English top flight: ten highlights to look out for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a new clash
Another northwest showdown may be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker has started to settle with Chelsea following his summer move from Manchester United and displayed his skills versus Wolverhampton before the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the Argentine netted for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to stopping Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full rumour-mill treatment following a reported £65m release clause for a possible January departure, the media positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is understandable from a winger with a half-dozen strikes and three setups and remains delightful to watch. However, Bournemouth find themselves in an difficult situation, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth are down seven-one over two games in their past two games after an impressive opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss to Aston Villa but taking on a backline lacking a shutout for months might be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a left-field option for the Three Lions
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break despite the fact that the Brighton striker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Even without being familiar with him, I am aware what he could offer me,” stated the England boss. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional No 9 position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be in the squad to the World Cup assuming he manages to continue his goalscoring feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim additional strikes compared to any English footballer in the Premier League this season with six and remains eager to increase that total as Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon required as playmaker and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his youth team last year after five tough years in north London, is now a consistent pick, driving down the left with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he's also their leading marksman this season as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man in the last term, has netted a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term owing to a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last season. Fulham's following four fixtures take in three from the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine scores in the Premier League to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The occasion for Isak to produce for the Merseyside club
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they succumbed to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. The manager's squad must have a prolonged upturn to enter the championship chase from this position, along with a significant improvement in form, and the possibility arises with seven out of their next 10 league games against clubs currently in the lower half in the league. The threat is evident from Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a defeat on their own turf to the title holders last season, but it is not only Liverpool's performance against aerial passes and fast breaks that will be in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent for his club over four weeks following a muscle issue when making his second appearance in the lineup in four days in the Champions League victory abroad. Isak returned from the bench during Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's meaningless match against Slovenia to secure his readiness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A booking on Tuesday would have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
