Premier division: ten key points to look out for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for another clash
A Mancunian rematch might be in store as Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is adapting well with Chelsea after his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton prior to the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a ideal grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right before dinking a cross to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the speed at which circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the youngster scored for United in their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo key to ending Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete gossip column focus following a alleged £65m release clause for a possible winter exit, the media positioning him for advancement out of the Premier League's average tier. This is understandable for a wide player who has six finishes and three helpers and is pleasurable to watch. However, his team are in an awkward situation, experiencing a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have lost 7-1 on aggregate in their past two games after an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa yet taking on a defensive unit without a shutout since August could be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker an outside shout for England
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window even though the Brighton forward turns 35 next week. “Even without being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to provide,” said the England manager. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite conventional centre-forward position.” Having won the most recent of his 42 caps in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be selected for the World Cup assuming he manages to continue his scoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts additional strikes than any other English performer in England's top division this season having six and is anxious to boost that count when Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The full-back needed as creator and finisher
Sessegnon's story has brought a measure of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his youth team last year after five difficult years at Tottenham, has emerged as a consistent pick, driving down the left flank with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he's also their top goalscorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer last season, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute in a creative role replacing Robinson, who registered ten setups last time round. Fulham's following four matches feature three of the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine scores in the Premier League to date. Trouble awaits for the club that have built a standing for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The moment for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they lost to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's squad need a prolonged upturn to muscle into the championship chase from their current spot, along with a major boost in performance, and the possibility arises with seven from their upcoming ten Premier League matches against teams at the moment in the lower half of the table. The threat is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display against aerial passes and quick transitions that remains under the spotlight. It is time that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured at club level for a month having sustained a muscle issue during his second appearance in the lineup in four days in the Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared as a substitute during Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but sat out the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to guarantee his availability for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A caution in that match could have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
