Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for another battle
A Manchester reunion may be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker has started to settle with Chelsea after his off-season signing from Manchester United and demonstrated his talents against Wolves before the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right before chipping a ball across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, replicating his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the Argentine scored for United in the cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo key to stopping Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full rumour-mill attention amid a alleged £65m buyout clause for his potential January departure, the tabloids setting him up for graduation from the Premier League's middle class. It is understandable for a winger who has a half-dozen strikes and three helpers who is joyous to watch. However, Bournemouth are in an tricky position, having engaged in a body swap: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who enter on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one combined in their last two matches following an strong beginning to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa yet taking on a defence without a goalless game in the league since the start of the season could be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
3. Welbeck a surprise shout for the national team
It was interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 soon. “Even without being familiar with him, I am aware what he can offer me,” commented the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a very conventional striker role.” Earning the last of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup if he is able to maintain his goalscoring exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts a greater tally compared to any English performer in the top flight this term with six and is keen to increase that count when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon needed as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided some warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his youth team recently after five difficult years at Tottenham, has emerged as a first-team fixture, operating on the left flank in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he's also their joint-top scorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker last season, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also having to step up as a creator in place of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last time round. Fulham's following four matches take in three of the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine goals this season to date. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
5. Time for The striker to produce for the Merseyside club
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they fell to their seventh loss in 10 games. The manager's squad must have a consistent improvement to enter the title race from this position, along with a major upturn in results, and a chance presents itself with seven from their next 10 Premier League matches against clubs at the moment in the bottom ten of the table. The risk is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield to Liverpool last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing when facing direct play and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The big-money forward has not played for his club in a month after picking up a muscle issue when making his second consecutive start in four days in continental competition triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned from the bench in Sweden's defeat by Switzerland but was rested the midweek dead rubber with Slovenia to secure his availability for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A booking on Tuesday might have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
