Premier division: 10 things to watch for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new clash
Another northwest showdown could be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his skills in the Wolves match prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the speed at which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? During the former scored for United during their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to stopping Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full transfer speculation attention following a reported £65m buyout clause for his potential winter exit, the gossip columns preparing him for promotion out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is understandable for a winger with six goals plus three setups and remains delightful to watch. Still, Bournemouth are in an difficult position, having engaged in a role reversal: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who enter with successive wins, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one over two games over their last two fixtures following an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss to Aston Villa but facing a defensive unit without a goalless game in the league since the start of the season may prove the best solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker an outside choice for the national team
It proved intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the fixture pause although the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 soon. “Despite not being familiar with him, I understand what he could provide,” commented the England coach. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional centre-forward position.” Having won the last of his 42 England games back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be in the squad for the World Cup assuming he manages to sustain his goalscoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally than any other English footballer in the top flight this season on six and is eager to add to that tally when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
The full-back required as creator and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered some positivity to Fulham's bumpy start. The 25-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club last year following five tough years with Spurs, is now a regular starter, driving down the left flank in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he's also their leading marksman in the league together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man last season, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' upcoming four games include three among the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine strikes in the league so far. A threat emerges for a team that have earned a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they fell to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The manager's side must have a consistent improvement to force their way into the league contest from here, plus a major upturn in results, and opportunity presents itself with seven of their next 10 top-flight fixtures facing clubs presently in the bottom ten in the standings. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's display against direct play and counterattacks that remains under scrutiny. It is time for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The big-money forward has been absent in domestic action for a month following a groin injury while his second consecutive start in quick succession in continental competition win abroad. He reappeared from the bench in Sweden's defeat by Switzerland but missed the subsequent dead rubber with Slovenia to ensure his readiness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution on Tuesday would have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
