Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker set for another battle
A Manchester reunion may be in store as Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger has started to settle at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and displayed his talents in the Wolves match prior to the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a ideal low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to chipping a cross to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a indication of the speed at which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former found the net for United in the cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire transfer speculation attention amid a claimed £65m release clause for a possible winter exit, the gossip columns setting him up for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is to be expected from a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his team are in an difficult spot, experiencing a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth are down 7-1 over two games in their previous two matches after an strong start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss to Aston Villa yet confronting a backline without a shutout for months could be the best tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3pm
Danny Welbeck an outside option for the national team
It proved interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton striker reaches 35 next week. “Even without knowing him, I understand what he is able to offer me,” stated the England manager. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional centre-forward role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 caps in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be selected for the World Cup if he can continue his goal-getting feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim a greater tally than any other English footballer in England's top division this term with six and will be eager to boost that tally as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon needed as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a measure of warmth to Fulham's uneven start. The 25-year-old, who came back to his former side recently following five difficult years at Tottenham, has emerged as a first-team fixture, operating on the left flank in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he is their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man the previous campaign, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period because of a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who provided ten helpers last season. The Cottagers' next four matches include three among the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the Premier League so far. A threat emerges for a team that have developed a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The occasion for Isak to produce for the Merseyside club
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they succumbed to loss number seven in 10 games. The coach's squad need a prolonged upturn to muscle into the championship chase from their current spot, plus a major boost in performance, and a chance presents itself as seven out of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures versus clubs presently in the bottom ten of the table. The danger is evident from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a loss at Anfield to Liverpool the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's display when facing aerial passes and quick transitions that will be under scrutiny. It is time that Alexander Isak to deliver in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has been absent for his club for a month following a groin problem during his second appearance in the lineup in four days in continental competition win at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned from the bench in the Swedish reverse by Switzerland but missed Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to secure his readiness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A caution during the game could have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
