10 players to watch on the Premier League Gamweek FIVE
Premier League Gameweek Five features several players with the potential to make a decisive impact as teams look for positive results before the upcoming international break.
From Bukayo Saka and Erling Haaland to Bruno Fernandes and Cody Gakpo, these 10 stars enter the weekend with records, form and team expectations making them players worth watching closely.
10 players to watch in Gameweek FIVE
1. Danny Welbeck in Brentford vs. Chelsea
With Chelsea dealt a Joao Pedro injury blow, Danny Welbeck is in line to make his first Premier League start for the Blues following his summer move from Brighton.
If selected by Xabi Alonso, the striker will become the first player to start a Premier League game for the traditional trio of Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
Welbeck already scored three Carabao Cup goals for Chelsea and has already scored in each of his last three meetings with Brentford, making him the ideal like-for-like replacement for Joao Pedro.
2. Emiliano Buendia in Spurs vs. Aston Villa
This fixture couldn’t have come at a better time for the Argentine, who is still in search of his first goal in domestic competitions this season after five games across the league and the Carabao Cup.
Emiliano Buendia has scored in four of his last five starts in this fixture, including in each of his last three, and with Tottenham struggling at both ends of the pitch, he could be just what Villa needs to finally get their first league win.
3. Bukayo Saka in Brighton vs. Arsenal
Bukayo Saka has made fixture one of his favourites and has already totaled four goals and as many assists in 13 games, with either goal or assist in each of his last five meetings across all competitions.
With the Premier League champions on a run of three straight wins against the Seagulls, having Bukayo Saka, who already has three goals in four league games so far, will increase the chance of potentially extending their perfect start to eight games.
4. Jordan Pickford in Ipswich Town vs. Everton
The England international kept a clean sheet in Everton’s visit to Portman Road last time Ipswich Town was in the Premier League, and recently reached 100 clean sheets in the competition.
Julio Enciso and Michael Keane are the only two goalscorers that season to remain at the clubs, and Pickford, who has already kept four clean sheets in six games across all competitions, is tipped to be the difference maker.
5. Harvey Barnes in Newcastle vs. Hull City
It is unusual that the newly promoted team head to the Saint James Park as favourites thanks to their unbeaten start to the season, including a perfect defensive record that was only breached in their last outing at Stamford Bridge.
Nevertheless, Newcastle will hope that their home advantage will count, and in Harvey Barnes, they have a player who has scored three times in the last two home games across all competitions, and he will be crucial to their chances of securing a first league win.
6. Morgan Gibbs-White in Forest vs. Coventry City
Only Bruno Fernandes has registered more goal contributions in the Premier League than Morgan Gibbs-White since the turn of the year, and the playmaker has been at the heart of everything good for Forest.
Against a Coventry City side without points or goals after four games, MGW will arrive as a player who has been directly involved in five goals in his last two appearances against teams kicking off the match as newly promoted Premier League teams.
7. Cody Gakpo in Bournemouth vs. Liverpool
Cody Gakpo has been directly involved in four goals in his last six meetings with Bournemouth, excluding a penalty won, and Liverpool have ended the games on the winning side every time he has registered an attacking return against the Cherries.
He has been the club’s best attacker this season with six goal contributions in just four starts, and without him, Andoni Iraola’s teams have struggled — the Spaniard will hope Gakpo comes alive as he returns to the Vitality Stadium after his summer exit.
8. Dominic Calvert-Lewin in Leeds vs. Crystal Palace
The striker has seven goals and one assist in games against the Eagles, including a brace last time this fixture was played at Elland Road to secure an impressive 4-1 victory for Daniel Farke’s team.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin also missed a penalty in a goalless draw in the reverse fixture last season, and on his current form of four goals in his last four games, he could prove the pain in Palace’s search for a second league win.
9. Erling Haaland in Man City vs. Sunderland
Sunderland is the only team Erling Haaland has faced multiple times in the Premier League without scoring, a blemish on what has been an otherwise enviable record in the division.
Sunderland is expected to make life difficult for their host, who have started the season with a perfect record, but Haaland will have a point to prove and will have to be at his best to end his barren run against the Black Cats.
10. Bruno Fernandes in Man United vs. Fulham
The Manchester United head into the match on the back of a difficult week, where he has received heavy criticism for his part in the derby defeat as well as the red card to Phil Foden, while United also exited the Carabao Cup in a home loss to Brighton.
He has been directly involved in eight goals and eight wins in 12 meetings with the Cottagers, and as Michael Carrick’s team seek a return to winning ways in Old Trafford, they will need a big performance from their captain.
