English top flight: ten highlights to look out for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new encounter
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger has started to settle with Chelsea following his off-season signing from the Red Devils and showcased his skills against Wolves prior to the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield before chipping a ball across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the speed at which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? When the former scored for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to ending Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full rumour-mill attention due to a reported £65m buyout clause for his possible winter exit, the tabloids setting him up for advancement from the Premier League's middle class. That is to be expected from a wide player who has six finishes plus three helpers and remains delightful to watch. However, his team are in an difficult situation, having undergone a role reversal: it is the struggling side West Ham who enter with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down 7-1 over two games over their last two matches after an promising opening to the season. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss by Aston Villa but confronting a defensive unit without a goalless game since August might be the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
3. Welbeck a left-field choice for England
It proved interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause even though the Brighton forward reaches 35 next week. “Without even having met him, I understand what he could provide,” said the England coach. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite traditional striker role.” Having won the last of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup provided he can continue his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has additional strikes than any other English player in the Premier League this season having six and remains anxious to add to that total as Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided some comfort to Fulham's uneven beginning. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his boyhood club last year after five difficult years at Tottenham, is now a consistent pick, operating on the left flank with the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he remains their top goalscorer this season alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has scored one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute in a creative role instead of Robinson, who provided 10 assists last time round. The Cottagers' upcoming four games feature three among the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine goals in the Premier League so far. Danger looms for a side that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
5. Time for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to their seventh loss in 10 games. The coach's team need a consistent improvement to enter the title race from here, plus a significant upturn in results, and a chance arises with seven from their next 10 top-flight fixtures facing clubs at the moment in the bottom half in the league. The risk is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a loss at Anfield on the champions the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's performance against aerial passes and counterattacks that is under scrutiny. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not played in domestic action for a month following a muscle issue when making his second start in four days in Europe victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned from the bench during Sweden's loss against Switzerland but sat out the midweek meaningless match against Slovenia to secure his fitness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card in that match would have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
