English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for another encounter
A Mancunian rematch might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The winger is finding his feet with Chelsea following his off-season signing from Manchester United and displayed his skills versus Wolverhampton before the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace with a flawless grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield before dinking a ball to the back post. His celebration with Neto, replicating his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of how quickly situations evolve. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? When the Argentine scored for United during their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo key to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill focus due to a claimed £65m release clause for his potential winter exit, the media positioning him for promotion out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is to be expected from a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes and three helpers who is delightful to watch. Still, his side occupy an difficult position, having undergone a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who come in with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost 7-1 over two games in their last two matches after an strong opening to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa but taking on a backline that hasn't kept a shutout in the league since the start of the season might be the best tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a surprise choice for the Three Lions
It seemed interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the international break even though the Brighton forward celebrates 35 next week. “Without even having met him, I know what he could offer me,” said the England coach. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very conventional No 9 position.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be on the plane for the World Cup provided he can maintain his goal-getting feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally over every other English player in the top flight this campaign having six and is keen to boost that count when Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
The full-back crucial as assist provider and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The left-sided player, who returned to his youth team recently following five challenging years at Tottenham, has become a consistent pick, driving down the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he is their leading marksman in the league together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has bagged one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute in a creative role instead of Robinson, who registered ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' following four fixtures include three from the best five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine goals this season so far. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a standing for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The moment for Isak to deliver for the Reds
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they lost to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The coach's squad need a prolonged upturn to muscle into the championship chase from this position, along with a dramatic boost in performance, and a chance emerges as seven from their upcoming ten league games against clubs at the moment in the lower half in the league. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a home league defeat to the title holders in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's display versus long balls and quick transitions that remains in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not played for his club in a month after picking up a muscle issue while his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in Europe victory abroad. Isak returned off the bench during Sweden's loss to Switzerland but missed the subsequent inconsequential game versus Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the World Cup playoffs. A caution in that match would have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
