English top flight: 10 things to watch for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new encounter
A Manchester reunion may be in the offing as Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker has started to settle at Stamford Bridge following his summer move from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents in the Wolves match prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace and a ideal low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the pace with which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the former scored for United in their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to stopping Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full transfer speculation attention amid a claimed £65m buyout clause for his possible mid-season move, the gossip columns preparing him for graduation from the Premier League's average tier. That is understandable from a wide player with six finishes plus three assists and is pleasurable to watch. However, Bournemouth are in an tricky situation, having undergone a form flip: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth are down 7-1 on aggregate over their past two matches after an promising beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss by Aston Villa however taking on a backline without a goalless game for months could be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
The striker an outside choice for England
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton attacker turns 35 in the coming days. “Despite not being familiar with him, I am aware what he is able to offer me,” said the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional centre-forward role.” Earning the final 42 England games back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be in the squad to the World Cup assuming he manages to maintain his goalscoring performances. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has more goals compared to any English performer in England's top division this season with six and remains anxious to add to that count when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
Ryan Sessegnon required as playmaker and scorer
Sessegnon's story has offered a measure of warmth to Fulham's inconsistent start. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his former side last year following five challenging years at Tottenham, has emerged as a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he remains their top goalscorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer the previous campaign, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who provided ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' following four matches include three of the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine scores in the Premier League so far. Trouble awaits for a team that have built a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for the Reds
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The coach's side need a prolonged upturn to enter the title race from their current spot, plus a major upturn in results, and the possibility arises as seven of their following ten league games versus clubs at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a loss at Anfield on the champions in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing against long balls and counterattacks that is in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The expensive signing has not featured for his club for a month after picking up a muscle issue while his second start over a short period in continental competition victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back as a substitute in Sweden's loss to Switzerland but sat out the midweek meaningless match versus Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the World Cup playoffs. A caution in that match could have suspended him. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
