English top flight: 10 things to keep an eye on this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for another encounter
A Mancunian rematch may be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from the Red Devils and displayed his abilities versus Wolverhampton prior to the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended electric speed with a perfect grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield prior to lofting a delivery toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the pace with which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the youngster found the net for United in their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger crucial to ending Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full rumour-mill focus amid a reported £65m buyout clause for his potential January departure, the gossip columns setting him up for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is predictable from a wide player who has six goals and three assists and is delightful to watch. However, Bournemouth occupy an difficult situation, having engaged in a form flip: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost 7-1 on aggregate over their last two matches after an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss to Aston Villa but taking on a backline that hasn't kept a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the best remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck a surprise option for the national team
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break even though the Brighton striker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Even without knowing him, I understand what he could give me,” said the England coach. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very traditional striker position.” Having won the final 42 England games in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be in the squad to the World Cup assuming he can maintain his scoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has a greater tally compared to any English footballer in the Premier League this campaign with six and will be anxious to add to that total when Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
Ryan Sessegnon required as creator and scorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his boyhood club recently after five tough years with Spurs, has emerged as a first-team fixture, operating on the left side due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he remains their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer the previous campaign, has netted once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured until 2026 owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute in a creative role replacing Robinson, who supplied ten setups last time round. The Cottagers' next four matches feature three from the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine strikes in the league to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for The striker to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to a seventh defeat in 10 games. Arne Slot's squad must have a sustained recovery to enter the title race from their current spot, plus a significant upturn in results, and a chance emerges as seven of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures against teams at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The threat is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a home league defeat to Liverpool the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing when facing long balls and fast breaks that is in focus. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not played in domestic action over four weeks after picking up a muscle issue when making his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in Europe triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared from the bench in Sweden's loss to Switzerland but missed Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to guarantee his availability for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution on Tuesday would have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
