Premier League: ten key points to keep an eye on this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a fresh battle
A Manchester reunion could be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his summer move from the Red Devils and demonstrated his abilities against Wolves before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a perfect grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside prior to dinking a ball toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of how quickly things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? Back when the youngster netted for United in their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
The winger crucial to ending Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill treatment following a claimed £65m escape clause for a potential January departure, the tabloids setting him up for advancement out of the Premier League's middle class. This is predictable from a attacker who has a half-dozen strikes and three setups who is joyous to watch. Still, his team are in an awkward spot, having engaged in a form flip: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one on aggregate in their last two games following an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa however confronting a defensive unit lacking a clean sheet since August may prove the best remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3pm
Danny Welbeck an outside choice for the national team
It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton striker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Despite not being familiar with him, I am aware what he can offer me,” said the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a quite conventional striker role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 England games in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be selected for the World Cup provided he manages to continue his goal-getting performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally than any other English player in the Premier League this term having six and remains anxious to boost that count as Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3pm
The full-back required as creator and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought a measure of warmth to Fulham's uneven opening. The left-sided player, who returned to his boyhood club last year after five difficult years at Tottenham, has emerged as a consistent pick, driving down the left side in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man the previous campaign, has scored once while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period because of a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who supplied 10 assists last time round. Fulham's upcoming four fixtures include three of the best five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine goals in the league this season. Trouble awaits for a team that have built a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for Alexander Isak to produce for the Reds
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they lost to loss number seven in ten matches. The coach's squad require a sustained recovery to muscle into the championship chase from their current spot, plus a dramatic boost in performance, and opportunity arises as seven from their upcoming ten league games against teams at the moment in the bottom half in the league. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf to the title holders the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's showing versus long balls and counterattacks that will be under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has not played at club level over four weeks after picking up a muscle issue during his second consecutive start in quick succession in Europe triumph abroad. Isak returned from the bench during Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's inconsequential game versus Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the World Cup playoffs. A yellow card during the game might have suspended him. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
