Premier League: ten key points to look out for this matchday
Garnacho versus Walker poised for another encounter
A Mancunian rematch may be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker has started to settle at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and demonstrated his abilities against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto combined electric speed and a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to lofting a cross across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of how quickly circumstances change. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? When the former scored for United in the Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire gossip column focus following a reported £65m release clause for a prospective winter exit, the media setting him up for advancement out of the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected for a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes and three helpers and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his team occupy an tricky situation, having engaged in a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one on aggregate over their previous two games after an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss to Aston Villa yet confronting a backline that hasn't kept a shutout since August might be the perfect solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
3. Welbeck an outside option for England
It seemed interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton attacker turns 35 soon. “Despite not being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to provide,” commented the England coach. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional centre-forward role.” Having won the most recent of his 42 England games several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup assuming he is able to sustain his goal-getting feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim additional strikes compared to any English footballer in the top flight this campaign with six and is anxious to add to that total when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon needed as creator and scorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The 25-year-old, who came back to his boyhood club last year after five tough years at Tottenham, has emerged as a regular starter, operating on the left side due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he remains their joint-top scorer this season together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver in a creative role in place of Robinson, who supplied ten helpers in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four games feature three among the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores this season to date. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The occasion for Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The dispute regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they fell to a seventh defeat in 10 games. Arne Slot's side need a prolonged upturn to force their way into the title race from here, as well as a dramatic upturn in results, and a chance emerges with seven of their next 10 league games against teams at the moment in the bottom half in the standings. The danger is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display when facing long balls and counterattacks that is under scrutiny. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has not featured in domestic action in a month following a muscle issue during his second consecutive start over a short period in Europe victory abroad. Isak returned from the bench during Sweden's loss by Switzerland but was rested the subsequent meaningless match versus Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card during the game might have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
