Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho poised for another encounter
Another northwest showdown might be in store as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The winger has started to settle at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Manchester United and showcased his skills in the Wolves match prior to the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration and a perfect low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to chipping a ball across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the former netted for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
The winger vital to halting Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full rumour-mill treatment due to a claimed £65m escape clause for a possible mid-season move, the gossip columns positioning him for promotion out of the Premier League's average tier. This is predictable from a attacker with a half-dozen strikes and three setups and is delightful to watch. However, his side find themselves in an awkward spot, having engaged in a body swap: now it's the struggling side West Ham who enter on consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 combined over their previous two matches after an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa yet confronting a defensive unit without a shutout in the league since the start of the season could be the best solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck an outside option for the Three Lions
It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause although the Brighton striker turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even knowing him, I understand what he is able to offer me,” commented the England coach. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional centre-forward position.” Gaining the last of his 42 caps in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup assuming he manages to maintain his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally over every other English player in England's top division this term with six and remains anxious to add to that count as Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The full-back required as creator and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven start. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his former side recently after five challenging years at Tottenham, has become a first-team fixture, operating on the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he's also their joint-top scorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer in the last term, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who registered ten helpers last season. Fulham's following four fixtures feature three of the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine scores in the league to date. A threat emerges for a team that have developed a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The moment for Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they lost to a seventh defeat in 10 games. Arne Slot's side need a sustained recovery to muscle into the league contest from here, along with a dramatic boost in performance, and opportunity arises with seven out of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures versus teams at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a home league defeat to the title holders in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's performance versus aerial passes and fast breaks that is under scrutiny. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not played at club level over four weeks after picking up a muscle issue while his second appearance in the lineup in four days in Europe win abroad. Isak returned off the bench during Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but was rested the subsequent inconsequential game versus Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the World Cup playoffs. A caution during the game would have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
