English top flight: ten highlights to look out for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for another encounter
A Mancunian rematch could be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is adapting well in west London after his summer move from the Red Devils and displayed his skills versus Wolverhampton before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right prior to lofting a cross to the back post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the former found the net for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger vital to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full gossip column treatment following a claimed £65m escape clause for a possible January departure, the gossip columns preparing him for graduation from the Premier League's average tier. That is predictable from a wide player with six goals and three helpers and is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an tricky position, experiencing a form flip: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 over two games in their last two games after an strong beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss to Aston Villa yet taking on a defence lacking a clean sheet since August may prove the best remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the Three Lions
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton striker turns 35 next week. “Despite not being familiar with him, I understand what he can give me,” commented the England coach. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite orthodox No 9 position.” Earning the final 42 England games in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup provided he is able to continue his scoring exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim additional strikes than any other English footballer in the Premier League this season on six and remains eager to add to that tally when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon crucial as assist provider and scorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his former side last year after five tough years with Spurs, has become a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left flank due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he is their top goalscorer this season as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has netted a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who registered ten setups last time round. The Cottagers' following four games take in three of the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine scores this season this season. Danger looms for a side that have built a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
5. Time for Isak to perform for Liverpool
The debate about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they lost to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The coach's side require a sustained recovery to enter the title race from here, plus a dramatic boost in performance, and a chance presents itself as seven out of their following ten top-flight fixtures versus clubs currently in the lower half of the table. The threat is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a home league defeat to the title holders last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing against aerial passes and counterattacks that will be in focus. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The expensive signing has been absent for his club for a month following a groin problem when making his second consecutive start over a short period in the Champions League win abroad. Isak returned from the bench in the Swedish reverse to Switzerland but missed Tuesday's dead rubber versus Slovenia to secure his readiness for the World Cup playoffs. A yellow card in that match might have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
