English top flight: 10 things to watch for this matchday
Garnacho versus Walker poised for another clash
A Mancunian rematch might be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his skills versus Wolverhampton before the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace and a perfect grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right before chipping a cross to the back post. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of how quickly circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former netted for United during their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger vital to ending Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill treatment amid a reported £65m buyout clause for a potential winter exit, the tabloids preparing him for graduation from the Premier League's average tier. This is understandable for a attacker who has six goals and three assists and remains delightful to watch. However, Bournemouth occupy an awkward position, experiencing a role reversal: it is the struggling side West Ham who enter on successive wins, while Bournemouth are down 7-1 over two games over their last two fixtures following an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss to Aston Villa yet taking on a backline without a goalless game for months could be the best solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
Danny Welbeck a surprise choice for the national team
It proved intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause even though the Brighton attacker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Even without being familiar with him, I know what he can offer me,” stated the England coach. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] in a very traditional striker position.” Having won the final 42 caps several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck could be in the squad to the World Cup provided he can maintain his goalscoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts additional strikes over every other English performer in the Premier League this campaign with six and remains keen to increase that total as Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
4. Sessegnon needed as playmaker and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven opening. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his former side last year after five challenging years in north London, is now a regular starter, driving down the left side in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he remains their top goalscorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer in the last term, has bagged a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver in a creative role instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last season. Fulham's upcoming four games include three from the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores this season so far. Danger looms for the club that have developed a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
5. Time for The striker to perform for the Merseyside club
The debate about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's team need a consistent improvement to enter the championship chase from here, as well as a dramatic upturn in results, and a chance emerges as seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures against sides at the moment in the bottom half of the table. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a defeat on their own turf to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus aerial passes and fast breaks that remains in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent for his club for a month following a groin injury when making his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned off the bench in the Swedish loss by Switzerland but was rested the midweek meaningless match with Slovenia to secure his readiness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A caution in that match could have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
