Premier League: ten highlights to look out for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new clash
A Manchester reunion might be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is finding his feet with Chelsea after his summer move from Old Trafford and displayed his talents against Wolves before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed with a flawless grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which things transform. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? During the youngster netted for United during their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to halting Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full rumour-mill focus due to a claimed £65m release clause for his prospective mid-season move, the media preparing him for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. This is predictable from a winger who has a half-dozen strikes plus three assists who is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth are in an awkward position, having undergone a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in with successive wins, while Bournemouth are down seven to one combined over their last two fixtures following an strong opening to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but confronting a defence that hasn't kept a shutout since August may prove the best solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
The striker an outside choice for the Three Lions
It was intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton attacker turns 35 soon. “Without even having met him, I understand what he can offer me,” commented the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox centre-forward role.” Earning the final 42 caps back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be in the squad for the World Cup if he manages to maintain his goalscoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward has additional strikes than any other English performer in England's top division this term on six and remains eager to add to that tally as Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
The full-back crucial as playmaker and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a measure of warmth to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who returned to his boyhood club recently following five difficult years at Tottenham, is now a regular starter, driving down the left due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker last season, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver in a creative role instead of Robinson, who supplied ten helpers last time round. Fulham's following four games feature three among the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine goals in the league to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have built a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The moment for Alexander Isak to produce for the Reds
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they fell to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The manager's side need a consistent improvement to force their way into the title race from this position, as well as a significant boost in performance, and opportunity presents itself as seven of their following ten Premier League matches facing clubs currently in the bottom ten in the league. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a defeat on their own turf to the title holders the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's showing versus direct play and fast breaks that remains in focus. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The £125m striker has been absent in domestic action for a month after picking up a muscle issue while his second start in quick succession in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned off the bench in the Swedish loss against Switzerland but sat out the subsequent meaningless match versus Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the World Cup playoffs. A booking during the game could have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
