English top flight: 10 things to look out for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for another battle
A Manchester reunion could be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is adapting well with Chelsea after his close-season transfer from Manchester United and displayed his talents in the Wolves match before the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a ideal low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to chipping a cross to the back post. His celebration with Neto, replicating his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the speed at which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? During the Argentine netted for United during their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo key to halting Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire gossip column attention due to a claimed £65m escape clause for a potential January departure, the gossip columns positioning him for advancement out of the Premier League's middle class. That is understandable from a wide player with six goals and three setups and is joyous to watch. However, his team occupy an tricky spot, experiencing a body swap: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 on aggregate in their last two fixtures following an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa yet taking on a defensive unit that hasn't kept a goalless game for months may prove the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck a surprise option for the Three Lions
It proved notable to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times during the fixture pause although the Brighton striker celebrates 35 soon. “Without even being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to offer me,” stated the England boss. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very conventional No 9 position.” Earning the last of his 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be selected to the World Cup assuming he manages to continue his goalscoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal attacker can claim additional strikes compared to any English performer in the top flight this campaign on six and will be keen to add to that total as Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
4. Sessegnon needed as creator and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered some warmth to Fulham's uneven start. The 25-year-old, who came back to his former side last year following five difficult years with Spurs, has emerged as a consistent pick, operating on the left in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he's also their leading marksman in the league alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer in the last term, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver in a creative role in place of Robinson, who registered ten setups last time round. Fulham's next four fixtures take in three from the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed just nine scores in the Premier League this season. Danger looms for a team that have developed a standing for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's squad require a prolonged upturn to enter the championship chase from their current spot, along with a dramatic boost in performance, and opportunity arises as seven of their following ten top-flight fixtures facing sides presently in the bottom half of the table. The risk is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a defeat on their own turf to the title holders last season, but it is not only Liverpool's display against direct play and quick transitions that is in focus. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action in a month after picking up a groin problem when making his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in continental competition triumph abroad. Isak returned from the bench during Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but was rested the midweek inconsequential game with Slovenia to secure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A booking on Tuesday would have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
