Premier division: ten highlights to look out for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a new encounter
A Mancunian rematch might be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and demonstrated his talents against Wolves before the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration with a flawless low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right before chipping a delivery to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which situations evolve. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? When the Argentine found the net for United during their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to ending Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete rumour-mill attention amid a claimed £65m escape clause for a possible winter exit, the media positioning him for graduation out of the Premier League's average tier. It is predictable from a wide player who has six goals and three assists and remains pleasurable to watch. However, his side occupy an tricky position, experiencing a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with successive wins, while Bournemouth are down 7-1 on aggregate in their past two games after an impressive start to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but facing a backline without a shutout in the league since the start of the season could be the best solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck an outside shout for the Three Lions
It proved interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton attacker turns 35 next week. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he could offer me,” stated the England boss. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a very orthodox No 9 position.” Having won the last of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he manages to sustain his goalscoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts more goals than any other English footballer in England's top division this season having six and will be anxious to add to that total when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3pm
The full-back required as creator and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a measure of comfort to Fulham's bumpy opening. The 25-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club last year after five tough years in north London, has become a regular starter, operating on the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he's also their leading marksman this season alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver in a creative role in place of Robinson, who provided ten setups last time round. Fulham's following four fixtures take in three of the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores in the Premier League so far. Danger looms for a team that have earned a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
5. Time for Alexander Isak to produce for Liverpool
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they fell to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The manager's squad require a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from this position, as well as a major improvement in form, and the possibility arises as seven of their next 10 Premier League matches versus sides currently in the lower half in the standings. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions last season, but it is not only Liverpool's performance against long balls and counterattacks that remains in focus. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The big-money forward has been absent at club level for a month after picking up a muscle issue when making his second consecutive start in quick succession in continental competition triumph abroad. The striker came back off the bench in Sweden's loss against Switzerland but missed Tuesday's meaningless match versus Slovenia to ensure his readiness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A yellow card on Tuesday would have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
