Premier division: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a fresh encounter
A Mancunian rematch could be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is adapting well at Stamford Bridge after his summer move from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities in the Wolves match prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined electric speed and a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right before dinking a delivery toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the pace with which situations evolve. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? During the former scored for United in the cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to halting Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete transfer speculation focus due to a reported £65m buyout clause for a prospective mid-season move, the media setting him up for advancement from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is to be expected from a winger who has six goals plus three assists and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his side occupy an awkward situation, experiencing a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 on aggregate in their last two games following an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss to Aston Villa yet confronting a defence lacking a clean sheet for months could be the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck a left-field shout for the Three Lions
It proved intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window even though the Brighton forward reaches 35 in the coming days. “Despite not knowing him, I understand what he can offer me,” said the England coach. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional centre-forward role.” Having won the last of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup if he is able to maintain his goal-getting performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts a greater tally compared to any English footballer in England's top division this campaign on six and remains anxious to increase that total when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon crucial as creator and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven beginning. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team last year after five difficult years in north London, is now a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left side due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he remains their leading marksman this season as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man last season, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period because of hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up in a creative role instead of Robinson, who supplied ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' following four games include three of the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine strikes this season to date. Danger looms for a team that have developed a standing for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they lost to loss number seven in ten matches. The manager's team need a sustained recovery to muscle into the league contest from their current spot, plus a major improvement in form, and opportunity arises as seven from their following ten Premier League matches against teams currently in the bottom half in the standings. The danger is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield on the champions in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and fast breaks that remains under the spotlight. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action in a month having sustained a muscle issue during his second start over a short period in Europe triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned off the bench in Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but sat out the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to secure his fitness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card on Tuesday might have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
