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Make the most of Gameweek 5 of the Premier League campaign, as it marks the final round of matches before a three-week international break.
The lengthy pause means England's top-flight clubs won't return to action until Oct. 10, piling pressure on them to close out September strongly and head into the international window on a positive note.
That will be no easy task for many sides, with even the league's heavyweights facing some tricky assignments. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all have challenging away fixtures to navigate.
Here's how Sports Illustrated forecasts the upcoming round of Premier League matches to unfold.
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Brentford vs. Chelsea Prediction
Prediction: Brentford 2–2 Chelsea
A west London derby gets the weekend underway on Friday as Chelsea make the short but demanding trip to unbeaten Brentford.
Xabi Alonso has grown increasingly frustrated with his revamped squad in recent weeks following a loss to Arsenal and a surprising home draw against Hull City, with defensive vulnerabilities undermining the club's potent attacking trio.
Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are set to shine once more at the Gtech Community Stadium, though João Pedro's probable absence through injury is a significant setback for a side whose defensive unit has been far from cohesive.
Brentford are exactly the type of team to exploit such weaknesses, having recorded a win and three draws from their opening fixtures. In Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago, they possess two attacking threats capable of punishing the porous Blues.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Aston Villa Prediction
Prediction: Tottenham 1–1 Aston Villa
A Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday means Tottenham Hotspur and Roberto De Zerbi are still searching for their first win of the season, though Spurs at least ended their painful goal drought at Anfield.
In the Premier League, consecutive goalless draws have left them in a familiar 17th-place position and lacking confidence, despite the club's enormous summer investment in new players. Their new arrivals have yet to gel, and they face one of their most dreaded home fixtures on Saturday, with three of their last four home encounters against Aston Villa ending in a 2–1 defeat.
That said, Villa are also navigating a transitional phase, sitting below Spurs in the table after collecting just a single point from their first four league games. Victories in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, against Club Brugge and Coventry City respectively, hint that a turnaround may be on the horizon for Unai Emery's side.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Arsenal Prediction
Prediction: Brighton 1–2 Arsenal
Brighton & Hove Albion's blistering start to the campaign reached new heights on Wednesday when they overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Manchester United 3–2 at Old Trafford. Fabian Hürzeler's tactical brilliance was on full display as the Seagulls advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
They currently lead the Premier League's scoring charts with 13 goals in four matches, but their attack faces its sternest examination yet against Arsenal's remarkably resolute backline.
The Gunners have conceded just once in the league this season and are experts at grinding out tightly contested results. They are simply unshakeable, and even their in-form hosts look unlikely to disrupt their rhythm.
Arsenal have won their last seven games across all competitions. That run looks set to reach eight on Saturday.
Everton vs. Ipswich Town Prediction
Prediction: Everton 1–0 Ipswich
Six matches, zero defeats for Everton.
The Toffees have made a promising start to the new season despite a chaotic end to the summer transfer window, accumulating six Premier League points and back-to-back Carabao Cup wins that have raised hopes of ending their 31-year wait for a major trophy.
Ipswich, meanwhile, have also amassed six points, albeit under very different circumstances. Losses to Manchester United and Liverpool were sandwiched between last-minute victories over Sunderland and Crystal Palace, with their substantial summer outlay already showing some returns.
A visit to Merseyside seems unlikely to produce another three points for the visitors, though a draw remains a possibility.
Newcastle United vs. Hull City Prediction
Prediction: Newcastle 1–1 Hull
Who saw this coming? Hull City, widely tipped for an immediate Championship return, currently sit fourth in the Premier League after a stunning unbeaten start to the campaign—and the visit to Newcastle United presents yet another golden opportunity.
Sergej Jakirović is performing miracles with the Tigers, seamlessly integrating his existing squad with a number of summer additions. They will be confident of extending their remarkable unbeaten streak at St James' Park.
Newcastle are out for redemption following their embarrassing 4–1 loss to Leeds last Monday, and they remain a work in progress under Matthias Jaissle. Their bright start to the season has lost momentum, and another disappointing result could be on the cards this weekend.