Premier League: ten highlights to look out for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a new battle
A Manchester reunion could be in the offing as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is finding his feet with Chelsea following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and showcased his talents against Wolves prior to the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace and a ideal low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right before dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, replicating his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? When the youngster netted for United during their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
The winger crucial to halting Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete rumour-mill treatment due to a alleged £65m buyout clause for a possible January departure, the media preparing him for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. This is to be expected for a wide player who has six finishes and three assists and is pleasurable to watch. Still, his team find themselves in an tricky position, having undergone a body swap: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth are down seven-one over two games in their last two fixtures after an impressive start to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss to Aston Villa however facing a backline lacking a shutout in the league since the start of the season might be the best tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
The striker a left-field option for the national team
It proved interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times during the international break although the Brighton attacker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I understand what he can give me,” commented the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite traditional striker role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be on the plane for the World Cup if he manages to continue his scoring performances. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim additional strikes than any other English player in the top flight this season with six and remains eager to add to that count when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as creator and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a measure of warmth to Fulham's uneven beginning. The 25-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club last year following five tough years at Tottenham, is now a consistent pick, operating on the left side due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he's also their top goalscorer this season together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer in the last term, has scored one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also having to step up as a creator instead of Robinson, who registered ten helpers last season. The Cottagers' following four games feature three among the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine strikes in the league this season. Trouble awaits for a team that have developed a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in ten matches. Arne Slot's squad must have a prolonged upturn to force their way into the championship chase from here, along with a major upturn in results, and a chance presents itself with seven out of their next 10 top-flight fixtures versus sides presently in the bottom half of the table. The threat is evident from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a loss at Anfield on the champions the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's display versus direct play and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The big-money forward has not played in domestic action in a month following a muscle issue while his second start over a short period in continental competition win at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared as a substitute in Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but missed Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the World Cup playoffs. A yellow card on Tuesday could have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
