English top flight: ten highlights to look out for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new encounter
Another northwest showdown may be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is finding his feet in west London after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and displayed his talents against Wolves prior to the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace with a flawless low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield before chipping a cross to the back post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of how quickly things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former found the net for United in the cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill attention amid a claimed £65m release clause for his possible winter exit, the media preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is understandable for a wide player with a half-dozen strikes and three setups and is delightful to watch. However, his team are in an awkward situation, having undergone a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on successive wins, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 combined over their previous two matches following an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa but confronting a backline that hasn't kept a shutout since August may prove the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the national team
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I understand what he could give me,” stated the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite orthodox No 9 role.” Earning the last of his 42 caps in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be in the squad for the World Cup provided he can maintain his goalscoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has a greater tally over every other English performer in England's top division this season with six and will be eager to boost that count when Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The full-back needed as creator and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a measure of warmth to Fulham's bumpy opening. The left-sided player, who returned to his youth team last year after five tough years in north London, has become a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left flank in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer last season, has scored once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver in a creative role instead of Robinson, who registered ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' next four matches take in three among the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine scores in the league to date. A threat emerges for the club that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The moment for The striker to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they succumbed to loss number seven in ten matches. Arne Slot's team must have a sustained recovery to enter the championship chase from their current spot, plus a dramatic upturn in results, and the possibility emerges with seven of their next 10 top-flight fixtures facing sides at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The danger is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a defeat on their own turf to the title holders last season, but it is not only Liverpool's showing when facing direct play and counterattacks that will be in focus. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The expensive signing has not featured for his club in a month after picking up a groin injury during his second appearance in the lineup in four days in continental competition triumph in Germany. He reappeared from the bench in Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but was rested the subsequent meaningless match with Slovenia to secure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A yellow card on Tuesday could have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
