English top flight: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a new battle
A Mancunian rematch may be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from Manchester United and displayed his talents against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration with a perfect low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right before chipping a delivery to the back post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of how quickly situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the youngster found the net for United in their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full rumour-mill attention following a alleged £65m escape clause for his possible January departure, the media setting him up for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. That is to be expected from a winger who has six finishes and three helpers and is delightful to watch. Still, his side occupy an difficult position, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down seven to one over two games in their previous two fixtures after an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss by Aston Villa but confronting a backline without a clean sheet since August may prove the best solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a left-field shout for England
It was interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the national team window although the Brighton striker turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I am aware what he could give me,” said the England manager. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite orthodox centre-forward position.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be in the squad for the World Cup if he is able to continue his goalscoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has additional strikes than any other English player in the Premier League this campaign with six and will be keen to boost that total when Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
The full-back required as playmaker and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought some positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who came back to his former side last year after five challenging years at Tottenham, is now a first-team fixture, driving down the left flank due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he is their top goalscorer this season alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker last season, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also having to step up as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided 10 assists in the previous campaign. Fulham's following four games feature three from the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine strikes this season so far. Danger looms for a team that have earned a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The moment for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Reds
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they succumbed to loss number seven in ten matches. The coach's team need a consistent improvement to enter the title race from here, plus a significant improvement in form, and the possibility emerges with seven from their upcoming ten Premier League matches versus sides at the moment in the lower half in the league. The danger is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a loss at Anfield on the champions last season, but it is not only Liverpool's showing when facing direct play and fast breaks that remains in focus. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has been absent for his club in a month after picking up a groin problem when making his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in the Champions League victory in Germany. The striker came back from the bench in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but sat out the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to secure his readiness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A caution on Tuesday could have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
