English top flight: ten highlights to look out for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a new battle
A Mancunian rematch might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet in west London following his summer move from Old Trafford and showcased his talents in the Wolves match prior to the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a flawless low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield prior to dinking a ball toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the youngster found the net for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to halting Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire gossip column focus following a claimed £65m release clause for his potential mid-season move, the tabloids setting him up for advancement from the Premier League's average tier. That is understandable from a wide player with a half-dozen strikes plus three setups and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an tricky spot, having engaged in a body swap: it is the struggling side West Ham who arrive on consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have lost 7-1 combined in their previous two fixtures after an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however facing a defence that hasn't kept a goalless game for months may prove the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the national team
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause even though the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 soon. “Despite not knowing him, I know what he is able to provide,” commented the England coach. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional striker role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 caps several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be in the squad for the World Cup assuming he manages to continue his goalscoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts a greater tally than any other English performer in the top flight this term on six and is eager to boost that count when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
4. Sessegnon required as creator and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought some positivity to Fulham's inconsistent start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team recently after five tough years with Spurs, is now a regular starter, operating on the left flank in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he remains their top goalscorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has scored a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period because of hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute as a creator in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' following four games feature three of the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine goals in the league so far. A threat emerges for a side that have developed a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The occasion for Alexander Isak to produce for the Reds
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's side must have a consistent improvement to muscle into the league contest from here, as well as a significant boost in performance, and opportunity arises with seven of their following ten league games against sides currently in the bottom half in the league. The threat is evident from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a loss at Anfield on the champions in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's performance versus long balls and quick transitions that will be under the spotlight. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured in domestic action in a month having sustained a muscle issue while his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League triumph abroad. He reappeared as a substitute in Sweden's defeat by Switzerland but missed the subsequent meaningless match versus Slovenia to ensure his readiness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card during the game might have suspended him. He might be short of|lacking|deficient