Premier League: 10 things to look out for this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a new battle
A Manchester reunion might be in the offing as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger has started to settle in west London after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and displayed his skills against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed with a flawless low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside prior to dinking a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of how quickly circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? During the youngster scored for United during their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to halting Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete rumour-mill treatment following a claimed £65m escape clause for a possible January departure, the gossip columns preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. That is predictable from a attacker who has six goals and three assists and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his side are in an awkward spot, having undergone a form flip: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down seven-one on aggregate over their previous two matches following an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa yet confronting a backline without a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
3. Welbeck a left-field option for the Three Lions
It seemed interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times during the fixture pause even though the Brighton forward celebrates 35 next week. “Despite not being familiar with him, I am aware what he is able to offer me,” commented the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional centre-forward position.” Earning the final 42 England games several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be selected for the World Cup if he manages to maintain his goal-getting feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts additional strikes compared to any English performer in the Premier League this campaign with six and remains keen to add to that count when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
The full-back crucial as creator and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's uneven beginning. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his boyhood club recently following five challenging years with Spurs, has become a regular starter, driving down the left due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he remains their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has scored once while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last season. Fulham's upcoming four matches take in three of the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed just nine goals in the league this season. A threat emerges for a team that have earned a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to perform for the Reds
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they fell to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. The manager's squad need a sustained recovery to enter the league contest from this position, along with a major improvement in form, and a chance presents itself as seven from their upcoming ten Premier League matches versus sides at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The risk is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a defeat on their own turf on the champions last season, but it is not only Liverpool's showing against aerial passes and fast breaks that remains under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has been absent for his club in a month having sustained a muscle issue while his second consecutive start in quick succession in continental competition victory in Germany. The striker came back from the bench in Sweden's loss by Switzerland but missed the midweek meaningless match versus Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution on Tuesday might have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient