Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this matchday
Garnacho versus Walker poised for another clash
A Manchester reunion may be in the offing as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and displayed his skills against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto required cutting inside prior to dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly situations evolve. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? During the Argentine found the net for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
The winger vital to ending Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire transfer speculation focus following a alleged £65m buyout clause for his prospective January departure, the tabloids positioning him for promotion out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is understandable for a attacker who has six finishes and three helpers and is pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his team occupy an awkward situation, having engaged in a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with successive wins, while Bournemouth have lost seven to one combined in their previous two games following an strong start to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa but taking on a backline that hasn't kept a shutout in the league since the start of the season could be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
Danny Welbeck an outside option for the national team
It was interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton striker turns 35 next week. “Despite not having met him, I understand what he could offer me,” stated the England manager. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional striker role.” Having won the last of his 42 England games back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup if he can maintain his scoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally over every other English player in the Premier League this term with six and remains eager to add to that count when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
The full-back crucial as creator and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided some comfort to Fulham's uneven opening. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his former side recently after five challenging years with Spurs, is now a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left side in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker in the last term, has scored once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who provided ten setups last time round. Fulham's following four games take in three of the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine strikes this season to date. Trouble awaits for a side that have developed a standing for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The moment for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's squad must have a sustained recovery to enter the league contest from this position, as well as a significant upturn in results, and the possibility arises as seven of their next 10 league games against clubs currently in the bottom half in the league. The risk is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing against aerial passes and counterattacks that is in focus. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The expensive signing has not played in domestic action for a month after picking up a groin problem while his second consecutive start in quick succession in continental competition triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared from the bench in the Swedish reverse against Switzerland but missed Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card on Tuesday might have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
