Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a fresh clash
A Manchester reunion might be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is finding his feet with Chelsea after his summer move from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton prior to the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto combined electric speed and a flawless grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before chipping a delivery toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? During the Argentine netted for United in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (all times GMT)
The winger crucial to stopping Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire gossip column attention amid a claimed £65m escape clause for a potential mid-season move, the media preparing him for advancement from the Premier League's average tier. This is to be expected from a attacker with six goals and three assists who is pleasurable to watch. However, his side find themselves in an awkward position, having undergone a role reversal: it is the struggling side West Ham who come in with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 on aggregate over their previous two fixtures after an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however taking on a backline without a clean sheet since August might be the best remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck an outside shout for the national team
It proved notable to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the international break although the Brighton forward turns 35 soon. “Even without knowing him, I am aware what he can give me,” said the England manager. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite orthodox No 9 position.” Gaining the final 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he manages to maintain his scoring feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward has more goals than any other English footballer in the top flight this campaign having six and remains keen to add to that tally when Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon needed as creator and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy opening. The left-sided player, who rejoined his boyhood club recently after five difficult years in north London, has become a regular starter, operating on the left with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he's also their joint-top scorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man in the last term, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term because of a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute as a creator instead of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last time round. Fulham's following four fixtures feature three among the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine strikes in the league so far. A threat emerges for a side that have developed a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The occasion for Isak to produce for the Reds
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The manager's squad must have a sustained recovery to enter the championship chase from here, as well as a significant improvement in form, and a chance presents itself with seven from their next 10 top-flight fixtures versus clubs currently in the bottom ten of the table. The risk is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a loss at Anfield to Liverpool last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and fast breaks that remains in focus. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The expensive signing has not featured in domestic action in a month following a muscle issue while his second start in quick succession in Europe triumph abroad. The striker came back as a substitute in Sweden's loss by Switzerland but missed Tuesday's dead rubber with Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the World Cup knockout rounds. A booking in that match could have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
