Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this round of fixtures
Garnacho versus Walker ready for another encounter
A Mancunian rematch could be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is finding his feet with Chelsea after his close-season transfer from Manchester United and showcased his skills versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace and a perfect low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to lofting a cross to the back post. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? During the Argentine scored for United in the Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to ending Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full rumour-mill attention amid a claimed £65m release clause for his possible mid-season move, the gossip columns positioning him for graduation out of the Premier League's average tier. It is understandable from a winger with a half-dozen strikes and three helpers who is delightful to watch. However, his side are in an difficult situation, having engaged in a form flip: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with successive wins, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one on aggregate over their last two matches after an impressive start to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but confronting a defence without a shutout for months may prove the perfect solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The striker an outside choice for the national team
It seemed interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he is able to give me,” stated the England manager. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional centre-forward role.” Having won the last of his 42 England games in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup provided he can continue his goal-getting exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward has additional strikes over every other English player in the Premier League this campaign on six and remains anxious to increase that total as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as playmaker and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven beginning. The 25-year-old, who came back to his boyhood club recently after five difficult years in north London, is now a regular starter, driving down the left side in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer the previous campaign, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 due to hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up as a creator replacing Robinson, who registered 10 assists in the previous campaign. Fulham's upcoming four matches include three among the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine scores in the league this season. Trouble awaits for the club that have built a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to perform for Liverpool
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they succumbed to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The manager's side require a consistent improvement to force their way into the title race from this position, plus a dramatic improvement in form, and the possibility presents itself with seven from their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures versus sides presently in the bottom ten in the standings. The threat is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a loss at Anfield to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing when facing long balls and fast breaks that is in focus. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has been absent in domestic action for a month having sustained a muscle issue when making his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in Europe triumph in Germany. He reappeared from the bench during Sweden's defeat by Switzerland but missed Tuesday's meaningless match versus Slovenia to secure his availability for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card on Tuesday could have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
