Premier League: ten key points to keep an eye on this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker set for a new battle
Another northwest showdown might be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet with Chelsea following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to lofting a cross to the back post. His celebration with Neto, replicating his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the pace with which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? When the youngster scored for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to ending Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full gossip column treatment following a alleged £65m escape clause for a possible mid-season move, the tabloids positioning him for advancement from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is predictable for a winger with six goals plus three setups and remains pleasurable to watch. However, his team find themselves in an tricky situation, experiencing a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have lost seven to one over two games over their past two games following an impressive start to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss by Aston Villa yet confronting a defence without a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season might be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a surprise choice for the Three Lions
It was notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause even though the Brighton forward turns 35 in the coming days. “Even without being familiar with him, I know what he can offer me,” commented the England boss. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very conventional No 9 position.” Having won the most recent of his 42 international appearances several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck may be in the squad for the World Cup assuming he can sustain his goal-getting feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has additional strikes compared to any English performer in the Premier League this term having six and remains anxious to increase that tally when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as creator and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has offered some comfort to Fulham's inconsistent opening. The left-sided player, who came back to his boyhood club recently following five challenging years in north London, is now a regular starter, pushing forward on the left side with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he is their leading marksman this season alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer the previous campaign, has bagged a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term due to a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver in a creative role instead of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last season. Fulham's next four fixtures take in three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores in the league this season. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The occasion for Alexander Isak to produce for the Reds
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 lost to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The manager's team need a consistent improvement to muscle into the league contest from their current spot, along with a dramatic improvement in form, and the possibility emerges with seven out of their following ten league games versus teams at the moment in the lower half of the table. The danger is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a home league defeat to Liverpool the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's display when facing aerial passes and counterattacks that is under the spotlight. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to deliver in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has not featured in domestic action in a month following a muscle issue during his second appearance in the lineup in four days in continental competition victory abroad. The striker came back as a substitute in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but missed the subsequent inconsequential game against Slovenia to secure his readiness for the World Cup playoffs. A caution during the game would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
