Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for another clash
Another northwest showdown might be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities in the Wolves match before the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace with a perfect low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required shifting infield before dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of how quickly things transform. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? When the Argentine found the net for United in their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger vital to ending Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full transfer speculation attention due to a reported £65m escape clause for a prospective winter exit, the tabloids positioning him for promotion out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is predictable for a wide player with a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers and is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an tricky spot, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the struggling side West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 over two games in their past two games after an strong beginning to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss by Aston Villa yet taking on a defence without a goalless game since August might be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck an outside shout for the Three Lions
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the national team window although the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I am aware what he is able to give me,” stated the England coach. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional striker position.” Having won the most recent of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be selected for the World Cup if he manages to sustain his goalscoring exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally over every other English player in the Premier League this term with six and is anxious to increase that total when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon required as creator and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a measure of warmth to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his boyhood club last year following five challenging years with Spurs, has emerged as a first-team fixture, driving down the left flank due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he remains their top goalscorer this season together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker last season, has netted a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 owing to hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver in a creative role instead of Robinson, who registered ten setups last season. Fulham's next four matches take in three among the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed just nine strikes in the league so far. Danger looms for a side that have developed a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
5. Time for Isak to deliver for the Reds
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they lost to loss number seven in 10 games. The coach's side must have a sustained recovery to muscle into the championship chase from here, as well as a dramatic upturn in results, and opportunity emerges as seven out of their next 10 Premier League matches against sides at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The danger is evident from Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a home league defeat on the champions last season, however it's not just Liverpool's performance versus long balls and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured at club level for a month after picking up a groin injury during his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in continental competition triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared off the bench in Sweden's loss by Switzerland but was rested the midweek dead rubber versus Slovenia to secure his fitness for the World Cup qualifiers. A booking on Tuesday might have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
