Premier League: ten key points to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho poised for another encounter
A Manchester reunion could be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and displayed his skills against Wolves before the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a ideal grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right before chipping a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly circumstances change. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? During the former found the net for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
The winger vital to halting Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire gossip column treatment due to a claimed £65m escape clause for his possible winter exit, the gossip columns preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is to be expected from a attacker with a half-dozen strikes and three setups and remains delightful to watch. However, Bournemouth are in an tricky situation, having undergone a form flip: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one combined over their last two games after an impressive start to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but facing a defence lacking a shutout since August could be the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
The striker an outside shout for England
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton attacker reaches 35 soon. “Without even having met him, I know what he could give me,” commented the England manager. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional centre-forward role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 caps in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be selected for the World Cup assuming he manages to continue his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has additional strikes than any other English footballer in England's top division this campaign with six and is keen to boost that total when Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon needed as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought some comfort to Fulham's uneven start. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his former side last year following five challenging years in north London, is now a regular starter, operating on the left due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he remains their leading marksman this season alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer in the last term, has bagged one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 owing to a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four games take in three among the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine strikes in the league so far. Danger looms for the club that have built a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The occasion for Isak to deliver for the Reds
The dispute regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to loss number seven in ten matches. Arne Slot's team need a prolonged upturn to muscle into the league contest from their current spot, as well as a major boost in performance, and opportunity presents itself as seven of their following ten league games versus sides currently in the bottom half in the league. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a home league defeat to Liverpool the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing versus direct play and quick transitions that remains in focus. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not featured in domestic action in a month having sustained a muscle issue when making his second consecutive start in quick succession in the Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned off the bench during Sweden's loss by Switzerland but was rested the midweek dead rubber against Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card during the game might have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
