Premier League: 10 things to look out for this round of fixtures
Walker faces Garnacho set for a fresh clash
Another northwest showdown could be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The winger is adapting well at Stamford Bridge after his close-season transfer from Manchester United and demonstrated his skills versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined electric speed and a perfect grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto required shifting infield before chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which things transform. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the former found the net for United in their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger key to stopping Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete rumour-mill treatment following a reported ÂŁ65m release clause for a possible mid-season move, the gossip columns preparing him for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. That is to be expected for a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Still, his side occupy an tricky position, experiencing a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven-one over two games over their last two fixtures after an promising opening to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi MartĂnez in the heavy loss to Aston Villa yet facing a backline without a shutout in the league since the start of the season could be the best tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck an outside shout for the national team
It proved intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout 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 coach. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a very traditional No 9 role.” Earning the last of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be selected for the World Cup assuming he can maintain his scoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has additional strikes compared to any English player in the Premier League this season on six and is keen to boost that count when Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The full-back needed as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven start. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his boyhood club recently following five challenging years at Tottenham, is now a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he's also their joint-top scorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker last season, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who registered ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four matches take in three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine strikes this season this season. Trouble awaits for a team that have developed a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The moment for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool
The dispute regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they fell to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The manager's side require a prolonged upturn to enter the title race from their current spot, along with a major boost in performance, and opportunity arises with seven of their following ten Premier League matches versus sides presently in the bottom ten in the standings. The threat is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a defeat on their own turf on the champions last season, however it's not just Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and fast breaks that remains under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The ÂŁ125m striker has not featured for his club in a month having sustained a groin problem when making his second appearance in the lineup in four days in continental competition win abroad. The striker came back off the bench in Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but was rested the subsequent dead rubber versus Slovenia to guarantee his availability for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A booking on Tuesday would have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
