Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho set for another clash
A Manchester reunion could be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his summer move from Old Trafford and showcased his talents against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace and a ideal low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required cutting inside prior to dinking a ball across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of how quickly things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the former scored for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to stopping Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full rumour-mill attention due to a claimed £65m release clause for his prospective mid-season move, the media setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's middle class. This is predictable from a attacker with a half-dozen strikes plus three assists who is delightful to watch. Still, his team find themselves in an tricky position, having undergone a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth are down seven-one combined over their last two matches following an strong beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa but confronting a defence without a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season might be the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The striker an outside choice for the national team
It was intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the fixture pause although the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 soon. “Despite not having met him, I am aware what he could give me,” commented the England manager. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a quite orthodox centre-forward position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 England games back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be selected to the World Cup assuming he can maintain his goalscoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts a greater tally than any other English player in the Premier League this campaign with six and will be anxious to boost that total when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
The full-back required as creator and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a degree of positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who came back to his former side last year after five difficult years at Tottenham, has become a regular starter, pushing forward on the left side in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he's also their top goalscorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period due to a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up in a creative role in place of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' next four games include three from the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine scores this season so far. Danger looms for a side that have built a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
5. Time for Isak to produce for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they succumbed to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. The coach's squad must have a sustained recovery to muscle into the title race from their current spot, along with a significant upturn in results, and a chance emerges as seven from their next 10 Premier League matches against sides at the moment in the bottom half of the table. The threat is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a defeat on their own turf on the champions the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's performance when facing aerial passes and fast breaks that will be under scrutiny. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played in domestic action over four weeks following a groin injury while his second start in four days in Europe win in Germany. The striker came back from the bench during Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but was rested the midweek inconsequential game against Slovenia to ensure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card on Tuesday could have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
