Premier division: ten highlights to watch for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker set for another clash
Another northwest showdown might be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger has started to settle with Chelsea after his summer move from the Red Devils and displayed his skills versus Wolverhampton before the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a ideal low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to lofting a ball across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the youngster netted for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to ending Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire transfer speculation treatment amid a alleged £65m buyout clause for a possible mid-season move, the gossip columns setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's average tier. That is to be expected from a attacker with a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers and is pleasurable to watch. However, his side find themselves in an tricky situation, having undergone a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have lost seven-one on aggregate in their past two matches after an impressive start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however facing a defence that hasn't kept a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The striker an outside choice for England
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break even though the Brighton striker celebrates 35 soon. “Even without having met him, I know what he is able to provide,” commented the England coach. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a quite orthodox centre-forward position.” Earning the last of his 42 England games back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck might be on the plane for the World Cup provided he manages to sustain his goalscoring performances. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim a greater tally compared to any English footballer in England's top division this term on six and is anxious to boost that total as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
4. Sessegnon needed as assist provider and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a measure of warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who rejoined his boyhood club last year after five challenging years in north London, has emerged as a first-team fixture, operating on the left flank with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker last season, has netted one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute in a creative role instead of Robinson, who registered ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' upcoming four fixtures feature three among the best five and Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine scores in the league so far. Danger looms for a team that have built a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for Isak to deliver for the Reds
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in 10 games. Arne Slot's squad need a sustained recovery to enter the title race from this position, as well as a major boost in performance, and the possibility presents itself as seven from their following ten league games against sides presently in the lower half in the league. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a home league defeat on the champions the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's showing versus direct play and fast breaks that remains in focus. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The big-money forward has not played in domestic action over four weeks following a muscle issue while his second consecutive start in quick succession in continental competition victory abroad. He reappeared off the bench in Sweden's defeat by Switzerland but was rested the subsequent inconsequential game versus Slovenia to secure his fitness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A booking in that match might have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
