English top flight: ten highlights to watch for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new clash
A Manchester reunion might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and showcased his skills in the Wolves match prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a perfect low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right before dinking a ball across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of how quickly things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the youngster netted for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger crucial to stopping Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the complete rumour-mill focus following a alleged £65m escape clause for a prospective mid-season move, the gossip columns setting him up for advancement out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is predictable from a winger who has six finishes plus three assists who is pleasurable to watch. However, his side are in an awkward situation, experiencing a form flip: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who enter on consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth are down seven to one on aggregate in their previous two fixtures after an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss by Aston Villa however facing a defensive unit without a goalless game in the league since the start of the season could be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck an outside shout for the national team
It seemed notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton striker reaches 35 soon. “Without even knowing him, I know what he could offer me,” said the England boss. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a quite conventional striker role.” Having won the final 42 caps back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup assuming he manages to maintain his goalscoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts more goals compared to any English footballer in the Premier League this term with six and will be anxious to increase that total when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his former side recently after five tough years at Tottenham, has become a regular starter, driving down the left with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he remains their leading marksman 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 injured for the long term due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver in a creative role instead of Robinson, who supplied 10 assists last time round. The Cottagers' upcoming four games feature three of the best five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine goals in the league this season. Trouble awaits for the club that have developed a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The moment for Isak to produce for the Merseyside club
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they succumbed to their seventh loss in ten matches. The manager's squad require a consistent improvement to force their way into the league contest from their current spot, as well as a major upturn in results, and opportunity emerges with seven out of their next 10 Premier League matches facing sides currently in the bottom ten in the league. The threat is evident from Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a home league defeat to Liverpool last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance versus aerial passes and fast breaks that will be under the spotlight. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not featured for his club in a month following a groin injury during his second appearance in the lineup in four days in the Champions League win in Germany. The striker came back off the bench in the Swedish defeat against Switzerland but sat out the subsequent dead rubber versus Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A caution during the game could have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
