English top flight: ten highlights to watch for this round of fixtures
Walker faces Garnacho set for a new battle
Another northwest showdown could be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is adapting well at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his abilities in the Wolves match before the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a flawless low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right before chipping a cross across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the pace with which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the youngster netted for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire transfer speculation attention following a claimed £65m escape clause for a prospective January departure, the media preparing him for promotion out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is understandable for a winger with six goals plus three helpers and remains delightful to watch. Still, his team are in an tricky spot, having undergone a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth are down seven-one on aggregate in their past two games after an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa but confronting a backline without a clean sheet since August might be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck an outside choice for the national team
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break even though the Brighton striker turns 35 soon. “Despite not being familiar with him, I know what he is able to offer me,” stated the England coach. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very orthodox striker position.” Gaining the final 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be on the plane to the World Cup provided he manages to continue his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally than any other English performer in the top flight this term having six and will be anxious to add to that count when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon required as creator and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's uneven beginning. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team recently after five challenging years with Spurs, is now a consistent pick, operating on the left side due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he is their leading marksman in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man last season, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as a creator replacing Robinson, who registered ten helpers last season. Fulham's next four matches take in three of the top five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine strikes this season so far. A threat emerges for the club that have earned a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The moment for Isak to perform for Liverpool
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they fell to their seventh loss in ten matches. The coach's team need a consistent improvement to force their way into the league contest from their current spot, as well as a major improvement in form, and the possibility emerges with seven of their next 10 league games facing clubs currently in the bottom half in the league. The threat is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a home league defeat to Liverpool in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's display when facing direct play and fast breaks that will be under scrutiny. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not featured for his club for a month after picking up a groin injury while his second start in quick succession in Europe win in Germany. He reappeared off the bench in the Swedish defeat to Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's inconsequential game against Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A booking in that match might have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
