English top flight: ten highlights to look out for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new battle
A Mancunian rematch could be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The winger is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his talents against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined electric speed with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before dinking a delivery toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the youngster found the net for United in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full transfer speculation treatment following a alleged £65m escape clause for his potential January departure, the tabloids preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected for a attacker with six goals and three helpers and is pleasurable to watch. However, his team are in an difficult situation, having undergone a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who enter on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth are down seven to one on aggregate over their past two games following an impressive start to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however taking on a defence without a shutout for months could be the best remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3pm
3. Welbeck a left-field choice for England
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the international break even though the Brighton attacker turns 35 next week. “Even without being familiar with him, I understand what he can give me,” stated the England manager. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional centre-forward position.” Having won the last of his 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be in the squad to the World Cup if he can continue his goalscoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts a greater tally compared to any English performer in the Premier League this term with six and will be anxious to boost that tally as Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon required as creator and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's uneven start. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his boyhood club last year after five tough years at Tottenham, has emerged as a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he's also their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has scored a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also having to step up as a creator instead of Robinson, who provided 10 assists last time round. The Cottagers' upcoming four fixtures feature three among the best five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine goals in the Premier League this season. Danger looms for a team that have built a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The occasion for Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The debate about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they lost to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's side need a sustained recovery to muscle into the title race from their current spot, as well as a significant boost in performance, and opportunity arises as seven of their following ten top-flight fixtures versus clubs currently in the lower half of the table. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a defeat on their own turf on the champions the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's performance when facing long balls and fast breaks that is in focus. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has been absent at club level for a month following a muscle issue during his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in the Champions League victory abroad. He reappeared from the bench in the Swedish defeat to Switzerland but missed the subsequent meaningless match versus Slovenia to guarantee his availability for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A booking in that match could have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
