There are eight games scheduled in the Premier League on Saturday, September 21, with the likes of Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool hoping to extend their points on the League table.
Meanwhile, the anticipated clash of titans between Arsenal and Manchester City will come up on Sunday, September 22.
Here are compilations of comments from top premier league managers ahead of the various league encounters on Match Day 5.
West Ham vs Chelsea (Saturday, September 21, 12.30 GMT)
West Ham will look to return to winning ways when they host Chelsea on Saturday’s afternoon, September 21.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues squad are unbeaten in their last five away games in the league and will feel that they can beat West Ham United for the fourth time in six matches.
In his pre-match interview, Maresca said the club is making unprecedented progress. “We are ahead of where I expected, to be honest.”
Ahead of the West Ham United game, the coach added: “We try to adapt to how the opposition defend and how they attack and prepare for the game.”
Aston Villa vs Wolves (15:00 GMT)
Aston Villa have won four of their five games in all competitions this season and they will expect to have too much for a Wolves side that have yet to win in the league.
Villa boss Unai Emery is confident that the Premier League match against Wolves will be an effortless victory following the recovery of Ollie Watkins and other crucial players from injury.
On Watkins and other crucial players, Emery confirmed: “He’s available 100 per cent to play.” “He had some problems, like other players, but not relevant. He’s now available tomorrow 100 per cent to play.”
Leicester vs Everton (15:00 GMT)
Leicester will aim to extend their lead over Everton to five points when the two sides clash at the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes had an impressive record in the Championship last season, winning 17 out of 23 matches, while Everton has struggled, losing all four of their league games this season.
Meanwhile, Everton coach Sean Dyche faces mounting pressure as another difficult match is anticipated.
In his pre match interview, Dyche says he is trying to build an Everton team that can “excite and win.”
He emphasized that rebuilding takes a long process and urged Everton fans to exercise patience. Dyche added: ”There are miles to go in the journey of Everton Football Club to get it back to where it wants to be and where it should be.”
Liverpool vs Bournemouth (15:00 GMT)
Following their surprising 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest recently, Liverpool will aim to bounce back as they host Bournemouth at Anfield.
The Reds have secured victories in 10 of their last 11 matchups against the Cherries across all competitions, whereas Andoni Iraola’s team has only managed to win one out of their last seven games in the Premier League.
The Dutch boss provided update on Liverpool’s shot stopper Alison, stating: ‘’Alisson is a doubt – we will see to see if he will train on today(Friday)”
Arne Slot has confidence in his backup keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who featured 26 times last season when Alisson was injured.
Slot added: ‘He has a slight issue with one of his muscles and we wonder if tomorrow’s game is too early or not. ‘He did not do it in the Milan game, it comes from slightly before and he felt it more and more.’
Tottenham vs Brentford (Saturday, 15:00 GMT)
Tottenham have only managed to secure one victory in the Premier League so far this season. On the other hand, Brentford are expected to provide a tough challenge for Tottenham, given their recent form of six points from four games.
However, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is not raising any concerns at this point of the season.
The Australian boss said: “For me, you can get overly impacted in both ways, we just have to stay clear-eyed and focused on what we want to achieve and what kind of team we want to be.”
Solanke is yet to find the net for his new club, but the Spurs boss reiterated his faith in the ex-Cherries forward stating: “We don’t have to rush to make judgements all the time because the alternative is he may have got off to a great start.”
“He is fit, scored in all four games, is flying and then he goes through a patch like all strikers where he doesn’t score.”
“I just don’t look at those things. What I look at is he has come in, fitted really well and quite logically has picked up an injury that has disrupted the way he wanted to start his career, but he’s still got plenty of time for that.”
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United (17:30 GMT)
Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag revealed how the Red Devils have improved after Crystal Palace defeated the club 4-0.
Manchester United were hugely beaten by Crystal Palace at home after a horrible performance by Casemiro in the center back.
Ten Hag said, “Maybe you can also compare it with the FA Cup final. Don’t compare it. The circumstances in that moment in the season, from February on, we had to find every time 11 players who could construct a team, and now we are in a different place, we have 18 players, and we can pick a team.”
Manchester United will be looking forward to defeating Crystal Palace to secure their third Premier League win this season.
They started on a frustrating note, losing to archrivals Liverpool and Brighton. However, in the last two matches, Manchester United has improved in their goal-scoring tally.
The team scored ten goals in the last two matches in all competitions.
Manchester City Vs Arsenal (Sunday, 16:30 GMT)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reveals he is still concerned about Manchester City, even though club playmaker Kevin De Bruyne would be available for the encounter.
Arteta said, “They have the option if he doesn’t play of Gundogan, Bernardo, Phil Foden, and Kovacic; they’re all world-class players.”
“We have a few missing as well, and we have to adapt, but certainly those kinds of teams don’t rely on one individual, which is extremely important for them.”
Arsenal are focused on defeating Manchester City to move to the top of the Premier League table for the first time this season.
Manchester City have always been a stumbling block to the success of Arsenal in the Premier League, especially in the last two seasons.
Pep Guardiola’s team is capable of dismantling Arsenal’s hope of winning any silverware in the 2024-25 season.
However, Pep Guardiola has issued an important warning to Erling Haaland and his players ahead of the match against Arsenal.
“All have been tight games last years, apparently because I think we are a good team, but they are good too.”
“They do many good things in all aspects, when high pressing, defending deep, in transitions; it’s an absolute complete team and that’s why they’ve been the biggest rivals in the last two seasons.”
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