English top flight: ten key points to watch for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a fresh encounter
A Manchester reunion may be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker has started to settle at Stamford Bridge after his summer move from Manchester United and displayed his abilities against Wolves before the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace and a perfect low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside before lofting a ball toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of how quickly circumstances change. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the former scored for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to ending Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full gossip column treatment following a reported £65m release clause for his potential mid-season move, the tabloids preparing him for promotion from the Premier League's middle class. This is understandable for a attacker who has a half-dozen strikes plus three assists who is pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his side are in an tricky position, having undergone a body swap: now it's the struggling side West Ham who come in with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth are down seven-one on aggregate in their last two fixtures after an impressive start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa yet taking on a defensive unit lacking a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season might be the best solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a left-field shout for the national team
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times during the national team window although the Brighton striker turns 35 next week. “Without even knowing him, I am aware what he could give me,” stated the England manager. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional centre-forward position.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 caps in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be selected for the World Cup provided he is able to maintain his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim more goals over every other English player in England's top division this season with six and remains keen to add to that total as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon required as creator and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The 25-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club recently following five difficult years at Tottenham, has emerged as a first-team fixture, driving down the left in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he's also their joint-top scorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer in the last term, has bagged one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute in a creative role in place of Robinson, who registered ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's upcoming four games take in three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores this season to date. Danger looms for a team that have developed a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The occasion for Alexander Isak to produce for Liverpool
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they lost to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. The manager's team must have a consistent improvement to muscle into the league contest from this position, plus a significant upturn in results, and opportunity emerges with seven out of their next 10 Premier League matches against teams currently in the bottom half of the table. The danger is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a home league defeat on the champions last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing versus aerial passes and counterattacks that will be under the spotlight. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The expensive signing has not featured for his club for a month after picking up a muscle issue during his second consecutive start in quick succession in the Champions League victory abroad. He reappeared as a substitute during Sweden's loss by Switzerland but missed Tuesday's meaningless match against Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the World Cup qualifiers. A booking on Tuesday could have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
