Premier League: ten highlights to look out for this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho poised for another clash
A Manchester reunion could be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities against Wolves before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace with a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield prior to chipping a ball toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the pace with which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? When the Argentine netted for United in their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (start times GMT)
The winger key to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full transfer speculation attention amid a claimed £65m buyout clause for a possible mid-season move, the gossip columns positioning him for graduation out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is predictable for a winger with six finishes plus three setups who is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an awkward position, having engaged in a form flip: it is the struggling side West Ham who arrive on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one combined over their past two games after an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss by Aston Villa however taking on a defensive unit lacking a goalless game since August might be the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck an outside choice for England
It proved intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause although the Brighton striker turns 35 in the coming days. “Even without having met him, I know what he is able to give me,” commented the England manager. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox striker position.” Having won the last of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be in the squad for the World Cup assuming he manages to continue his scoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts a greater tally compared to any English player in the Premier League this term with six and will be keen to add to that tally as Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and scorer
Sessegnon's story has offered a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team recently after five difficult years in north London, has become a consistent pick, driving down the left due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he's also their leading marksman in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker last season, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver in a creative role in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' following four games feature three of the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores in the Premier League so far. Trouble awaits for the club that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
5. Time for Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's side must have a prolonged upturn to enter the championship chase from here, plus a dramatic improvement in form, and the possibility emerges as seven out of their upcoming ten Premier League matches versus teams at the moment in the lower half in the league. The threat is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a loss at Anfield to the title holders the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance versus long balls and quick transitions that remains in focus. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The expensive signing has been absent at club level over four weeks following a groin injury while his second consecutive start over a short period in Europe win in Germany. He reappeared off the bench in Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to ensure his readiness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A booking in that match could have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
