Premier League: 10 things to look out for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a fresh encounter
A Manchester reunion could be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his close-season transfer from Manchester United and displayed his skills in the Wolves match before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined electric speed with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? During the youngster netted for United during their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
The winger vital to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete rumour-mill attention due to a reported £65m buyout clause for his possible January departure, the media setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is to be expected from a winger with six goals and three helpers and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an tricky position, having engaged in a role reversal: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with successive wins, while Bournemouth are down seven to one on aggregate over their last two games following an impressive start to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but facing a defensive unit lacking a goalless game in the league since the start of the season may prove the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a left-field choice for England
It seemed interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the international break even though the Brighton forward celebrates 35 next week. “Without even being familiar with him, I am aware what he is able to give me,” commented the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a very traditional centre-forward position.” Earning the final 42 international appearances in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he can maintain his goalscoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts more goals over every other English performer in the Premier League this campaign on six and is eager to increase that tally when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3pm
The full-back needed as playmaker and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a degree of positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his former side last year following five tough years with Spurs, has emerged as a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left flank in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he's also their joint-top scorer this season as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has bagged a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured until 2026 because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver in a creative role replacing Robinson, who provided ten helpers last season. Fulham's following four games take in three from the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores this season so far. Danger looms for a side that have developed a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The occasion for Alexander Isak to produce for the Reds
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they succumbed to loss number seven in ten matches. The coach's team must have a sustained recovery to force their way into the title race from here, as well as a major improvement in form, and the possibility emerges as seven from their next 10 league games versus clubs at the moment in the bottom half of the table. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a loss at Anfield on the champions last season, however it's not just Liverpool's performance when facing aerial passes and counterattacks that remains under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured for his club over four weeks having sustained a muscle issue during his second start over a short period in Europe victory abroad. The striker came back from the bench in the Swedish defeat by Switzerland but was rested the midweek meaningless match versus Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A caution in that match would have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
