English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a fresh encounter
A Mancunian rematch could be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker has started to settle at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and showcased his talents in the Wolves match prior to the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration and a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside before chipping a ball toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly circumstances change. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the youngster netted for United during their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger crucial to halting Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill attention amid a claimed £65m release clause for his potential mid-season move, the gossip columns positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. That is predictable for a attacker with a half-dozen strikes and three setups and is delightful to watch. Still, his team occupy an awkward spot, experiencing a role reversal: now it's the struggling side West Ham who enter on successive wins, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one on aggregate over their previous two fixtures after an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa however confronting a backline that hasn't kept a shutout since August might be the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck an outside option for the national team
It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton forward reaches 35 next week. “Despite not being familiar with him, I know what he could give me,” stated the England boss. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a quite orthodox centre-forward role.” Having won the last of his 42 England games in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be selected for the World Cup if he manages to sustain his goal-getting performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward has a greater tally compared to any English performer in the Premier League this campaign on six and remains anxious to increase that tally when Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
Ryan Sessegnon needed as creator and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought some positivity to Fulham's uneven beginning. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his youth team recently after five tough years with Spurs, is now a consistent pick, operating on the left side with the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he is their joint-top scorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has netted once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also having to step up in a creative role instead of Robinson, who supplied ten helpers last season. Fulham's next four fixtures take in three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine scores this season so far. Danger looms for the club that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Reds
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to their seventh loss in ten matches. The coach's team need a prolonged upturn to force their way into the title race from here, plus a significant improvement in form, and the possibility presents itself with seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures against clubs currently in the lower half of the table. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a home league defeat on the champions the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance versus aerial passes and fast breaks that will be in focus. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not featured for his club for a month having sustained a groin injury when making his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in continental competition win in Germany. Isak returned as a substitute in Sweden's loss against Switzerland but sat out the subsequent inconsequential game against Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card on Tuesday could have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient