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Matchweek Five Preview: Derbies and Debuts
Publish Date: October 17, 2020
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It’s good to be back. After what felt like a yearlong international break, the Premier League returns with matchweek five. Every club is in action, with derbies, gut checks and debuts lined up for the weekend. Let’s not waste any time. Here’s the weekend ahead.
Match of the Week: Everton vs Liverpool
Matchweek five’s best match is its first. The season’s first edition of the Merseyside Derby will take place at Goodison Park, as the league leaders Everton take on the defending champions Liverpool.
The champions have had a bit of a hangover in the first four matches of their title defense. After starting the year with a scary 4-3 win over Leeds, they won convincingly against Arsenal and Chelsea. Then came their last match before the break: Aston Villa away. Liverpool’s usually phenomenal defense was nowhere to be found. They conceded seven against a team that was thought to be nowhere near their level.
Of course, Villa are now second in the league, in large part thanks to the bump in goal differential from this match, but they aren’t expected to keep this stellar form. Liverpool, on the other hand, were expected to be title contenders. They’re instead the only team in the top half without a positive goal differential, and it isn’t going to get easier for them.
Can Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Carlo Ancelotti maintain Everton’s hot start? (via Getty)
After the bloodbath against the league’s second place side, Liverpool have to face the first. After an offseason overhaul, Carlo Ancelloti has the Toffees in phenomenal form. Colombian international James Rodríguez has been incredible, but he hasn’t been the star of the show. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has six goals in four matches. That puts him tied for top scorer in the league.
The question becomes if this form is sustainable for Everton. This weekend, against their bitter rivals and the defending champions, will be a huge test for them. It might just prove whether they’re truly a team to be reckoned with or just a flash in the pan.