English top flight: 10 things to keep an eye on this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for another clash
Another northwest showdown could be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is adapting well with Chelsea following his off-season signing from Manchester United and displayed his talents in the Wolves match before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended electric speed with a ideal grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside prior to dinking a cross toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the pace with which things transform. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? During the youngster scored for United during their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
The winger crucial to ending Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full transfer speculation treatment following a claimed £65m release clause for a possible January departure, the media preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is predictable from a winger with six finishes plus three helpers and remains joyous to watch. Still, his team are in an tricky position, having undergone a role reversal: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down seven to one over two games in their previous two matches following an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss to Aston Villa but taking on a backline without a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season may prove the best tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The striker an outside option for England
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break although the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 next week. “Even without being familiar with him, I am aware what he can offer me,” said the England boss. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very traditional centre-forward position.” Having won the most recent of his 42 caps several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup provided he manages to sustain his goalscoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts more goals compared to any English performer in the top flight this campaign with six and is eager to boost that count when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon required as assist provider and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a degree of warmth to Fulham's inconsistent start. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his former side last year following five difficult years at Tottenham, is now a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left side due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he remains their leading marksman in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man last season, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who supplied ten helpers last time round. Fulham's following four matches take in three of the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the Premier League to date. A threat emerges for a side that have earned a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
5. Time for Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The debate about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they succumbed to their seventh loss in ten matches. The manager's team need a consistent improvement to muscle into the championship chase from this position, as well as a significant boost in performance, and opportunity arises as seven of their next 10 top-flight fixtures facing sides presently in the bottom half in the league. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's display versus aerial passes and quick transitions that will be under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured at club level for a month following a groin problem when making his second consecutive start over a short period in continental competition victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back from the bench in Sweden's loss by Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's inconsequential game against Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the World Cup qualifiers. A booking on Tuesday might have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
