull one back, Érik Lamela with a nice take and finish off a corner, to make a nervous finish for the visitors, but LFC made it five out of five wins for the first time since 1990, keeping red-faced Jürgen Klopp smiling brightly.

It was a great win for Bournemouth, sharing six goals, two penalties and a sending off between them and Leicester on Saturday afternoon. Ryan Fraser was lethal and should have had a hat-trick but he ended with a decisive brace as the clash ended 4-2 to the Cherries at Dean Court.

What a team! Chelsea kept their 100% record going with a comfortable win against Cardiff, despite falling behind early on against the Welsh side, more on the goals at Stamford Bridge below.

Manchester United ended Watford's unbeaten run in the late kick-off on Saturday, Romelu Lukaku chesting and Chris Smalling turning and smashing goals in at Vicarage Road. Andre Gray pulled one back but David de Gea made sure the London side didn’t complete a comeback with a cracking full-stretch save. Even José Mourinho celebrated the result, showing how much these three points meant to the Portuguese and his side.

Wolves continued their impressive show and run with a win against Burnley on Sunday. It only ended 1-0 thanks to Joe Hart, otherwise it could have been four or five goals for Nuno Espírito Santo’s men. It condemned Sean Dyche’s side to their worst top-flight start in 91 years with only one point from five games.

What a (wo)man! Bournemouth under Eddie Howe, wow, going all the way up, from 21st place in League 2 when he first started in 2008-09, to fifth in the league with the win over Leicester this weekend. The true legendary Cherry doesn't get half the credit he deserves!!!

I loved the very special mascot sisters featured before Manchester City’s win against Fulham on Saturday evening. 97 and over 100 years old, the two have been fans for over 80 years, season-ticket holders since 1933! The London side were all over the place handing Leroy Sané the opener and David Silva doubled the champions’ lead after some brilliant team play in the buildup. It could and should have been 4-0 or 5-0 before halftime with all the chances the Sky Blues had. Raheem Sterling made it three, Silva missed a sitter, Fulham were completely outplayed and slashed to bits and pieces, Pep Guariola’s men running all over them and beating them comprehensively, the win taking the champions up to third.

What a goal! Eden Hazard’s hat-trick, slash, deflected boom and bang from the spot and Willian’s fine finish completed the 4-1 comeback and thrashing for Chelsea against Cardiff, sending the Blues to the top of the table ahead of the Reds on goals difference.

Wilfried Zaha made the difference on his return to Crystal Palace, his skip and shot handing Roy Hodgson's side their second win of the season at Huddersfield.

Much under-fire Mesut Özil was the winner adding to Granit Xhaka’s opener with his first goal since December for Arsenal at Newcastle, Rafa Benítez’s misery continuing at St James’ Park despite Ciaran Clark pulling one back late on. The Gunners held on to make it three wins on the trot for Unai Emery’s men which took them up to seventh.

What the hell?! West Ham’s first win of the season under Manuel Pellegrini was a cracking Super Sunday at Everton. Andriy Yarmolenko starred with a brace, his first start and goals for the club, a fine counter and curl, before Gylfi Sigurðsson hit back with a header and Marko Arnautović secured the win with a clinical finish to make it 1-3 at Goodison Park. The result took the Hammers up to 16th with their first points of the campaign, whilst the Toffees are now 10th with six points from their first five games. Marco Silva will be wondering what the hell of a job he let himself in for.

And what a comeback it was from Brighton at Southampton on Monday night, from two goals down for the second game in a row, to 2-2 thanks to Glenn Murray’s injury-time spot kick. What a difference a break makes!!! Two very different halves and what a save it was by Mathew Ryan in the final seconds to whack away a Saints free kick! Cracking finish to a match you thought was over before it got started!

My Predictions - Actual Results

Tottenham 1:2 Liverpool - 1:2

Bournemouth 1:1 Leicester - 4:2

Chelsea 2:0 Cardiff - 4:1

Huddersfield 0:1 Crystal Palace - 0:1

Man City 4:1 Fulham - 3:0

Newcastle 1:2 Arsenal - 1:2

Watford 2:1 Man United - 1:2

Wolves 1:1 Burnley - 1:0

Everton 2:1 West Ham - 1:3

Southampton 0:0 Brighton - 2:2

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports, Goals On Sunday, Sky Sports and RMC Sports apps and match coverage.