Premier League: ten highlights to watch for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new battle
Another northwest showdown may be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his summer move from the Red Devils and displayed his abilities against Wolves before the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto blended electric speed and a perfect low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before dinking a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of how quickly situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? When the youngster netted for United in the cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to ending Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire transfer speculation treatment following a claimed £65m release clause for a potential mid-season move, the tabloids setting him up for advancement from the Premier League's average tier. That is understandable for a attacker with a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers who is delightful to watch. However, his team are in an awkward position, having undergone a form flip: now it's the struggling side West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost seven to one over two games in their past two matches after an impressive opening to the season. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss by Aston Villa however taking on a backline that hasn't kept a clean sheet for months could be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday 3pm
The striker a left-field option for the Three Lions
It was intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton attacker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Despite not having met him, I understand what he is able to offer me,” said the England manager. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional centre-forward role.” Gaining the final 42 England games back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup provided he is able to continue his goal-getting performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim additional strikes compared to any English player in the Premier League this season with six and remains keen to add to that count as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
4. Sessegnon crucial as assist provider and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The 25-year-old, who came back to his youth team last year after five difficult years with Spurs, is now a first-team fixture, operating on the left flank with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he is their joint-top scorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man in the last term, has netted a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also having to step up as a creator replacing Robinson, who registered ten setups last season. The Cottagers' next four games feature three of the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine scores this season to date. Trouble awaits for a side that have built a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
5. Time for Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's squad require a sustained recovery to enter the title race from here, plus a significant boost in performance, and opportunity emerges with seven out of their following ten league games versus sides presently in the bottom half in the league. The threat is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a defeat on their own turf on the champions in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's display versus long balls and counterattacks that is under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured for his club for a month after picking up a groin injury while his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in continental competition victory abroad. The striker came back as a substitute during Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to secure his fitness for the World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card during the game would have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
