English top flight: 10 things to look out for this matchday
Garnacho versus Walker poised for a fresh clash
A Manchester reunion could be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The winger has started to settle in west London following his summer move from the Red Devils and showcased his skills versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, replicating his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the speed at which situations evolve. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? When the Argentine netted for United during their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to ending Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire transfer speculation focus amid a reported £65m release clause for a prospective mid-season move, the gossip columns setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's average tier. This is predictable from a wide player with six finishes and three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an awkward position, having undergone a role reversal: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 on aggregate in their previous two games following an impressive opening to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss by Aston Villa yet taking on a defensive unit lacking a shutout since August could be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck a surprise choice for the national team
It was notable to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton attacker turns 35 in the coming days. “Despite not being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to offer me,” stated the England boss. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a quite orthodox striker position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 caps in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be on the plane to the World Cup provided he manages to sustain his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes compared to any English footballer in the top flight this season having six and remains eager to add to that total when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The full-back crucial as assist provider and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a degree of positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who came back to his boyhood club recently after five difficult years in north London, has emerged as a first-team fixture, driving down the left side with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he remains their top goalscorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer in the last term, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver in a creative role replacing Robinson, who registered ten helpers last time round. Fulham's following four fixtures include three from the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine strikes this season this season. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
5. Time for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Reds
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they lost to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The coach's team must have a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from their current spot, as well as a significant upturn in results, and opportunity emerges with seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures versus clubs currently in the bottom half in the standings. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield to the title holders in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's display when facing long balls and fast breaks that will be under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The expensive signing has not featured at club level over four weeks following a muscle issue when making his second start in quick succession in continental competition triumph in Germany. Isak returned off the bench in Sweden's loss against Switzerland but sat out the midweek meaningless match versus Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card on Tuesday might have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
