English top flight: ten highlights to watch for this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker ready for another encounter
A Manchester reunion could be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is adapting well in west London after his summer move from the Red Devils and displayed his skills against Wolves before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration and a perfect low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto required cutting inside prior to dinking a ball toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the former netted for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger vital to halting Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full rumour-mill attention following a reported £65m buyout clause for his potential mid-season move, the tabloids positioning him for promotion out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is understandable from a wide player with a half-dozen strikes plus three setups who is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an difficult situation, having undergone a role reversal: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one combined in their last two matches after an promising beginning to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa yet facing a backline without a goalless game since August may prove the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the Three Lions
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the international break despite the fact that the Brighton attacker turns 35 in the coming days. “Even without having met him, I know what he can provide,” stated the England manager. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional No 9 position.” Earning the final 42 caps in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck might be in the squad to the World Cup assuming he is able to maintain his goalscoring feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker has more goals than any other English player in the Premier League this campaign with six and will be keen to add to that total as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon crucial as assist provider and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a degree of warmth to Fulham's uneven beginning. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his boyhood club last year after five tough years at Tottenham, is now a consistent pick, driving down the left due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he remains their joint-top scorer this season alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has scored once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute as a creator in place of Robinson, who supplied ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four games feature three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine strikes in the Premier League so far. Danger looms for the club that have earned a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The moment for Alexander Isak to produce for the Merseyside club
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they fell to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The manager's squad must have a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from here, plus a dramatic boost in performance, and the possibility arises with seven out of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures facing clubs presently in the lower half in the league. The threat is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a defeat on their own turf on the champions the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's showing against direct play and fast breaks that will be in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has been absent at club level for a month following a muscle issue when making his second consecutive start over a short period in Europe win in Germany. Isak returned from the bench during Sweden's loss to Switzerland but missed the midweek dead rubber against Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A yellow card in that match would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
