Premier League: ten key points to look out for this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho ready for another encounter
A Manchester reunion could be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger has started to settle in west London after his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his skills versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace and a perfect grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right before dinking a ball across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, replicating his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a indication of the pace with which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? During the youngster netted for United in the Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
The winger crucial to halting Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full transfer speculation treatment amid a claimed £65m release clause for a prospective mid-season move, the gossip columns setting him up for graduation from the Premier League's average tier. This is understandable for a wide player with six finishes plus three setups and is pleasurable to watch. Still, his team are in an tricky position, having undergone a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 combined in their previous two fixtures after an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss by Aston Villa yet confronting a backline without a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season could be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck an outside option for the national team
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break although the Brighton forward turns 35 in the coming days. “Despite not being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to provide,” commented the England manager. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a quite traditional No 9 position.” Gaining the last of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be on the plane to the World Cup if he is able to sustain his goal-getting performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim more goals than any other English footballer in the top flight this term with six and is anxious to increase that count as Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as creator and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered some comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The left-sided player, who rejoined his former side recently after five challenging years in north London, is now a regular starter, pushing forward on the left flank with the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he's also their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer last season, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also having to step up in a creative role replacing Robinson, who registered ten setups last time round. The Cottagers' upcoming four games take in three of the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed just nine goals in the league to date. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The coach's side must have a consistent improvement to muscle into the league contest from this position, along with a significant upturn in results, and the possibility arises with seven from their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures facing clubs at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The risk is evident from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a loss at Anfield to the title holders in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's display when facing aerial passes and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The big-money forward has been absent at club level for a month following a muscle issue when making his second consecutive start in four days in Europe triumph in Germany. He reappeared off the bench in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but sat out the midweek inconsequential game against Slovenia to secure his readiness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A booking on Tuesday would have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
