Premier division: 10 things to watch for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for another battle
A Mancunian rematch could be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is adapting well at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his skills in the Wolves match prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace and a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to chipping a delivery toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the pace with which situations evolve. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? During the Argentine found the net for United in their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to ending Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete transfer speculation treatment due to a reported £65m buyout clause for a potential winter exit, the gossip columns setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's average tier. It is to be expected from a winger who has six goals and three helpers and is pleasurable to watch. Still, his team are in an difficult position, experiencing a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have lost 7-1 on aggregate over their previous two games after an impressive beginning to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss by Aston Villa but confronting a defensive unit lacking a goalless game since August may prove the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck an outside option for England
It proved intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the national team window although the Brighton attacker reaches 35 soon. “Without even having met him, I understand what he is able to offer me,” commented the England coach. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox centre-forward position.” Gaining the last of his 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup if he manages to maintain his goal-getting feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim additional strikes compared to any English player in the top flight this term having six and will be keen to boost that total as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon required as creator and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has provided a measure of comfort to Fulham's bumpy start. The 25-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club last year after five tough years with Spurs, has become a regular starter, driving down the left flank in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he's also their leading marksman in the league together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer in the last term, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute in a creative role replacing Robinson, who supplied ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four games take in three among the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine strikes in the Premier League to date. Danger looms for a side that have developed a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The occasion for The striker to produce for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they fell to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's team need a consistent improvement to force their way into the championship chase from this position, as well as a major boost in performance, and a chance arises as seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures facing sides presently in the lower half of the table. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a loss at Anfield to the title holders in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and quick transitions that is under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The expensive signing has not featured at club level over four weeks following a groin injury while his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in continental competition triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back as a substitute during Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but missed Tuesday's dead rubber with Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A booking on Tuesday would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
