English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker ready for a fresh battle
Another northwest showdown could be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his summer move from the Red Devils and displayed his talents versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield prior to dinking a delivery toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the speed at which situations evolve. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the Argentine netted for United in their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger key to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire gossip column treatment due to a alleged £65m buyout clause for a potential mid-season move, the tabloids setting him up for advancement out of the Premier League's middle class. It is predictable from a attacker with six goals and three helpers and is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, his side occupy an tricky situation, having engaged in a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one combined over their past two games following an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss to Aston Villa yet taking on a defensive unit without a shutout in the league since the start of the season could be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
The striker an outside option for the national team
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break despite the fact that the Brighton striker reaches 35 next week. “Even without knowing him, I understand what he could offer me,” stated the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite traditional striker role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 England games back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup provided he can maintain his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes over every other English footballer in the Premier League this term on six and remains anxious to increase that count when Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The full-back required as playmaker and finisher
Sessegnon's story has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team last year following 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 concern? Having scored twice, he is their top goalscorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has scored once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last time round. Fulham's following four fixtures include three among the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine goals in the league this season. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The moment for Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they fell to loss number seven in 10 games. Arne Slot's team must have a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from their current spot, plus a significant upturn in results, and the possibility presents itself with seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures facing clubs presently in the lower half in the league. The threat is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's showing versus long balls and fast breaks that will be in focus. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has been absent in domestic action in a month having sustained a groin injury when making his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League victory in Germany. Isak returned as a substitute in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's meaningless match with Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the World Cup qualifiers. A booking in that match would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
