English top flight: ten key points to watch for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a fresh clash
A Manchester reunion could be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker has started to settle in west London after his summer move from the Red Devils and demonstrated his talents against Wolves before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace and a ideal grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to lofting a ball toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? When the youngster scored for United in their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo key to ending Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the complete gossip column treatment due to a alleged £65m escape clause for his possible winter exit, the gossip columns preparing him for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. It is understandable from a attacker who has six finishes and three setups and is joyous to watch. However, his team are in an difficult spot, having undergone a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with successive wins, while Bournemouth have lost seven to one combined in their last two games after an promising beginning to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss to Aston Villa yet confronting a backline that hasn't kept a shutout since August could be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker an outside option for the Three Lions
It seemed notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton forward reaches 35 in the coming days. “Even without having met him, I know what he is able to offer me,” said the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional striker position.” Gaining the last of his 42 England games back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be in the squad for the World Cup provided he manages to sustain his scoring performances. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes over every other English performer in England's top division this campaign having six and is anxious to boost that total as Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
4. Sessegnon crucial as creator and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has provided some positivity to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who returned to his youth team last year following five difficult years with Spurs, is now a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left side with the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he is their leading marksman in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer in the last term, has scored a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who provided ten setups last season. Fulham's following four matches include three among the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed just nine goals in the league so far. A threat emerges for a side that have earned a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The moment for Alexander Isak to perform for the Reds
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they succumbed to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The coach's squad must have a sustained recovery to muscle into the championship chase from their current spot, plus a major improvement in form, and a chance arises as seven of their next 10 Premier League matches facing clubs presently in the bottom ten of the table. The danger is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield to Liverpool last season, however it's not just Liverpool's showing against long balls and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured in domestic action in a month following a groin injury when making his second start in four days in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned as a substitute in Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but missed the subsequent dead rubber with Slovenia to ensure his readiness for the World Cup playoffs. A yellow card on Tuesday would have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
