Premier League: ten key points to watch for this round of fixtures
Garnacho versus Walker ready for a new battle
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is adapting well with Chelsea after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities against Wolves before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration and a ideal grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to chipping a ball toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? Back when the Argentine found the net for United in the cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger crucial to halting Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire transfer speculation treatment following a claimed £65m buyout clause for a potential January departure, the tabloids preparing him for promotion out of the Premier League's middle class. It is predictable for a wide player with six goals plus three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his team are in an awkward position, experiencing a form flip: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven-one over two games in their past two games following an promising beginning to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss by Aston Villa but taking on a defence that hasn't kept a clean sheet for months could be the best remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3pm
Danny Welbeck a surprise option for the Three Lions
It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break even though the Brighton striker turns 35 next week. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he could give me,” said the England manager. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional No 9 role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 international appearances in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup if he is able to sustain his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has a greater tally compared to any English performer in the Premier League this season on six and is keen to boost that count when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
The full-back needed as playmaker and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought a degree of positivity to Fulham's uneven opening. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his youth team last year following five tough years with Spurs, has emerged as a regular starter, operating on the left flank due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he is their joint-top scorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer last season, has bagged a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period owing to a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up in a creative role in place of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' next four fixtures take in three of the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the league this season. Trouble awaits for the club that have earned a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to produce for the Reds
The debate about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they fell to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's team must have a sustained recovery to muscle into the championship chase from this position, plus a significant boost in performance, and opportunity presents itself with seven of their following ten league games versus teams at the moment in the lower half of the table. The threat is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's performance versus direct play and counterattacks that will be in focus. It is time for Alexander Isak to deliver in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has not featured for his club in a month after picking up a groin injury while his second consecutive start over a short period in the Champions League win abroad. The striker came back from the bench during Sweden's loss against Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's dead rubber versus Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card in that match would have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
