Premier division: 10 things to watch for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a new clash
Another northwest showdown could be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man has started to settle at Stamford Bridge after his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his skills versus Wolverhampton prior to the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration and a flawless grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to lofting a ball to the back post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former found the net for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to ending Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete rumour-mill treatment due to a claimed £65m escape clause for a possible January departure, the gossip columns setting him up for graduation from the Premier League's average tier. It is to be expected for a attacker with six goals and three assists who is pleasurable to watch. However, his team occupy an tricky situation, experiencing a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth are down seven to one combined in their previous two matches following an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss by Aston Villa yet facing a defence without a shutout since August may prove the ideal solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck a surprise choice for the national team
It was notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause even though the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I am aware what he can offer me,” stated the England coach. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite orthodox striker position.” Gaining the final 42 England games in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup provided he can continue his goalscoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward has more goals over every other English performer in England's top division this season with six and remains keen to increase that tally as Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
4. Sessegnon crucial as creator and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a measure of warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who returned to his boyhood club recently after five challenging years in north London, is now a regular starter, operating on the left with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he is their leading marksman in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has netted once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver in a creative role instead of Robinson, who provided ten setups last time round. The Cottagers' following four matches include three of the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine scores in the Premier League to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have developed a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
5. Time for Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they lost to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's squad need a prolonged upturn to force their way into the league contest from their current spot, as well as a major improvement in form, and opportunity presents itself as seven out of their following ten league games against teams currently in the bottom half of the table. The risk is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's display against aerial passes and counterattacks that will be under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The big-money forward has not featured at club level over four weeks following a muscle issue when making his second appearance in the lineup in four days in Europe win at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back as a substitute in the Swedish defeat by Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's inconsequential game with Slovenia to ensure his availability for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card during the game would have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
