Week 6 of the Premier League season is by far the most loaded of the campaign thus far, and the powers that be have decided to shove everything into one day instead of spreading the big games out over three. There are two big derbies on either end of Saturday's schedule, while the league's other three big teams -- along with 2nd placed Southampton and 3rd placed Aston villa -- all play in the middle of the day.
Premier League schedule and preview, Week 6: Massive derbies in London and Liverpool
Alex Livesey
This leaves a disappointing Sunday with just one game in the relegation battle, and Monday’s game is a seemingly mid-table affair, though Newcastle are somehow the worst team in the league at present.
A Merseyside derby kicks off the week, with Liverpool hosting Everton in the first meeting between the two clubs this season. They're both in the bottom half, but shouldn't stay there long. In the afternoon, Arsenal should be big favorites at home against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby. With a new manager and new signings still getting used to the old furniture at Spurs, no one's expecting an upset from the boys in white.
Liverpool vs. Everton
Saturday, 7:45 a.m. ET/13:45 GMT
TV: NBC Sports Network (U.S.), BT Sport 1 (U.K.), Sportsnet regional networks (Canada)
These teams have disappointed early in the season, but besides Chelsea, who hasn't? Either side jumps right into a good position with a victory. You can find a full preview of the Merseyside Derby here.
Pick: 2-2 draw.
Saturday, 10 a.m. ET/15:00 GMT
TV: NBC Sports Network (U.S.), TSN4 (Canada)
The Red Devils were already hilariously thin in defense before Tyler Blackett got himself sent off last week. Now they'll have to either play an even more unknown quantity than Blackett or risk the potentially unfit Luke Shaw, while moving Marcos Rojo to left central defense, where he's better than he is at left back. West Ham, meanwhile, are off to a nice start and won't feel like grabbing a draw at Old Trafford is an impossible task.
Pick: 2-1, Manchester United.
Chelsea vs. Aston Villa
Saturday, 10 a.m. ET/15:00 GMT
Somehow, Villa have been thrown all their toughest fixtures early in the season. They lost to Arsenal last week, they're going to lose again this week, and it's in no way a poor reflection on them. Of note: Their next two games after this are at home against Manchester City, then at Everton. The computer hates Paul Lambert.
Pick: 3-0, Chelsea.
Saturday, 10 a.m. ET/15:00 GMT
At least Palace haven't been dull this season. They might not achieve the same success as they did with Tony Pulis, but their eight goals for and 10 against certainly makes for some watchable stuff. The same can be said about Leicester's nine for and eight against. This should be sneaky fun.
Pick: 2-2 draw.
Hull City vs. Manchester City
Saturday, 10 a.m. ET/15:00 GMT
Hull are very good at squeaking out draws against solid teams, especially at home, due to their intelligent and industrious midfield. They might pull off another one on Saturday, but Manchester City's attack is probably too good.
Pick: 1-0, Manchester City.
Southampton vs. Queens Park Rangers
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. ET/15:00 GMT
If Southampton don’t win this game very comfortably, we don’t know anything about anything and this entire league is a lie.
Pick: 3-0, Southampton.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. ET/15:00 GMT
Swansea headed to Stamford Bridge top, lost to Chelsea, then followed that up with a disappointing home loss against Southampton last week. They should fare better against Sunderland, but the Black Cats are this year’s kings of the dour draw.
Pick: 1-1 draw.
Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET/17:30 GMT
TV: NBCSN (U.S.), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), TSN3 (Canada)
Tottenham Hotspur certainly have the talent to put a few past Arsenal and spring an upset, but they’ve yet to show that their talent to come together as a cohesive unit. Also, for various reasons, the two central defenders predicted to be their two best are in their B-team right now. Yikes. You can find a full North London Derby preview here
Pick: 3-2, Arsenal.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. ET/16:00 GMT
TV: NBC Sports Network (U.S.), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), Sportsnet World (Canada)
We have not yet hit the part of the season where relegation six-pointers between two teams that play conservatively can be potentially interesting. The insanity prospects here are low. A watchable game with three goals and one of them a stunner is probably the absolute best-case scenario.
Pick: 0-0 draw.
Stoke City vs. Newcastle United
Monday, 2:45 p.m. ET/19:45 GMT
TV: NBC Sports Network (U.S.), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.), Sportsnet World (Canada)
Every Newcastle United match is inherently watchable, because every game might be the one that gets Alan Pardew fired. Then, if he gets fired, it'll be cool to see if a new manager can get the most out of a clearly talented, but somewhat disjointed group of players.
On Monday, at the Brittania, Newcastle's probably going to struggle. Insert a rainy weekday in Stoke joke here.
Pick: 2-0, Stoke.
Listings via LiveSoccerTV.
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