Premier League: ten highlights to look out for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a new battle
Another northwest showdown might be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Old Trafford and demonstrated his skills against Wolves before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a perfect grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside before chipping a ball toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the speed at which circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? When the youngster scored for United during their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete rumour-mill attention amid a claimed £65m escape clause for his prospective winter exit, the tabloids preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected for a attacker who has six goals and three assists and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an awkward position, having undergone a form flip: it is the struggling side West Ham who enter with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one combined in their previous two games after an impressive opening to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss to Aston Villa however facing a defence without a goalless game since August could be the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker a surprise option for England
It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the fixture pause even though the Brighton forward celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Despite not having met him, I understand what he can provide,” said the England manager. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very traditional centre-forward role.” Having won the final 42 international appearances in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck might be selected for the World Cup if he is able to sustain his goal-getting feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts more goals over every other English footballer in the Premier League this campaign having six and will be anxious to boost that total when Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The full-back needed as creator and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided some positivity to Fulham's inconsistent start. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his boyhood club recently following five tough years at Tottenham, is now a first-team fixture, driving down the left side due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he's also their top goalscorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man in the last term, has scored one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as a creator in place of Robinson, who supplied ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four fixtures take in three among the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores in the league to date. Danger looms for a team that have earned a standing for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Reds
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they lost to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The manager's squad need a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from this position, plus a major boost in performance, and a chance presents itself as seven from their next 10 top-flight fixtures versus teams presently in the bottom half in the league. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a home league defeat to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing against long balls and quick transitions that will be in focus. It is time 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 quick succession in continental competition win abroad. Isak returned off the bench in Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but missed the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to secure his readiness for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A caution on Tuesday might have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
