Premier division: ten key points to watch for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for another clash
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is finding his feet with Chelsea following his summer move from Manchester United and showcased his skills versus Wolverhampton prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a ideal low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside prior to dinking a cross toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of the pace with which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? During the Argentine found the net for United during their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo key to stopping Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full gossip column treatment due to a reported £65m buyout clause for his prospective January departure, the gossip columns positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is understandable for a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes and three helpers who is pleasurable to watch. Still, his team find themselves in an awkward spot, having undergone a form flip: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who enter with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down 7-1 on aggregate over their past two games after an strong opening to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss to Aston Villa but facing a defensive unit that hasn't kept a goalless game since August could be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a left-field shout for the national team
It seemed notable to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the national team window although the Brighton attacker turns 35 next week. “Without even having met him, I understand what he can provide,” commented the England coach. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional centre-forward role.” Earning the final 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be in the squad for the World Cup assuming he is able to continue his scoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker has more goals than any other English player in the Premier League this campaign with six and remains eager to increase that tally when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
4. Sessegnon needed as creator and finisher
Sessegnon's story has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's uneven beginning. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his boyhood club last year after five challenging years at Tottenham, is now a first-team fixture, driving down the left flank in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he is their joint-top scorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer last season, has bagged one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four games feature three of the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine goals in the league to date. A threat emerges for the club that have built a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The moment for Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The dispute regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they lost to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The coach's team require a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from their current spot, plus a major boost in performance, and the possibility presents itself as seven from their following ten Premier League matches against sides currently in the bottom ten of the table. The threat is evident from Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a defeat on their own turf to the title holders in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and fast breaks that is under the spotlight. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The expensive signing has not played in domestic action for a month following a groin problem during his second start over a short period in continental competition triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned from the bench during Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but sat out the midweek inconsequential game against Slovenia to ensure his fitness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A booking during the game would have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
