Premier division: ten highlights to look out for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a new clash
A Manchester reunion might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Manchester United and demonstrated his talents against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace and a perfect grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before chipping a ball to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of the pace with which situations evolve. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? During the Argentine netted for United during their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to stopping Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire rumour-mill focus due to a claimed £65m buyout clause for his prospective January departure, the gossip columns preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's average tier. That is understandable from a wide player with six goals plus three assists and remains delightful to watch. However, his team find themselves in an awkward spot, having undergone a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth are down 7-1 over two games over their past two games following an impressive start to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa but taking on a backline without a shutout for months might be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker a surprise shout for England
It was intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window although the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 next week. “Despite not knowing him, I am aware what he is able to provide,” said the England manager. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional centre-forward role.” Having won the most recent of his 42 international appearances several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup assuming he is able to continue his scoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts additional strikes compared to any English player in the Premier League this term on six and is keen to increase that count when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a degree of positivity to Fulham's uneven beginning. The 25-year-old, who returned to his former side recently after five difficult years with Spurs, has emerged as a first-team fixture, operating on the left side in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he's also their joint-top scorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has bagged once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who registered 10 assists in the previous campaign. Fulham's following four games take in three among the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores in the Premier League so far. A threat emerges for a team that have earned a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they succumbed to their seventh loss in ten matches. The coach's side require a sustained recovery to muscle into the championship chase from this position, along with a dramatic upturn in results, and opportunity arises as seven out of their following ten league games versus teams at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield to the title holders the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing against aerial passes and fast breaks that remains under scrutiny. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The big-money forward has been absent in domestic action over four weeks after picking up a muscle issue while his second start over a short period in the Champions League win in Germany. The striker came back as a substitute in the Swedish reverse to Switzerland but missed the subsequent meaningless match with Slovenia to ensure his availability for the World Cup playoffs. A booking in that match might have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
