English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho set for a fresh battle
A Manchester reunion may be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is adapting well with Chelsea following his off-season signing from the Red Devils and showcased his talents against Wolves before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a flawless low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto required cutting inside prior to lofting a ball to the back post. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the speed at which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the former found the net for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger crucial to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full rumour-mill treatment amid a reported ÂŁ65m escape clause for his potential January departure, the media preparing him for advancement from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is predictable from a attacker who has six goals plus three setups who is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, his team are in an tricky situation, experiencing a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth are down 7-1 on aggregate in their last two matches following an promising beginning to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi MartĂnez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa but taking on a backline without a goalless game in the league since the start of the season may prove the perfect solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker a left-field option for England
It was interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the national team window even though the Brighton attacker reaches 35 next week. “Without even knowing him, I am aware what he can give me,” said the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a very orthodox centre-forward role.” Having won the most recent of his 42 caps several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup if he is able to continue his goalscoring performances. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts more goals over every other English player in England's top division this term with six and will be keen to increase that count when Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
The full-back crucial as creator and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy opening. The left-sided player, who rejoined his boyhood club recently after five challenging years at Tottenham, has become a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left flank due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he remains their top goalscorer this season together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker last season, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as a creator in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last season. Fulham's upcoming four fixtures feature three among the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores this season to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have developed a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The moment for Alexander Isak to perform for the Reds
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they lost to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The coach's team must have a sustained recovery to muscle into the league contest from this position, plus a dramatic upturn in results, and the possibility arises with seven out of their following ten top-flight fixtures against clubs at the moment in the lower half of the table. The risk is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a loss at Anfield on the champions in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance against aerial passes and counterattacks that remains in focus. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The expensive signing has not featured for his club for a month after picking up a muscle issue while his second start in four days in Europe win abroad. The striker came back as a substitute during Sweden's loss to Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's inconsequential game against Slovenia to ensure his fitness for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A caution in that match could have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
