English top flight: 10 things to watch for this round of fixtures
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a fresh battle
A Manchester reunion may be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is finding his feet with Chelsea after his close-season transfer from Manchester United and demonstrated his skills versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield prior to dinking a ball toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, replicating his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a indication of the speed at which circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? During the youngster netted for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to stopping Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the complete rumour-mill focus amid a claimed £65m release clause for his prospective winter exit, the media preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is predictable for a winger with a half-dozen strikes plus three assists and remains joyous to watch. However, his team find themselves in an awkward spot, having undergone a body swap: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive on consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth are down seven to one combined in their previous two games following an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss to Aston Villa yet confronting a backline without a goalless game for months may prove the best remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
The striker a surprise choice for the Three Lions
It was interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the national team window although the Brighton striker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even knowing him, I am aware what he is able to offer me,” said the England boss. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a quite orthodox striker position.” Gaining the final 42 caps several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be on the plane for the World Cup provided he manages to sustain his goalscoring exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward has more goals compared to any English footballer in the Premier League this season having six and is anxious to increase that count as Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The full-back required as creator and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has provided a degree of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent start. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his youth team recently following five challenging years with Spurs, has become a regular starter, operating on the left due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he is their joint-top scorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker last season, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period owing to a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute as a creator in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four matches include three from the top five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine strikes in the league to date. Danger looms for a team that have built a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The occasion for Isak to perform for Liverpool
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they fell to their seventh loss in ten matches. The coach's squad require a consistent improvement to enter the championship chase from their current spot, along with a significant boost in performance, and the possibility presents itself as seven from their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures against clubs currently in the lower half in the standings. The risk is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a home league defeat on the champions the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's display versus direct play and quick transitions that remains under scrutiny. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured for his club for a month following a groin injury during his second consecutive start in four days in Europe victory abroad. Isak returned from the bench in Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but missed Tuesday's inconsequential game against Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card in that match might have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient