EPL Preview: Big Questions Ahead of Matchday 5

The Premier League returns with another thrilling weekend of fixtures, and there are pressing questions hanging over each encounter. From derby day drama to tactical battles at the top, here are ten key talking points.

Can Grealish and Ndiaye Exploit Liverpool’s Openness?

The statistics suggest another routine home win in the Merseyside derby. David Moyes has never secured victory at Anfield in the Premier League, failing in 20 attempts – the joint-most of any manager at one stadium. Liverpool, meanwhile, have lost only once in their last 28 home meetings with Everton across all competitions.

Yet Everton’s impressive start this season appears perfectly suited to exploit Liverpool’s current weaknesses. Arne Slot’s 100 per cent record hides deeper issues: Liverpool have needed late winners in all five of their Premier League and UEFA Champions League fixtures. Against AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United, they looked particularly vulnerable to fast counter-attacks down the wings.

New signings have created imbalance. Milos Kerkez has struggled on the left, Dominik Szoboszlai is not a natural right-back on the other side, and Florian Wirtz’s presence has disrupted the counter-press. This allows opponents to break through midfield and release their wingers.

Everton’s wide players are thriving. Only three players in the Premier League have more successful take-ons than Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye (eight each). Grealish has also created nine chances from open play, second only to Bruno Fernandes (10).

The individual battles of Grealish versus Szoboszlai and Ndiaye against Kerkez could prove decisive. If Liverpool remain open, Everton will expect to carve out opportunities on the break.

Will Direct Man City Finally Beat Arsenal?

Questions remain over Arsenal’s willingness to go toe-to-toe in major matches. Mikel Arteta’s cautious approach was criticised after the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in Matchweek 3. This time, roles may be reversed at Emirates Stadium.

Pep Guardiola is likely to be wary. Manchester City are winless in their last four Premier League encounters with Arsenal, and Guardiola has never gone five games without victory against a single opponent. That statistic alone could force a rethink.

City’s new direct approach was clear in their dismantling of Manchester United’s high line. They are attacking quicker, with Tijjani Reijnders injecting urgency, Phil Foden deployed centrally, and Erling Haaland receiving the ball earlier. Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival as a less possession-focused goalkeeper underlines the shift.

Guardiola may decide the best way to beat Arsenal is by sitting deeper, allowing the hosts to come forward before playing incisive through-balls in behind.

Will Amorim or Maresca Come Under the Old Trafford Spotlight?

Ruben Amorim usually draws the attention, but this weekend it could be Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca under pressure at Old Trafford. Chelsea’s campaign has started decently, yet draws against Brentford and Crystal Palace suggest they are not title-ready.

Anything less than victory would see Chelsea fall below the points tally achieved at this stage in Maresca’s first season. Following their FIFA Club World Cup triumph and a Champions League defeat in midweek, expectations are higher.

Manchester United face similar stakes. Failure to win would also leave them behind last season’s five-game total. Both managers need three points to avoid criticism.

Will Emery Turn to His New Forwards to End Villa’s Goal Drought?

Aston Villa are the only side in England’s top seven divisions yet to score in the league. They risk becoming just the third top-flight team in history to go five matches without a goal, after Ipswich Town in 1970/71 and Crystal Palace under Frank de Boer in 2017/18.

The challenge is tough. Sunderland have won both home games this season and are aiming for three consecutive Premier League home victories for the first time since February 2012.

Villa’s line-up shows a lack of evolution. Eight of the eleven starters in the 0-0 draw at Everton last weekend also played under Dean Smith, dismissed in November 2021. Unai Emery benched new signings Evann Guessand, Donyell Malen, Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho in that match, though they all featured in the EFL Cup defeat to Brentford, Villa’s most fluid attacking display of the campaign.

It feels the right moment for Emery to unleash his new attackers and kick-start Villa’s season.

Will Postecoglou Launch Ange-Ball at Burnley?

Ange Postecoglou kept things tight in his first game as Nottingham Forest manager at Arsenal, but with a week’s preparation and a trip to Burnley, his expansive style may emerge.

Burnley’s defensive issues are clear: they have the highest Expected Goals Against (xGA) in the Premier League at 9.4. That leaves them vulnerable to Postecoglou’s trademark aggressive, attacking football.

This could mean debuts for Oleksandr Zinchenko, comfortable inverting from full-back, and Douglas Luiz. A high defensive line and relentless pressing in the final third may also be introduced.

If not, it may show Postecoglou has learned from his Tottenham spell and is willing to be more flexible in his second Premier League role.

Can Bournemouth Signal Their Rise with Victory Over Newcastle?

Since losing 4-2 to Liverpool on opening day, Bournemouth have won three straight league matches. Victory against Newcastle could announce them as genuine dark horses for a European push.

Timing favours them. Newcastle may be fatigued from their midweek clash with Barcelona, and Eddie Howe’s team are without a goal in three successive away Premier League fixtures.

Intriguingly, Howe has never beaten his former club in six league attempts, drawing four and losing twice. Bournemouth fans will be optimistic of a season-defining win.

Can Wolves End Their Losing Streak Against Leeds?

Wolverhampton Wanderers have started with four straight defeats for the first time in their history. Only five clubs have ever lost their opening five Premier League matches.

There is hope: three of those five avoided relegation, but two finished bottom. Vitor Pereira will see Leeds United’s visit as a perfect chance to halt the slide.

Leeds have failed to score in three consecutive league matches. They have the fewest shots on target (eight) and the second-worst conversion rate (2.27 per cent), ahead of only Villa.

Wolves have also struggled, scoring twice in four games, and are missing injured striker Jorgen Strand Larsen. New forward Tolu Arokodare may lead the line. A debut goal at Molineux could transform their fortunes.

Can Palace’s Defence Extend West Ham’s Poor Form?

West Ham United’s home troubles continue, with back-to-back defeats by an aggregate of 8-1. They are winless in seven at the London Stadium.

Crystal Palace, by contrast, have lost just two of their last 17 away league matches, keeping nine clean sheets in 15. Since Oliver Glasner’s arrival in February 2024, only Arsenal (24) and Manchester City (21) have more clean sheets than Palace (19).

Goals remain scarce – excluding a 3-0 win at Villa, Palace have just two in five games – but their defensive resilience should worry West Ham’s fragile backline.

Will Frank’s Brighton Counter Hurzeler’s Press?

Last season’s meetings between Brighton and Postecoglou’s Spurs were end-to-end. This time, Thomas Frank’s Brentford are unlikely to play that way.

Brighton have the lowest PPDA (9.5) in the league and have created the most shots from high turnovers (eight). Frank will aim to bypass their pressing with long balls and structured defending, rather than risk playing out from the back.

Yet Frank faces the challenge of European football for the first time. Managing congested schedules will test his tactical flexibility. Brighton, buoyed by Spurs’ midweek exertions against Villarreal, may set the tempo at the Amex.

Can Andrews’ Set-Pieces Punish Fulham?

Keith Andrews has quickly made Brentford’s set-pieces a major threat. Their equaliser against Chelsea and midweek EFL Cup goal both came from long throws.

Fulham have conceded all four of their goals this season from set-plays: two penalties and two corners.

Brentford are struggling creatively, with just 33 shots in total – the second-lowest in the league – and averaging only 8.3 per match, their lowest since promotion. That makes set-pieces their most potent weapon, and Fulham’s weakness suggests this could secure a first away win.