Premier League · Gameweek 5

Premier League Gameweek 5 Preview: Newcastle’s Injury Crisis, Hull’s Fairytale and Tottenham’s Historic Goal Drought

Football News · Updated 17 September 2026

Four rounds in and Arsenal and Manchester City are still locking horns at the top, level on 12 points apiece and both unbeaten — but this weekend belongs to the chaos further down the table. Newcastle head into Saturday missing seven first-teamers just as Hull City’s fairytale season arrives at St James’ Park, while across London a Tottenham side without a Premier League goal in four games hosts a fellow strugglers Aston Villa. Here’s the full gameweek 5 breakdown, with betting odds courtesy of bet365, one of the Premier League’s established betting partners.

Newcastle’s Injury Crisis Threatens to Derail Hull’s Fairytale

Hull City remain one of the genuine feel-good stories of the season — 4th on 8 points and unbeaten in four, even after their clean-sheet run finally ended in a 2-2 draw at Chelsea last time out. On paper, a trip to Newcastle looks like their toughest away test yet. In practice, head coach Matthias Jaissle confirmed this week that at least seven first-team players are unavailable following the 4-1 defeat at Leeds, with Anthony Elanga still awaiting a further scan, Dan Burn out with an ankle injury and Joelinton sidelined by a thigh problem. Newcastle sit 12th on 5 points and go into this one severely weakened, which hands Hull a genuine opportunity to make it five unbeaten and keep their remarkable early-season story going.

Tottenham’s Historic Goal Drought Continues Against Fellow Strugglers Aston Villa

Spurs have not scored a single Premier League goal in four matches — a run the club has never produced this early in a season — and Roberto De Zerbi is facing genuine speculation over his position, with reports naming possible successors including Arne Slot. De Zerbi is without Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Mykhailo Mudryk through injury, though Pedro Porro returns to the squad, some rare good news after a summer outlay reported at more than £350 million has so far produced nothing at the right end of the pitch. Aston Villa arrive in equally rough shape, 19th on a single point after losing Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers to Premier League rivals over the summer and shipping nine goals in their last five games in all competitions. Villa have the psychological edge, though, winning four of the last five meetings between these two including a 2-1 win back in May.

Arsenal and City Both Unbeaten, Both Big Favourites

The top of the table hasn’t budged much — Arsenal and City sit level on 12 points from four games, both unbeaten, with Arsenal just ahead on goal difference. Neither faces the other this round. Arsenal travel to Brighton, who arrive 5th with the division’s second-best goal difference after thumping Coventry 5-0, arguably their toughest league away day so far. City, by contrast, host bottom-half Sunderland at the Etihad and will be expected to extend their unbeaten start comfortably.

Leeds United Look to Extend Perfect Start Against Crystal Palace

Daniel Farke’s Leeds sit 3rd on 8 points and remain unbeaten through four games, built around a settled defence and new £45 million goalkeeper James Trafford. They host a Crystal Palace side struggling for consistency in 16th on 3 points, and on the balance of form so far, Leeds will fancy extending one of the more unexpected top-four pushes of the early season.

Elsewhere in Gameweek 5

Friday night kicks the round off with Brentford, unbeaten in four but still searching for their first win, hosting a Chelsea side sitting 6th on 7 points. Saturday lunchtime brings Everton against an Ipswich Town side still adjusting to life back in the top flight, and bottom club Coventry — still pointless after four games — travelling to Nottingham Forest in search of a first result. The round closes out on Sunday with Liverpool away at Bournemouth looking to build on a steady if unspectacular start, and Manchester United, still hunting consistency in 13th, away at a winless Fulham.

Gameweek 5 Match Odds

Odds correct at the time of writing and subject to change. Full markets available with bet365.

The Bottom Line

Arsenal and City will keep doing what they’ve been doing at the top, but gameweek 5’s real drama sits further down the table — a weakened Newcastle trying to stop Hull’s fairytale, and a Tottenham side under real pressure hosting a fellow crisis club in Aston Villa. Four rounds have already reshuffled plenty of expectations; gameweek 5 looks set to test just how real Hull’s and Leeds’ early form really is.