English top flight: 10 things to watch for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new battle
Another northwest showdown may be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet with Chelsea following his off-season signing from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before lofting a cross to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the pace with which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the youngster found the net for United in the Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger vital to halting Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire transfer speculation focus following a claimed £65m buyout clause for his potential January departure, the tabloids preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected from a wide player with a half-dozen strikes and three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an difficult position, having engaged in a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on successive wins, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one on aggregate over their past two matches after an promising start to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa yet confronting a defence lacking a goalless game since August may prove the best tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck an outside shout for the national team
It seemed notable to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break even though the Brighton striker turns 35 next week. “Even without having met him, I am aware what he can give me,” stated the England manager. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very traditional centre-forward position.” Having won the last of his 42 caps several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup assuming he is able to continue his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim more goals compared to any English player in the top flight this season having six and remains eager to boost that tally when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The full-back required as playmaker and finisher
Sessegnon's story has offered a degree of positivity to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The left-sided player, who rejoined his former side last year after five challenging years in north London, is now a first-team fixture, driving down the left flank in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he is their leading marksman in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker last season, has netted one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 owing to a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute in a creative role in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last season. The Cottagers' next four games take in three among the top five and Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine scores in the Premier League to date. Danger looms for a team that have developed a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The moment for The striker to produce for the Merseyside club
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they lost to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The manager's team need a consistent improvement to force their way into the league contest from this position, as well as a dramatic boost in performance, and a chance arises as seven from their next 10 top-flight fixtures facing teams presently in the lower half in the standings. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and counterattacks that will be under scrutiny. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has not played at club level in a month having sustained a muscle issue when making his second start in quick succession in continental competition win in Germany. Isak returned as a substitute in Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but was rested the subsequent meaningless match with Slovenia to secure his availability for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card in that match might have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
