English top flight: ten key points to watch for this round of fixtures
Garnacho versus Walker ready for a new encounter
Another northwest showdown could be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet with Chelsea after his close-season transfer from Manchester United and demonstrated his abilities versus Wolverhampton prior to the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto blended electric speed with a ideal grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto required shifting infield before dinking a cross toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the pace with which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? During the Argentine found the net for United during their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to halting Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full rumour-mill attention amid a reported £65m buyout clause for a potential January departure, the tabloids positioning him for promotion out of the Premier League's average tier. This is predictable from a winger with six goals and three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. However, his side find themselves in an tricky situation, having engaged in a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive on consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth are down seven to one combined over their previous two games following an strong opening to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however facing a backline that hasn't kept a goalless game in the league since the start of the season could be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
The striker a left-field option for England
It proved notable to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton attacker turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even being familiar with him, I understand what he can give me,” commented the England coach. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a quite traditional centre-forward position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 international appearances several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he is able to maintain his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has more goals over every other English performer in the Premier League this term with six and is anxious to increase that count when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon needed as assist provider and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy opening. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his boyhood club last year following five challenging years in north London, is now a first-team fixture, driving down the left in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he's also their top goalscorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer last season, has scored a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver in a creative role replacing Robinson, who supplied 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' upcoming four matches include three among the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine scores in the Premier League so far. A threat emerges for the club that have built a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they lost to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. The manager's side need a sustained recovery to force their way into the title race from here, as well as a significant upturn in results, and opportunity presents itself as seven from their next 10 league games facing clubs presently in the lower half of the table. The danger is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a home league defeat on the champions last season, but it is not only Liverpool's showing versus aerial passes and counterattacks that will be under scrutiny. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not featured at club level in a month following a groin problem when making his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in the Champions League win abroad. He reappeared as a substitute in the Swedish loss against Switzerland but was rested the subsequent meaningless match against Slovenia to secure his availability for next year's World Cup playoffs. A yellow card during the game could have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
