English top flight: ten key points to watch for this matchday
Garnacho versus Walker ready for another clash
A Manchester reunion may be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is adapting well with Chelsea following his summer move from the Red Devils and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside before dinking a ball to the back post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? During the youngster found the net for United during their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to halting Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full transfer speculation focus amid a alleged £65m release clause for his possible January departure, the media setting him up for graduation from the Premier League's average tier. This is predictable for a attacker with a half-dozen strikes and three setups who is joyous to watch. However, Bournemouth find themselves in an difficult spot, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one over two games in their previous two games after an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss to Aston Villa however confronting a backline that hasn't kept a clean sheet for months may prove the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
3. Welbeck a surprise option for England
It seemed interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window even though the Brighton striker reaches 35 soon. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he could offer me,” said the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a very orthodox No 9 position.” Having won the last of his 42 caps several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be selected for the World Cup provided he manages to sustain his goal-getting feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has more goals over every other English performer in the top flight this term on six and will be keen to add to that count as Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
4. Sessegnon needed as assist provider and scorer
Sessegnon's story has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his boyhood club last year after five tough years at Tottenham, is now a regular starter, pushing forward on the left side in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he's also their joint-top scorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker in the last term, has scored once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who supplied ten helpers last season. Fulham's following four fixtures feature three of the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed just nine goals this season to date. A threat emerges for the club that have earned a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to produce for Liverpool
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they fell to their seventh loss in 10 games. The coach's side must have a consistent improvement to muscle into the championship chase from here, along with a major improvement in form, and the possibility arises with seven from their next 10 league games versus teams at the moment in the lower half of the table. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's display when facing direct play and fast breaks that remains under the spotlight. It is time that Alexander Isak to deliver in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played for his club over four weeks after picking up a groin injury when making his second start in four days in Europe triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back as a substitute in Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but was rested the midweek meaningless match against Slovenia to ensure his availability for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A caution during the game would have suspended him. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
