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 Congrats to Phil Woo, who top-scored in week 5 of Premier League Pickem with an impressive 37 points. Steve Steffy was close behind on 33 points, while Andrew Maher (31) and Mark Yothers (30) were the other members to crack the 30-point barrier. Joe Hiegel, Andy Nemecek and Dario Ambrozewiez (28) were all tied for fifth. Woo's fine total came on the back of the most correct picks (8), while Woo, Maher and Yothers all secured three perfect games. Week 5's average per pick made was 2.339 points, creating a new benchmark for the season. The fixture the participants agreed upon the most was Manchester City at Crystal Palace, with just one person not backing City. However, the match with the best yield was Tottenham at Sunderland, with the fixture giving up a 2.06 points average. Chelsea's defeat at Everton drew the lowest points average, with the game garnering just 0.56 points on average. Andrew Maher has returned to the top of the overall standings. With five weeks in the books, Maher has amassed 121 points, with Joe Hiegel and Mark Yothers ten points behind on 111 points. Phil Woo (109) and Dario Ambrozewiez (106) complete the top 5. Joe Hiegel has selected the most correct picks (25), while Maher has notched the most perfect games (10). In week 6, champions Chelsea hope to get back to winning ways when they entertain Arsenal. Meanwhile, current leaders Manchester City's quest to maintain their 100% winning start to the campaign continues against West Ham. Remember to make your Premier League Pickem predictions before the deadline of each game. Week 6's schedule begins on Saturday with a 7:45 AM ET match, with five 10 AM ET kickoffs to follow. The day ends with a 12:30 PM ET game. Sunday has three games, the first beginning at 8:30 AM ET and the week's final two fixtures start at 11 AM ET. Here we preview the ten games in the upcoming week of the English Premier League. The title of each game section is a link to pick the result of that game. Arsenal (4th) at Chelsea (17th) (Sat, 7:45 AM ET) It's been an unspectacular beginning to Arsenal's season but they've recovered from the shock defeat they suffered on the opening day. Since that 2-0 loss to West Ham, the Gunners have posted three wins and a tie and have kept three successive cleansheets. However, Arsenal's Champions League campaign began with defeat at Dinamo Zagreb. Chelsea's midweek foray into Europe, by contrast, was a success and might serve to kickstart their season. Chelsea beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0, only their second victory in all competitions this term. The Blues' other win came in week 3 against West Brom; but they've lost three of their last four league games, including last time out away to Everton. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal (reverse fixture) Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea (Community Shield; this season at Wembley) Last 6 (all competitions): Chelsea lead 3-1-2 (includes 1 League Cup game and 1 Community Shield game). Last 3 at Chelsea (all competitions): Chelsea lead 3-0-0. All-time (all competitions): Arsenal lead 72-59-54. Team News Arsenal (from): Cech, Ospina, Bellerin, Chambers, Debuchy, Gabriel, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Arteta, Cazorla, Coquelin, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Ramsey, Campbell, Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott. Out (reason, expected return date): Welbeck, (knee, Jan), Rosicky (knee, Jan), Wilshere (shin, no date). Chelsea (from): Begovic, Blackman, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Djilobodji, Ivanovic, Rahman, Terry, Zouma, Fabregas, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Traore, Costa, Falcao, Kenedy, Remy. Doubts: Falcao (knee). Out (reason, expected return date): Courtois (knee, Dec), Willian, (hamstring, no date), Pedro (thigh, no date). Sunderland (19th) at A.F.C. Bournemouth (16th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Sunderland had scored in their first four matches this season but only collected two points in the process. The Black Cats currently have the second-worst defense in the league, with only Chelsea conceding more goals. They've been defeated three times already, losing to Leicester, Norwich and last weekend they were shutout in a 1-0 loss to Spurs. After failing to find the back of the net in their first two games, Bournemouth has now scored in their last their three outings but they're still finding life in the top flight tough. They recorded their first win in a 4-3 epic at West Ham in week 3 but have failed to reproduce since. Bournemouth tied with Leicester in week 4 and then they lost to Norwich. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 1990 Last 6 (all competitions): Only six meetings. Last 3 at Bournemouth (all competitions): Sunderland lead 3-0-0 (includes 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Sunderland lead 4-0-2. Team News Sunderland (from): Mannone, Pantilimon, Stryjek, Brown, Coates, Jones, Kaboul, O'Shea, Van Aanholt, Yedlin, Bridcutt, Buckley, Cattermole, Gomez, Johnson, Larsson, M'Vila, Rodwell, Borini, Defoe, Fletcher, Gooch, Graham, Lens, Toivonen, Watmore. Doubts: Watmore (illness). Out (reason, expected return date): Matthews (ankle, Oct 25). Bournemouth (from): Allsop, Boruc, Federici, Bennett, Cargill, Cook, Costa, Daniels, Distin, Elphick, Francis, Smith, Andrade, Atsu, Gosling, MacDonald, O'Kane, Pugh, Ritchie, Stanislas, Surman, Kermorgant, King, Murray, Rantie, Tomlin, Wilson. Out (reason, expected return date): Mings (knee, Sep 2016), Gradel (ACL, Apr), Arter (groin, Oct 17). West Bromwich Albion (14th) at Aston Villa (15th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) West Brom has struggled for goals so far, with the Saido Berahino saga not helping, but they head into this week 6 local derby looking to make it three games unbeaten. The Baggies finally won in week 4, beating Tony Pulis's former club Stoke 1-0. They were held to a goalless tie by Southampton last weekend, though, their second of the season. Aston Villa's lack of goals was a big problem last term. They've been kept off scoreboard just once this term, though, but they're currently winless since the opening day of the season. Villa defeated Bournemouth that day but has lost three out of four since. Last weekend Villa went 2-0 up at Leicester but they conceded three goals in the second half. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: West Brom 1-2 Aston Villa Aston Villa 0-1 West Brom (reverse fixture) West Brom 0-2 Aston Villa (FA Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Aston Villa lead 3-1-2 (includes 1 FA Cup game). Last 3 at Aston Villa (all competitions): Aston Villa lead 3-0-0 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Aston Villa lead 77-53-35. Team News West Brom (from): Foster, Lindegaard, Myhill, Rose, Chester, Dawson, Evans, Gamboa, McAuley, O'Neil, Olsson, Pocognoli, Brunt, Fletcher, Gardner, Gnabry, McClean, McManaman, Morrison, Sessegnon, Yacob, Anichebe, Berahino, Lambert, Nabi, Rondon. Aston Villa (from): Bunn, Guzan, Amavi, Bacuna, Clark, Crespo, Hutton, Ilori, Lescott, Richards, Richardson, Senderos, Cole, Gardner, Gil, Gueye, Grealish, N'Zogbia, Sanchez, Sinclair, Veretout, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Ayew, Gestede, Kozak, Traore. Doubts: Gil (knock). Out (reason, expected return date): Okore (knee, Oct 24). Watford (13th) at Newcastle United (20th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) It's been a slow and steady start for Watford upon their return to the EPL but they took the spoils in their last outing. The Hornets got their campaign going with three ties but a defeat against Manchester City in week 4 meant they had gone three matches without scoring. Odion Ighalo broke the barren spell last week in a 1-0 victory against Swansea. Newcastle has been even worse than their week 6 opponent in front of goal, failing to score since the opening game and producing the fewest scoring efforts. The Magpies tied 2-2 with Southampton in their first match but they've lost three out of four since and have the current longest goalless stretch. Newcastle's other tie was at Manchester United. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 2010 Last 6 (all competitions): Newcastle lead 5-0-1 (inclues 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Newcastle (all competitions): Newcastle lead 3-0-0. All-time (all competitions): Newcastle lead 14-9-14. Team News Watford (from): Arlauskis, Gilmartin, Gomes, Ake, Belkalem, Cathcart, Ekstrand, Hoban, Holebas, Nyom, Paredes, Prodl, Abdi, Anya, Capoue, Dyer, Guedioura, Jurado, Watson, Berghuis, Deeney, Diamanti, Ibarbo, Ighalo, Oulare. Out (reason, expected return date): Doyley (neck, no date). Suspended: Behrami (first game of three-match ban), Britos (final game of three-match ban). Newcastle (from): Darlow, Elliot, Krul, Coloccini, Good, Haidara, Janmaat, Lascelles, Mbemba, Taylor, Williamson, Aarons, Anita, Bigirimana, Colback, De Jong, Gouffran, Obertan, Sissoko, Thauvin, Tiote, Wijnaldum, Cisse, Perez, Toney. Doubts: Tioté (knee), Taylor (hamstring). Out (reason, expected return date): Marveaux (groin, Oct 3), Dummett (hamstring, no date), Riviere (knee, no date). Suspended: Mitrovic (second game of three-match ban). Leicester City (2nd) at Stoke City (18th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) The opening to this campaign has been as strong as the end of last term for Leicester, with the club one of only two unbeaten teams after five fixtures. The Foxes are the joint-top scorers, helping them secure three wins and two ties. Leicester was on the brink of defeat against Aston Villa last week but three late goals saw them rally to a 3-2 victory. Stoke, on the other hand, is the joint-second lowest scorers in the division and they go into this week 6 clash still in search of their first victory of the campaign. The Potters have suffered three defeats in their opening five encounters and have been kept off the scoresheet on all three occasions. Their points have come in ties with Spurs and Norwich. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Leicester 1-0 Stoke Stoke 1-0 Leicester (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Stoke lead 3-1-2 (includes 1 FA Cup game). Last 3 at Stoke (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1 (includes 1 FA Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Leicester lead 32-31-32. Team News Leicester (from): Schmeichel, Schwarzer, Benalouane, De Laet, Fuchs, Huth, Morgan, Simpson, Wasilewski, Albrighton, Drinkwater, Dyer, Hammond, Inler, Kante, King, Mahrez, Schlupp, Dodoo, Kramaric, Okazaki, Ulloa, Vardy. Out (reason, expected return date): James (ACL, Feb). Stoke (from): Butland, Haugaard, Given, Bardsley, Cameron, Johnson, Muniesa, Pieters, Teixeira, Wilson, Wollscheid, Ireland, Moha, Shaqiri, Shenton, Sidwell, Van Ginkel, Whelan, Arnautovic, Crouch, Diouf, Joselu, Odemwingie, Walters. Doubts: Johnson (hamstring). Out (reason, expected return date): Shawcross (back, no date). Suspended: Adam (second game of three-match ban), Affelay (final game of two-match ban). Everton (7th) at Swansea City (8th) (Sat, 10 AM ET) Everton has failed to string together successive strong results so far this season but they'll hope they can build upon an impressive victory in their last outing. The Toffees have been inconsistent but they've lost just once, at home to Manchester City. Last time out they defeated champions Chelsea, however, courtesy of a Steven Naismith hat-trick. Swansea looked solid in their opening four fixtures in this campaign but they suffered a surprising setback last time out. The Swans went undefeated through four matches; defeating Newcastle and Manchester United, while tying with Chelsea and Sunderland. Swansea came unstuck against promoted Watford, though, being shutout in a 1-0 defeat. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Everton 1-1 Swansea Swansea 0-0 Everton (reverse fixture) Everton 0-3 Swansea (League Cup) Last 6 (all competitions): Everton lead 3-1-2 (includes 1 FA Cup game and 1 League Cup game). Last 3 at Swansea (all competitions): Tied 1-1-1 (includes 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Everton lead 15-1-7. Team News Everton (from): Howard, Joel, Stanek, Browning, Coleman, Funes Mori, Galloway, Holgate, Jagielka, Stones, Barkley, Barry, Besic, Lennon, McCarthy, McGeady, Mirallas, Osman, Deulofeu, Kone, Lukaku, Naismith, Rodriguez. Out (reason, expected return date): Baines (ankle, Nov), Cleverley (ankle, Nov 7), Gibson (foot, Sep 25), Oviedo (knee, Sep 22), Pienaar (hamstring, no date), Hibbert (knee, no date). Swansea (from): Fabianski, Nordfeldt, Tremmel, Alfei, Amat, Bartley, Fernandez, Naughton, Rangel, Tabanou, Taylor, Williams, Ayew, Britton, Cork, Fulton, Grimes, Ki, Lucas, Montero, Routledge, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Barrow, Eder, Emnes, Gomis. West Ham United (5th) at Manchester City (1st) (Sat, 12:30 PM ET) West Ham has produced its best on the road so far this term but this weekend they face their toughest away trip yet. The Hammers began by beating Arsenal at the Emirates and in week 4 they came away from Anfield with a win over Liverpool. By contrast, West Ham lost to Leicester and Bournemouth at home, but they beat Newcastle on Monday. Manchester City's league campaign couldn't have begun much better, with the two-time Premier League winners the only club left with a perfect record. The Citizen's five victories has seen them score 11 goals without reply, though they needed an injury-time winner to beat Crystal Palace. However, City lost in the Champions League to Juventus. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: West Ham 0-2 Manchester City Manchester City 1-2 West Ham (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester City lead 5-1-0 (includes 2 League Cup games). Last 3 at Manchester City (all competitions): Manchester City lead 3-0-0 (includes 1 League Cup game). All-time (all competitions): Manchester City lead 48-36-16. Team News West Ham (from): Adrian, Randolph, Spiegel, Collins, Cresswell, Demel, Henry, Jenkinson, O'Brien, Oxford, Reid, Tomkins, Amalfitano, Antonio, Cullen, Kouyate, Lanzini, Moses, Noble, Obiang, Payet, Samuelsen, Carroll, Jelavic, Lee, Sakho, Zarate. Out (reason, expected return date): Valencia (knee, Nov 7), Song (ankle, Oct 31), Ogbonna (hamstring, Oct 3). Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Fernando, Nasri, Navas, Roberts, Silva, Toure, Zuculini, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho, Sterling. Doubts: Kompany (calf), Zabaleta (knee), Fernando (groin). Out (reason, expected return date): Delph (hamstring, Oct 31), Clichy (ankle, Oct 17). Crystal Palace (6th) at Tottenham Hotspur (12th) (Sun, 8:30 AM ET) Crystal Palace's away record under Alan Pardew has been brilliant and so they'll probably back themselves to bounce back after last weekend's disappointing defeat. Only a late goal denied the Eagles a share of the spoils against the league leaders, but they've won two out of two so far on their travels; beating Norwich and then champions Chelsea. Tottenham won their last outing, a 1-0 win away at Sunderland, but they're yet to record a victory at home. Spurs lost at Manchester United in their opening fixture and they then followed that with three successive ties, so they're four games undefeated. They also defeated FK Qarabağ in the Europa League, with Son Heung-min scoring a brace. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Crystal Palace 0-0 Tottenham Tottenham 1-2 Crystal Palace (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Tied 2-2-2. Last 3 at Tottenham (all competitions): Tottenham lead 1-0-2. All-time (all competitions): Tottenham lead 18-8-13. Team News Crystal Palace (from): Hennessey, McCarthy, Speroni, Dann, Delaney, Hangeland, Kelly, Mariappa, Souare, Bolasie, Cabaye, Guedioura, Jedinak, Ledley, Lee, McArthur, Mutch, Puncheon, Sako, Zaha, Bamford, Gayle, Wickham. Doubts: Delaney (knock), Wickham (knock). Out (reason, expected return date): Ward (knee, Oct 3), Chamakh (hamstring, Oct 3), Appiah (ACL, no date). Tottenham (from): Lloris, McGee, Vorm, Alderweireld, Davies, Dier, Fazio, Rose, Trippier, Vertonghen, Walker, Wimmer, Alli, Carroll, Chadli, Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela, Mason, Onomah, Pritchard, Son, Townsend, Winks, Kane, N'Jie. Doubts: Eriksen (knee), Dembele (ankle), Dier (knock). Out (reason, expected return date): Bentaleb (ankle, Oct 4). Norwich City (9th) at Liverpool (10th) (Sun, 11 AM ET) If Norwich is to remain in the Premier League this season it'll be important for them to defeat other teams that are likely to be involved in a relegation scrap. So far the Canaries have notched two wins and both clubs - Sunderland and Bournemouth - were pre-season favorites to go down. They've also earned a point against EPL stalwarts Stoke. Liverpool got off to a good start in this campaign on the back of some solid defensive displays but they head into this match hoping to return to winning ways. The Red's won their first two games and kept three successive cleansheets but they've lost the last two, conceding three goals in each. In the Europa League, Liverpool tied 1-1 with Bordeaux. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Last met in 2014 Last 6 (all competitions): Liverpool lead 5-0-1. Last 3 at Liverpool (all competitions): Liverpool lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Liverpool lead 34-14-14. Team News Norwich (from): Kean, Rudd, Ruddy, Bassong, R. Bennett, Martin, Olsson, Toffolo, Whittaker, Wisdom, E. Bennett, Brady, Dorrans, Hoolahan, Howson, Jarvis, O'Neil, Redmond, Tettey, Grabban, Jerome, Lafferty, Mbokani. Out (reason, expected return date): Mulumbu (Metatarsel, Oct 24), Hooper (ankle, Sep 26). Unavailable: Wisdom (loanee; can't face parent club). Liverpool (from): Bogdan, Mignolet, Clyne, Jose Enrique, Gomez, Lovren, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Can, Coutinho, Henderson, Ibe, Lallana, Lucas, Milner, Rossiter, Teixeira, Benteke, Firmino, Ings, Origi, Sturridge. Doubts: Touré (thigh). Out (reason, expected return date): Flanagan (knee, Dec), Allen (hamstring, Sep 23). Manchester United (3rd) at Southampton (11th) (Sun, 11 AM ET) Manchester United might have looked poor going forward at times this season but they've managed to win three of their opening five league matches. Their first two victories were close 1-0 affairs, but they had to wait until week 5 to score multiple goals, in a 3-1 win over Liverpool. United lost 2-1 in the Champions League, though, away to PSV. Southampton has scored multiple goals twice this season but they've also been kept off the scoresheet three times already. The Saints only success so far came in week 4, a 3-0 win against Norwich. Those are the only goals they've scored in their last four outings, with two of those encounters being 0-0 ties. Southampton lost to Everton in week 2. Head-to-Head Stats Last season: Manchester United 2-1 Southampton Southampton 1-0 Manchester United (reverse fixture) Last 6 (all competitions): Manchester United lead 3-1-2. Last 2 at Southampton (all competitions): Manchester United lead 2-0-1. All-time (all competitions): Manchester United lead 60-26-30. Team News Manchester United (from): De Gea, Romero, Johnstone, Rojo, Blind, McNair, Smalling, Darmian, Valencia, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Fellaini, Herrera, Mata, Depay, Young, Lingard, Rooney, Martial, Wilson. Out (reason, expected return date): Shaw (broken leg, Apr), Jones (illness, Sep 26). Southampton (from): Stekelenburg, Davis, Gazzaniga, Soares, Caulker, Davis, Fonte, Isgrove, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi, Long, Mane, Martina, Pelle, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Tadic, Van Dijk, Romeu, Wanyama, Yoshida. Out (reason, expected return date): Forster (knee, Apr), Clasie (ankle, Oct 3), Bertrand (knee, Sep 23), Gardos (knee, no date). |
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