Premier division: ten highlights to look out for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a fresh battle
Another northwest showdown could be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker has started to settle with Chelsea after his summer move from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration and a flawless grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right before lofting a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of the speed at which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? Back when the Argentine found the net for United in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger vital to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete transfer speculation attention due to a alleged £65m buyout clause for a prospective January departure, the gossip columns setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. That is to be expected from a wide player with a half-dozen strikes and three setups who is joyous to watch. Still, Bournemouth find themselves in an tricky spot, having engaged in a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down seven-one on aggregate in their last two fixtures after an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss by Aston Villa however facing a defence lacking a clean sheet for months may prove the ideal solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3pm
Danny Welbeck an outside option for the Three Lions
It seemed notable to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton forward reaches 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I am aware what he can provide,” commented the England coach. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite traditional centre-forward position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 international appearances several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup provided he can maintain his goalscoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim a greater tally than any other English performer in the top flight this season having six and is keen to increase that tally as Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
The full-back crucial as playmaker and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a degree of warmth to Fulham's uneven opening. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team recently after five challenging years with Spurs, has become a regular starter, driving down the left in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he remains their leading marksman this season together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has bagged a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured until 2026 owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute as a creator in place of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last time round. The Cottagers' following four fixtures include three from the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine strikes in the Premier League to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have built a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The occasion for Isak to produce for Liverpool
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they succumbed to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The manager's side require a prolonged upturn to force their way into the championship chase from their current spot, along with a significant upturn in results, and a chance presents itself as seven from their following ten Premier League matches versus teams at the moment in the bottom half of the table. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a loss at Anfield to Liverpool the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's performance versus aerial passes and fast breaks that will be under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action for a month after picking up a groin injury when making his second start in quick succession in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back off the bench in Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but missed the midweek inconsequential game with Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A booking in that match could have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
