Premier League: 10 things to keep an eye on this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for another encounter
Another northwest showdown might be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his summer move from Manchester United and showcased his talents versus Wolverhampton before the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined electric speed with a perfect grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right before chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of how quickly circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former scored for United in the FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to ending Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire transfer speculation treatment due to a claimed £65m release clause for a prospective mid-season move, the gossip columns setting him up for advancement from the Premier League's average tier. This is understandable from a winger who has six goals and three assists who is pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his team occupy an difficult situation, having engaged in a role reversal: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one on aggregate in their last two matches after an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss to Aston Villa yet facing a defensive unit lacking a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the best remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck a left-field option for the Three Lions
It was intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break despite the fact that the Brighton striker turns 35 in the coming days. “Despite not being familiar with him, I know what he can give me,” stated the England boss. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] in a very conventional centre-forward role.” Having won the final 42 England games in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be selected for the World Cup assuming he can continue his goalscoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward has additional strikes over every other English footballer in the top flight this campaign having six and will be eager to increase that count as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon required as assist provider and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought a measure of comfort to Fulham's bumpy start. The 25-year-old, who came back to his former side last year following five tough years with Spurs, has become a first-team fixture, driving down the left flank in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker last season, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who supplied ten helpers in the previous campaign. Fulham's upcoming four matches feature three among the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine goals this season this season. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
5. Time for Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they fell to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's team require a sustained recovery to enter the title race from here, as well as a dramatic upturn in results, and opportunity arises as seven from their following ten league games facing teams at the moment in the bottom half in the standings. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and quick transitions that is under the spotlight. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The big-money forward has been absent for his club over four weeks after picking up a groin injury when making his second consecutive start in four days in Europe victory in Germany. He reappeared as a substitute during Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but sat out the midweek meaningless match versus Slovenia to secure his readiness for the World Cup playoffs. A yellow card on Tuesday could have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
