Premier League: ten highlights to look out for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new clash
A Mancunian rematch might be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace and a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto required cutting inside prior to lofting a delivery toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of the pace with which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? When the former scored for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to stopping Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete gossip column treatment following a alleged £65m escape clause for a possible mid-season move, the media positioning him for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is to be expected from a winger who has six goals and three assists and remains pleasurable to watch. However, his side occupy an tricky position, experiencing a body swap: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with successive wins, while Bournemouth are down seven to one combined over their past two fixtures following an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss by Aston Villa but facing a defensive unit without a goalless game since August might be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
The striker a left-field choice for the national team
It was notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times during the national team window although the Brighton attacker turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even being familiar with him, I understand what he can offer me,” commented the England coach. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a very orthodox centre-forward role.” Earning the final 42 international appearances several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup assuming he is able to continue his goal-getting feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker has more goals over every other English performer in England's top division this term on six and is anxious to boost that count as Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon required as creator and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The 25-year-old, who came back to his former side last year following five challenging years at Tottenham, has emerged as a consistent pick, operating on the left side with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he's also their top goalscorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man last season, has scored a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 because of hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver in a creative role replacing Robinson, who provided ten setups last season. Fulham's upcoming four fixtures include three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores in the Premier League this season. Danger looms for a team that have built a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The moment for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's team require a consistent improvement to enter the league contest from this position, plus a major improvement in form, and opportunity arises with seven from their next 10 Premier League matches facing clubs at the moment in the bottom half of the table. The threat is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a home league defeat to Liverpool in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing against long balls and counterattacks that remains in focus. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The expensive signing has not played for his club over four weeks after picking up a muscle issue while his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in the Champions League triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned as a substitute in Sweden's loss against Switzerland but sat out the subsequent dead rubber with Slovenia to secure his fitness for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A booking during the game might have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient