Premier League: ten highlights to watch for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a fresh encounter
A Mancunian rematch could be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger has started to settle at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and showcased his skills versus Wolverhampton prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a ideal grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right prior to dinking a ball to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of how quickly situations evolve. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? When the Argentine netted for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (all times GMT)
The winger crucial to stopping Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete transfer speculation treatment due to a alleged £65m release clause for a potential winter exit, the tabloids setting him up for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is understandable from a winger who has six finishes plus three assists who is pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an tricky position, having undergone a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one combined over their previous two matches after an promising beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa however facing a backline without a shutout for months may prove the best remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker an outside shout for England
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause even though the Brighton attacker reaches 35 soon. “Even without being familiar with him, I understand what he can provide,” said the England manager. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional striker role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 England games back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be on the plane to the World Cup provided he manages to sustain his goalscoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker can claim a greater tally than any other English performer in the top flight this season on six and will be anxious to add to that total when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon needed as playmaker and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered some warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The 25-year-old, who returned to his former side recently after five difficult years in north London, has become a regular starter, operating on the left side due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he remains their leading marksman this season together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker in the last term, has scored once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also having to step up as a creator in place of Robinson, who registered ten helpers in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' following four games include three of the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine strikes in the league so far. Trouble awaits for a team that have developed a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
5. Time for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they succumbed to loss number seven in 10 games. The coach's side require a consistent improvement to force their way into the title race from this position, as well as a dramatic improvement in form, and opportunity emerges with seven out of their next 10 top-flight fixtures facing clubs at the moment in the bottom ten in the standings. The danger is evident from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a home league defeat to the title holders in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's performance against aerial passes and fast breaks that remains in focus. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The big-money forward has been absent at club level in a month following a muscle issue when making his second appearance in the lineup in four days in continental competition triumph abroad. The striker came back off the bench in the Swedish loss by Switzerland but sat out the midweek dead rubber with Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A booking in that match could have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient