English top flight: ten key points to watch for this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker ready for a new clash
Another northwest showdown could be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker has started to settle in west London after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and showcased his skills against Wolves before the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto combined electric speed and a ideal low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right before lofting a cross to the back post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which situations evolve. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former found the net for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (start times GMT)
The winger crucial to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the complete transfer speculation attention due to a alleged £65m escape clause for his possible winter exit, the gossip columns positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. It is understandable from a winger who has six goals plus three setups and is pleasurable to watch. Still, his team are in an difficult situation, experiencing a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who come in on successive wins, while Bournemouth are down seven-one combined over their past two games following an impressive start to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss by Aston Villa however confronting a defensive unit lacking a shutout since August could be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck a surprise choice for the Three Lions
It proved notable to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window even though the Brighton attacker turns 35 next week. “Even without knowing him, I understand what he is able to give me,” stated the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite orthodox centre-forward role.” Having won the final 42 caps in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be in the squad for the World Cup provided he can sustain his goalscoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts additional strikes over every other English footballer in the Premier League this season having six and is anxious to add to that count as Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy opening. The left-sided player, who rejoined his boyhood club last year following five tough years at Tottenham, has become a regular starter, driving down the left side in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer this season together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker in the last term, has netted one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who provided 10 assists last time round. Fulham's following four fixtures feature three from the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the Premier League this season. A threat emerges for the club that have earned a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The occasion for Isak to perform for Liverpool
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they lost to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The coach's team must have a sustained recovery to enter the title race from this position, as well as a dramatic boost in performance, and opportunity emerges with seven from their upcoming ten Premier League matches versus clubs currently in the bottom ten in the league. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a home league defeat to the title holders the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's showing against aerial passes and counterattacks that will be in focus. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not featured at club level over four weeks after picking up a groin problem when making his second consecutive start in quick succession in the Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared as a substitute in the Swedish defeat against Switzerland but missed Tuesday's meaningless match with Slovenia to secure his availability for the World Cup qualifiers. A caution during the game could have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
