Premier League: ten highlights to look out for this round of fixtures
Garnacho versus Walker ready for a fresh encounter
A Manchester reunion may be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker is finding his feet in west London following his off-season signing from Manchester United and displayed his abilities against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace with a perfect grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right prior to dinking a ball to the back post. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the pace with which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the youngster scored for United in the Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to halting Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the complete gossip column treatment following a alleged £65m release clause for a possible winter exit, the media positioning him for advancement from the Premier League's middle class. It is understandable for a winger who has a half-dozen strikes plus three assists and remains delightful to watch. However, his team are in an difficult position, having undergone a role reversal: now it's the struggling side West Ham who enter on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one over two games in their last two games after an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa yet facing a backline without a goalless game since August could be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker a surprise option for the national team
It proved interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton forward celebrates 35 next week. “Despite not being familiar with him, I understand what he could offer me,” commented the England coach. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a quite orthodox striker position.” Having won the final 42 England games back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be on the plane to the World Cup assuming he manages to sustain his goalscoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts additional strikes over every other English player in the Premier League this term on six and will be eager to add to that total as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a degree of comfort to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team recently after five difficult years in north London, has become a consistent pick, operating on the left flank in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he's also their top goalscorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man in the last term, has netted one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute in a creative role replacing Robinson, who registered 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' next four matches feature three among the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine strikes in the league to date. Danger looms for the club that have built a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The moment for Isak to produce for Liverpool
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they fell to their seventh loss in 10 games. The coach's team need a consistent improvement to force their way into the league contest from their current spot, plus a dramatic improvement in form, and a chance arises as seven of their next 10 top-flight fixtures versus clubs at the moment in the lower half of the table. The risk is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a home league defeat to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display when facing direct play and fast breaks that will be in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has not played at club level over four weeks having sustained a groin problem while his second consecutive start over a short period in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back as a substitute in the Swedish defeat by Switzerland but was rested the midweek dead rubber against Slovenia to ensure his readiness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A yellow card in that match would have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
