A Merseyside derby, Chelsea travelling to face Manchester United and Arsenal at home to Manchester City are the most mouthwatering matches in Matchweek 5.

It can be tempting to load your team with the most famous names in football, but ahead of some big clashes, it can often pay to bring in some less familiar faces who have proved in the opening few weeks that they can rack up the points.

Among the goalkeepers, Sunderland’s Simon Roefs has already scored 27 points and with his side playing Aston Villa, the only professional team in England yet to score a league goal, another big score could be on the cards.

The absence of Alexander Isak might have led Newcastle coach Eddie Howe to focus more on defensive stability in the early weeks of the season, with Tino Livramento and Fabian Schär among the top ten defenders in the competition.

Bournemouth midfielder Antoine Semenyo is only one point behind Erling Haaland, who is the top scorer with 37, and is seven points clear of the next best midfielder, Enzo Fernández.

Saturday

Liverpool v Everton (8.30am)

Liverpool fans will not be leaving games early this season with their side becoming the first in Premier League history to win four consecutive games with goals coming after the 80th minute.

Alexander Isak was in the starting line-up for the first time against Atlético Madrid in midweek, and Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones are also pushing to start on their returns from injury.

Everton manager David Moyes has taken sides to Anfield on 21 occasions and never been on the winning side, drawing seven and losing 14. He will need Jordan Pickford to stand tall and Jack Grealish to produce some magic if he is to leave with three points for the first time.

Prediction: 2-0

Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur (11am)

It is Brighton’s midfield that fantasy managers should concentrate on, with Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh their standout performers. Defensively, they have struggled and are yet to keep a clean sheet, with Fulham, Everton and Bournemouth among the teams to find the net against them.

Tottenham picked up their first Champions League win under Thomas Frank in midweek and the head coach has sorted out their defensive frailties, with only one goal conceded in four Premier League matches. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario heads the standings among shot-stoppers, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero featuring prominently among the defenders

Prediction: 0-1

Burnley v Nottingham Forest (11am)

Ange Postecoglu has yet to win as Forest coach after losing to Arsenal in the league and to lower-division Swansea City in the Carabao Cup.

Burnley’s Jaiden Anthony is a surprise name in the top ten midfielders, and with Forest playing a more expansive style, he may get more chances here, especially with visiting defender Ola Aina out with a hamstring injury.

Prediction: 1-1

West Ham United v Crystal Palace

Rumours persist that defeat here will cost West Ham coach Graham Potter his job. His side have already conceded more headed goals (five) than any other team this season, while they have also let in six goals from corners, only two fewer than they conceded in the whole of last season. They also have Tomas Soucek, their best aerial threat in both boxes, suspended for this game.

With that in mind, Palace defenders Marc Guéhi and Maxence Lacroix, and 6ft 3in striker Jean-Philippe Mateta are contenders to get on the scoresheet this week.

Prediction: 1-1

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United (11am)

Wolves fans will be expecting their team to pick up their first points of the season against fellow strugglers Leeds.

An Achilles injury to striker Jorgen Strand Larsen has hampered their attacking threat, and with only a couple of players scraping into double figures in the competition, there will not be a rush of fantasy managers looking to draft in any of their players.

Leeds will be without goalkeeper Lucas Perri, and central defenders Joe Rodon and Gabriel Gudmundsson are their highest point scorers with 20 and 17 respectively.

Prediction: 1-1

Manchester United v Chelsea (1.30pm)

There will be plenty predicting more struggles for United, as Chelsea, who are unbeaten in the league, roll into town.

Cole Palmer was superb in Chelsea’s defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek and now could be the time to transfer the playmaker back into your team. Alongside Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo, Chelsea’s midfield is shaping up to be the strongest in the league in terms of this competition.

I have finally lost faith that my fantasy team will benefit from any Manchester United players, with Ruben Amorim showing no signs that he can turn around this slide. Mason Mount will miss this game and Matheus Cunha remains a doubt.

Prediction: 0-2

Fulham v Brentford (4pm)

Two teams who at this stage look set to finish in the bottom half of the table. Brentford appear to be a Jekyll and Hyde team already, performing well at home and struggling away. Defender Kane Lewis-Potter is a cheap defender picking up a few points.

Fulham’s games have been tight this season and this fixture does not stand out as being filled with goals. Defender Joachim Anderson has 19 points and could record another clean sheet here.

Prediction: 1-0

Sunday

Bournemouth v Newcastle (10am)

Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola is surely on the radar of some bigger teams, with his side in the top four despite selling more than $100 million in talent during the summer.

They have lost only to champions Liverpool and have plenty of exciting talent to challenge the Newcastle backline in Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson, while defender Marco Senesi one of the game’s top defenders on 28 points.

Newcastle’s replacement for Alexander Isak, Nick Woltemade, got off the mark on his debut last week and will be a threat in the air. But with new signings Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa out injured, Bournemouth will fancy their chances of continuing their good form.

Prediction: 2-1

Sunderland v Aston Villa (10am)

Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho will be pushing to make their first league start for Villa, as coach Unai Emery tries to find the catalyst for goals. Given how well Marcus Rashford played on loan for Villa last season, Sancho in particular could well turn out to be a shrewd signing.

Sunderland have won both home games, against West Ham and Brentford, with the Stadium of Light atmosphere a great boost to their players. Veteran midfielder Granit Xhaka is their top midfielder, but the defence and midfield are the areas to focus on for points.

Prediction: 1-2

Arsenal v Manchester City (12.30pm)

Injuries continue to affect both sides, with Ben White, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard injured for Arsenal, while Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, John Stones and Omar Marmoush missing for City.

Noni Madueke is continuing to show why he can be more than just a back-up to Saka, and could run rings around the returning Nathan Ake at left back. Saliba replacement Cristhian Mosquera will face his toughest test against Erling Haaland.

Prediction: 1-1