English top flight: 10 things to watch for this matchday
Garnacho versus Walker poised for a new battle
A Manchester reunion might be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is adapting well in west London following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his skills in the Wolves match prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to chipping a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of how quickly circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? During the former scored for United in their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (all times GMT)
The winger key to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire transfer speculation attention amid a claimed £65m escape clause for a possible January departure, the tabloids positioning him for promotion out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is to be expected from a attacker with six finishes and three setups and remains joyous to watch. However, his side occupy an tricky situation, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the struggling side West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth are down seven to one on aggregate in their past two matches following an impressive start to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however taking on a defensive unit without a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season might be the perfect solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker a left-field choice for the Three Lions
It seemed interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the fixture pause although the Brighton striker celebrates 35 soon. “Even without being familiar with him, I understand what he can offer me,” stated the England manager. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional striker role.” Having won the most recent of his 42 international appearances several years ago, it's quite plausible 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 compared to any English performer in the top flight this term with six and is anxious to increase that total as Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
Ryan Sessegnon needed as assist provider and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a degree of positivity to Fulham's inconsistent opening. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his boyhood club recently after five difficult years in north London, is now a first-team fixture, driving down the left side with the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he remains their top goalscorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has bagged one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also having to step up as a creator in place of Robinson, who supplied ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four matches take in three among the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores this season this season. Danger looms for the club that have built a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
5. Time for Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they fell to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The coach's team need a prolonged upturn to force their way into the title race from this position, along with a major boost in performance, and opportunity arises with seven of their upcoming ten Premier League matches against sides at the moment in the lower half in the standings. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display against direct play and counterattacks that is in focus. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The expensive signing has not played at club level for a month after picking up a groin injury during his second start in four days in the Champions League victory in Germany. The striker came back from the bench in the Swedish reverse by Switzerland but sat out the midweek inconsequential game against Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A booking in that match would have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
