Premier division: ten highlights to look out for this round of fixtures
Garnacho versus Walker ready for another encounter
A Manchester reunion could be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is adapting well with Chelsea following his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his skills against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a flawless grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield before chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the former scored for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to halting Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete gossip column focus amid a claimed £65m buyout clause for a possible January departure, the tabloids setting him up for advancement from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is understandable from a wide player who has six goals and three setups and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an tricky position, having engaged in a body swap: it is the struggling side West Ham who enter with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 over two games over their last two fixtures after an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa yet facing a defence that hasn't kept a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the best tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker an outside shout for the national team
It was notable to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break even though the Brighton attacker turns 35 soon. “Without even having met him, I am aware what he could provide,” commented the England manager. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a quite conventional striker role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be on the plane to the World Cup provided he is able to maintain his goal-getting feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim more goals over every other English footballer in the top flight this term on six and is keen to add to that tally as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
Ryan Sessegnon needed as playmaker and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The left-sided player, who returned to his youth team recently following five difficult years with Spurs, has become a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he is their joint-top scorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker last season, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term due to a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute in a creative role instead of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' next four fixtures take in three among the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine goals this season so far. Trouble awaits for a team that have built a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The moment for Alexander Isak to produce for the Merseyside club
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they lost to loss number seven over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's squad require a consistent improvement to force their way into the league contest from their current spot, along with a significant boost in performance, and opportunity emerges as seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures facing clubs currently in the bottom half in the league. The risk is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a loss at Anfield on the champions in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's performance against long balls and quick transitions that will be under the spotlight. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The big-money forward has been absent at club level for a month having sustained a groin injury while his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in continental competition victory abroad. He reappeared off the bench in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to secure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A booking on Tuesday would have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
