Premier League: ten highlights to watch for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new encounter
Another northwest showdown may be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is finding his feet with Chelsea following his summer move from Manchester United and displayed his skills against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a flawless low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right prior to chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? During the youngster found the net for United during their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to halting Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill attention due to a reported £65m escape clause for a prospective mid-season move, the tabloids positioning him for promotion out of the Premier League's middle class. That is understandable from a winger with six goals and three assists who is pleasurable to watch. Still, Bournemouth occupy an awkward spot, having undergone a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one over two games in their past two fixtures following an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however confronting a backline that hasn't kept a clean sheet for months may prove the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck an outside shout for the national team
It proved interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton forward reaches 35 next week. “Without even knowing him, I know what he is able to provide,” stated the England boss. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very orthodox No 9 role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 international appearances back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup if he is able to sustain his goal-getting feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts a greater tally than any other English player in the top flight this term with six and is anxious to increase that total when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The full-back required as playmaker and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought some positivity to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team recently following five difficult years with Spurs, has emerged as a regular starter, operating on the left side with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he's also their leading marksman this season alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man in the last term, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term because of a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up as a creator replacing Robinson, who supplied ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' following four fixtures include three from the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine goals in the Premier League this season. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The moment for Isak to produce for Liverpool
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The coach's side require a consistent improvement to enter the championship chase from this position, plus a dramatic boost in performance, and the possibility arises as seven from their upcoming ten Premier League matches facing teams presently in the bottom half in the standings. The danger is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions last season, however it's not just Liverpool's display when facing long balls and counterattacks that remains in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played for his club over four weeks having sustained a muscle issue when making his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in Europe win at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared from the bench in Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but sat out the subsequent dead rubber versus Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the World Cup knockout rounds. A caution on Tuesday would have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient