The Premier League reaches Gameweek 5 with several big questions already beginning to emerge.
Manchester United need a response after a difficult week, Chelsea are still trying to solve their defensive problems, while Brighton have emerged as the division’s leading scorers.
Elsewhere, Hull City are unbeaten, Leeds United have made an excellent start and Manchester City head into the weekend with a perfect record.
There is also plenty at stake for Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace as the international break approaches.
⚽ Football Scores & Standings
Premier League Scores | Premier League Table | Live Scores | League Tables
Here are 10 questions that could shape Premier League Gameweek 5.
Can Chelsea’s defence cope with Brentford’s rapid counter attacking style?
Premier League Player of the Month: João Pedro Wins August Award
Chelsea’s defensive record is becoming one of the early talking points of the season.
Xabi Alonso’s side have conceded nine goals in their opening four Premier League matches, with at least two goals going in against them in every game so far.
That gives Brentford an obvious area to target.
Chelsea are still adapting to Alonso’s football, with the manager acknowledging that repeated defensive patterns and mistakes will take time to correct. His previous work at Bayer Leverkusen shows how much improvement can come with time.
ALSO READ
- Sanwo-Olu inaugurates 44 sports association chairmen, tasks them with grassroots development
- Aiyedatiwa reconstitutes Ondo Sports Council Board, names Abimbola chairman
- Long-term commitment: Max Verstappen signs extension with Red Bull to 2030
Leverkusen conceded 49 Bundesliga goals in Alonso’s first season before reducing that number to just 24 in the following campaign.
Chelsea will need that improvement to arrive sooner rather than later, because Brentford can be dangerous when they win the ball and attack quickly.
Set pieces could also be important. Brentford have an expected goals figure of 2.34 from set pieces, while Chelsea have already conceded three goals from dead ball situations and two more following errors.
If Chelsea give Brentford space to counter or continue making mistakes around their own box, this could become another uncomfortable evening for Alonso’s defence.
Will Tottenham be punished again by their home form and the return of Jackson?
Tottenham and Aston Villa both arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium still waiting for their first Premier League victory of the season.
That makes this an important game for both clubs before the international break provides a chance to reset.
Tottenham have home advantage, but their form means that alone cannot be relied upon. Villa will also be looking for a result after a difficult opening to the campaign.
Both clubs have undergone significant changes during the summer and their early struggles can partly be viewed through that transition.
For Tottenham, the return of Jackson adds another interesting element to the contest. His involvement could create additional headache for an opponent he enjoys scoring against while in Chelsea’s blue.
📢 Stay Updated — Join Our WhatsApp Channel
💬 Be Part of Our WhatsApp Community
Join our WhatsApp Channel for curated updates, breaking stories, and exclusive insights from our newsroom.
📲 Join 👉 NRTC WhatsApp Channel
The bigger issue is simple. Can Tottenham finally turn their home advantage into three points?
With both teams still searching for their first league win, the result could have a significant effect on the mood heading into the international break.
Can Brighton’s attack finally test Arsenal’s remarkable defence and David Raya?
Brighton have given themselves one of the biggest attacking challenges of Gameweek 5.
Fabian Hurzeler’s team have scored 13 goals, more than any other side in the Premier League at this stage.
Their pressing numbers are just as interesting. Brighton have produced 41 high turnovers, the highest total in the division according to the supplied data.
That aggressive approach will be tested by an Arsenal defence that has been extremely difficult to break down.
Arsenal have faced only 2.7 expected goals across their first four Premier League matches.
Even more remarkably, 0.8 of that total came from Sunderland’s penalty in their previous match.
David Raya also played a crucial role in that game, saving the penalty before Arsenal eventually secured the points.
Brighton therefore have two possible approaches. They can use their intensity to put Arsenal under pressure and try to create the type of chances that have been difficult for other teams to generate, or they could leave spaces for Arsenal to exploit.
That makes this one of the most interesting tactical battles of the weekend.
Will Ipswich’s defence hold their own against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium?
Ipswich have already collected half as many Premier League wins as they managed during the whole of their 2024/25 campaign.
🔍 Explore More
- NRTC English Knowledge Base – Learn, improve, and sharpen your English skills.
- Top Stories From Around the World – Stay informed with the latest global news and insights.
- Specially Curated Listicles – Discover interesting lists, guides, and deep dives selected for our readers.
- Stay Updated: Join our mailing list and never miss the latest articles and updates from NRTC.
That puts their trip to Everton in a very different context from the one many may have expected before the season began.
A victory would take Ipswich to nine points and keep them firmly in the top half.
The bigger story is what that would mean for the promoted sides.
All three promoted teams were relegated straight back to the Championship in both 2023/24 and 2024/25. Hull and Ipswich are now providing an early indication that the promoted clubs may have more to offer this time around.
Everton will provide a different kind of examination, particularly for an Ipswich defence that will need to remain organised away from home.
If Ipswich can leave with another positive result, their early season form will become increasingly difficult for the established sides around them to ignore.
Will Hull continue their brilliant start with a win at Newcastle?
Hull City have been one of the surprise stories of the opening four Premier League matches.
They remain unbeaten and now travel to Newcastle United with the chance to extend that run.
Newcastle’s defensive statistics make the fixture particularly intriguing.
They have faced 76 shots, more than any other Premier League team, while their 7.6 expected goals against is second only to Crystal Palace’s 8.2.
Newcastle have also conceded eight goals already, including four in their defeat against Leeds United.
That gives Hull a clear reason to believe they can cause problems.
Hull are attempting to become the first promoted side since Portsmouth in 2003/04 to avoid defeat in their opening five matches.
A victory would take them into double figures for points after five games, something no promoted club has achieved this early since West Ham in 2005/06.
For Newcastle, the challenge is to close the gaps that have allowed opponents to create so many chances.
⚽ Football Scores & Standings
Premier League Scores | Premier League Table | Live Scores | League Tables
Will Glasner’s Forest add to Frank Lampard’s Coventry woes?
Nottingham Forest head into this match with some fresh confidence after their late victory at Aston Villa.
That result could provide the boost Oliver Glasner’s team needed after a slow start.
There is one obvious problem Forest need to solve, though.
They have yet to score at the City Ground in the 2026/27 Premier League season.
Coventry arrive with an even more difficult record. Frank Lampard’s side have lost all four of their opening league matches and have yet to score.
That makes this a fascinating opportunity for Forest.
A home goal would end one unwanted run, while a victory would give Glasner something tangible to build on after the win at Villa Park.
Coventry, meanwhile, desperately need to find a way to turn possession and opportunities into goals.
The first goal could be particularly important because neither side wants to head into the international break with another unwanted statistic hanging over them.
What Liverpool will turn up at Bournemouth?
Liverpool’s trip to Bournemouth could be one of the most entertaining matches of the weekend.
Their goalless draw against Fulham last time out provided a sharp contrast to the attacking football expected from Arne Slot’s side.
Bournemouth have been much more consistent in front of goal.
They have scored in every Premier League match this season, while also conceding at least twice in three of their four league games.
🏆 Sign Up & Win Big!
Stay Ahead of the News: Start your day informed with the latest news from Nigeria and around the world delivered directly to you!
Subscribe now and you could win ₦5,000 in data allowance.
That combination suggests an open contest could be on the cards.
There is another storyline surrounding the match because former Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola now has Liverpool playing a similarly energetic style.
Bournemouth are also adapting to a new manager and a new tactical approach, while they have had the additional demands of European football to deal with.
Liverpool will therefore face a side capable of causing problems, but Bournemouth’s defensive record suggests there should also be opportunities at the other end.
After failing to score against Fulham, Liverpool will be under scrutiny to see whether their attacking players can produce a different performance.
Will Leeds continue their strong start against unconvincing Palace?
Leeds United have made an excellent start to life in the Premier League.
Eight points from their first four games represents their best opening to a Premier League season since 2001/02.
Their latest result was particularly impressive, with a 4-1 victory at Newcastle showing just how dangerous they can be going forward.
The numbers also suggest their strong form did not begin this season.
Since December 2025, Leeds have collected the fifth highest points total in the Premier League, behind Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool.
Crystal Palace arrive with some worrying defensive statistics.
They have conceded 11 goals, faced 8.15 expected goals and allowed opponents 164 touches inside their penalty area.
Palace have also faced 26 shots on target, joint most in the division at this stage.
Leeds will therefore see an opportunity to continue their momentum.
For Palace, the priority will be to make their penalty area harder to access and reduce the number of clear opportunities they are allowing.
Will Man City continue their fine start by beating hardworking Sunderland?
Manchester City are one of the few teams heading into Gameweek 5 without the pressure of having to recover from an early setback.
They have won all four of their Premier League matches.
Their latest victory came in the Manchester derby, giving Pep Guardiola’s team another boost before Sunderland arrive.
The challenge for Sunderland is complicated by their European commitments.
The club are competing in Europe for the first time in 50 years after finishing seventh last season. That brings additional matches, travel and physical demands that can be difficult for a newly promoted side to manage.
Sunderland are also still waiting for their first away victory.
They lost at Ipswich and drew at Brentford in their opening two away matches.
That makes this another test of how well Sunderland can handle the increased demands of their return to the Premier League.
ALSO READ
- Crown defense or changing of the guard? The ultimate 2026-27 Premier League season preview
- Police Salary in Nigeria (2026): Ranks and Monthly Pay
- Meet Niyi Akin, the British-Nigerian actor winning praise in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Manchester City, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain their perfect record and carry their derby momentum into another league fixture.
Will Fulham smell blood and punish out of form Manchester United?
Manchester United have four points from their first four Premier League matches.
That is already creating pressure around Michael Carrick’s side, particularly after their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the derby.
The midweek 3-2 defeat against Brighton in the EFL Cup made the situation even more uncomfortable after United had led 2-0.
Now Fulham await.
A draw at Craven Cottage would leave United with five points from their first five league matches. That would equal their lowest points total after five Premier League games since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
A defeat would give them a new unwanted record for that period.
There is, however, still a huge amount of football to play. Only 12 points from the available 114 had been decided at the time of the source analysis, so the table remains in its very early stages.
Fulham will not simply be waiting for United to make mistakes either. They earned a point at Liverpool last weekend in a 0-0 draw, giving new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa his first point in charge.
United therefore face a side that has already demonstrated it can make life difficult for one of the league’s established teams.
For Carrick, the immediate objective is clear. United need a response before the international break arrives.
Why could Premier League Gameweek 5 change the early season picture?
Gameweek 5 arrives with several teams facing very different challenges.
Manchester United need to halt a run of disappointing results. Chelsea need to find greater defensive stability. Brighton will attempt to break down one of the league’s strongest defences, while Liverpool will be looking for a much more productive attacking display.
At the other end of the table, Hull and Leeds have already shown that they cannot be dismissed as newly promoted sides simply fighting for survival.
The weekend could therefore provide more clues about which early season trends are likely to continue and which teams are capable of changing their fortunes.
With the international break following Gameweek 5, several managers will be hoping to head into the pause with a result that gives them something positive to build on.
