Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker set for another clash
Another northwest showdown may be in the offing as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker has started to settle in west London following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and demonstrated his skills in the Wolves match prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a perfect grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside before dinking a delivery toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of the speed at which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the youngster scored for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger crucial to ending Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full rumour-mill attention due to a reported £65m buyout clause for a prospective January departure, the tabloids preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's middle class. This is to be expected from a wide player with a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers who is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth are in an awkward situation, experiencing a body swap: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven-one combined in their last two games after an strong beginning to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss by Aston Villa yet taking on a defensive unit lacking a shutout for months might be the best solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck an outside option for the national team
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the national team window although the Brighton forward turns 35 soon. “Despite not having met him, I know what he could provide,” commented the England boss. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional centre-forward position.” Earning the last of his 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup provided he is able to sustain his goalscoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts a greater tally than any other English player in the Premier League this campaign on six and will be anxious to increase that total when Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
The full-back required as playmaker and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a degree of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The 25-year-old, who came back to his youth team last year following five challenging years in north London, has emerged as a consistent pick, driving down the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he remains their leading marksman in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has netted once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who supplied 10 assists last time round. Fulham's next four matches include three among the top five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine scores in the league to date. Danger looms for a side that have developed a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
5. Time for Isak to produce for the Reds
The dispute regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in ten matches. Arne Slot's side require a sustained recovery to muscle into the title race from their current spot, along with a dramatic upturn in results, and opportunity presents itself with seven from their following ten league games versus sides at the moment in the bottom half in the league. The threat is evident from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a defeat on their own turf on the champions the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display when facing direct play and fast breaks that is in focus. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action over four weeks following a groin problem when making his second consecutive start over a short period in the Champions League win in Germany. He reappeared off the bench in Sweden's loss by Switzerland but missed the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A booking in that match could have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
