Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a new encounter
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is adapting well at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and showcased his talents versus Wolverhampton before the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace and a perfect grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside prior to dinking a delivery to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of how quickly circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the Argentine found the net for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (kick-offs GMT)
The winger crucial to halting Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire gossip column attention following a reported £65m escape clause for a prospective January departure, the gossip columns setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. That is to be expected for a winger with a half-dozen strikes and three helpers and is joyous to watch. However, Bournemouth occupy an difficult spot, having undergone a role reversal: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one combined over their past two matches following an impressive start to the season. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss by Aston Villa yet confronting a defence without a goalless game in the league since the start of the season may prove the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The striker a left-field shout for England
It seemed notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton forward celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he is able to provide,” said the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a very conventional No 9 position.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 caps several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup provided he is able to continue his scoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has a greater tally than any other English footballer in England's top division this season having six and remains eager to boost that total when Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
The full-back needed as assist provider and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven beginning. The left-sided player, who came back to his boyhood club last year after five difficult years in north London, has become a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he remains their leading marksman this season together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer last season, has netted a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who supplied 10 assists in the previous campaign. Fulham's following four fixtures feature three among the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine goals in the league so far. Trouble awaits for the club that have earned a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they fell to their seventh loss in ten matches. The manager's side require a consistent improvement to muscle into the championship chase from their current spot, plus a major boost in performance, and a chance presents itself as seven of their next 10 top-flight fixtures versus teams presently in the lower half of the table. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's display against long balls and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. It is time that Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not played in domestic action over four weeks after picking up a groin injury while his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in the Champions League triumph abroad. He reappeared off the bench in the Swedish reverse to Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to guarantee his availability for next year's World Cup playoffs. A yellow card on Tuesday might have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
