Score Predictor Tips for Matchweek 5 – Manchester City v Arsenal headlines tricky fixture set

THIS week’s Score Predictor fixtures are as tricky as they are enticing.

As usual, we’re putting up £250 for the weekly prize – a handy return on a free-to-play game.

Simply submit predictions for five selected Premier League games and earn points for accuracy – most points banks the cash.

Dream Team

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Remember, you don’t have to get all five scores exactly correct – that’s very rare – you just have to outperform everyone else.

Check out our predictions below…

Aston Villa v Wolves

We kick things off with a midlands derby.

Wolves have a good record in this match-up in recent years with Villa having won just one of the last seven meetings.

However, Gary O’Neil’s side aren’t in the best place right now with just one point to show for their efforts in the league so far this season.

Plus, only bottom-of-the-table Everton have conceded more league goals at this stage.

Unai Emery’s side beat the Toffees last weekend and marked their long-awaited return to the Champions League with a comfortable victory over Young Boys in midweek.

Obviously, Jhon Duran will score his obligatory goal off the bench…

Our Prediction: 3-1 to Aston Villa

Rex

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Liverpool v Bournemouth

Nottingham Forest’s win at Anfield last weekend scuppered many Score Predictor users but surely lightning won’t strike twice?

The Cherries are a well-organised side but it’s hard to look past the hosts, especially after the Reds outclassed Milan at the San Siro.

Liverpool have won ten of their last eleven meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions and only once have they ever failed to win at home (a 2-2 draw in 2017).

Our Prediction: 2-0 to Liverpool

Crystal Palace v Manchester United

The Eagles thrashed the Red Devils 4-0 at Selhurst Park back in May, although the chief architect of that performance, Michael Olise, has since joined Bayern Munich.

Palace are without a league win in 2024/25 as they’ve found goals hard to come by in the top flight – only Ipswich and Southampton have scored fewer.

In contrast, Erik ten Hag’s side are fully among the goals after 3-0 and 7-0 wins over Saints and Barnsley in their last two outings.

However, Man United are an unpredictable entity and they may have one eye on their first Europa League game of the campaign in midweek.

Our Prediction: 1-1 draw

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Man United scored ten unanswered goals in the space of four days[/caption]

Brighton v Nottingham Forest

Both these teams remain undefeated in the league this season with two wins and two draws each.

Forest’s win at Anfield is arguably the standout result of the campaign to date and Nuno Espirito Santo deserves plenty of credit for the tactical nous he’s exhibited.

As for the Seagulls, their bright start was tempered by a 0-0 draw at home to Ipswich but the overall outlook remains positive – a 3-2 win over Wolves in the Carabao Cup went some way to addressing the stalemate with the Tractor Boys.

Without wanting to jinx it, this match-up should offer an abundance of entertainment as Brighton have registered the most shots in the top flight while Forest rank joint-sixth in the same metric.

We have no legitimate reason to doubt the visitors but it’s often the case that historic underdog victories are followed by reality checks.

Our Prediction: 3-2 to Brighton

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Forest have been brilliant this season but Brighton away is another tough test[/caption]

Manchester City v Arsenal

The main event.

Naturally, interest is high heading into a clash between the two best teams in the country but it’s worth remembering that last season’s meeting at the Etihad was essentially a non-event.

Erling Haaland has raced to nine league goals in the blink of an eye but in William Saliba and Gabriel he will be up against arguably the best centre-back partnership in world football right now.

Pep Guardiola’s side will have extra time to prepare as the Gunners face Atalanta away on Thursday night but that might just push Mikel Arteta even closer to a shut-up-shop rearguard.

We’d love to be proved wrong…

Our Prediction: 0-0 draw

Enter your predictions for Matchweek 5 before Saturday’s 3pm deadline.

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