English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a fresh clash
A Manchester reunion could be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man has started to settle in west London after his close-season transfer from Manchester United and displayed his abilities versus Wolverhampton before the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace with a flawless low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside before dinking a ball to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the pace with which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? When the former scored for United in the cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
The winger crucial to stopping Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire gossip column focus following a alleged ÂŁ65m escape clause for a prospective January departure, the media setting him up for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is understandable from a attacker who has a half-dozen strikes plus three assists and remains pleasurable to watch. Still, his side find themselves in an awkward spot, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down seven-one combined in their past two games after an impressive opening to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi MartĂnez during the heavy loss to Aston Villa yet facing a defensive unit that hasn't kept a shutout since August may prove the best solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a left-field shout for the Three Lions
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton forward celebrates 35 soon. “Without even having met him, I am aware what he could offer me,” stated the England manager. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional centre-forward position.” Earning the last of his 42 caps several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be selected to the World Cup assuming he manages to maintain his goalscoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim a greater tally over every other English player in the Premier League this term with six and is anxious to boost that tally when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3pm
The full-back required as assist provider and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a measure of warmth to Fulham's bumpy opening. The 25-year-old, who came back to his youth team last year following five difficult years in north London, is now a regular starter, driving down the left flank due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he is their top goalscorer this season alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker in the last term, has netted one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as a creator replacing Robinson, who registered ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' upcoming four fixtures feature three of the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine scores in the Premier League to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The occasion for Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they succumbed to loss number seven in 10 games. The manager's team need a consistent improvement to muscle into the league contest from this position, as well as a major improvement in form, and opportunity arises with seven from their following ten Premier League matches facing clubs currently in the bottom half of the table. The danger is evident from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a loss at Anfield to the title holders the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's display versus aerial passes and quick transitions that will be under scrutiny. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has been absent in domestic action in a month following a groin injury while his second appearance in the lineup in four days in the Champions League victory abroad. Isak returned as a substitute in the Swedish loss by Switzerland but missed Tuesday's inconsequential game with Slovenia to ensure his fitness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A booking in that match could have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
