Premier League: ten key points to look out for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a fresh encounter
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is adapting well in west London after his summer move from the Red Devils and displayed his abilities in the Wolves match before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace and a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield before lofting a ball toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of the pace with which things transform. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? During the Argentine found the net for United in the FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (kick-offs GMT)
The winger vital to stopping Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire gossip column attention following a claimed £65m release clause for his prospective mid-season move, the media positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is to be expected from a winger who has six finishes plus three assists who is delightful to watch. Still, Bournemouth occupy an tricky spot, experiencing a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one on aggregate in their last two games after an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss by Aston Villa however taking on a defence that hasn't kept a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season might be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the Three Lions
It was intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton forward turns 35 in the coming days. “Despite not knowing him, I am aware what he could offer me,” said the England boss. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very orthodox striker role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 caps back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck might be on the plane to the World Cup if he is able to continue his goalscoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally than any other English performer in England's top division this season on six and remains eager to boost that count as Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as playmaker and finisher
Sessegnon's story has brought some positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his former side last year after five challenging years with Spurs, is now a regular starter, pushing forward on the left side with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man last season, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also having to step up in a creative role instead of Robinson, who registered 10 assists in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four fixtures include three of the top five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed just nine scores in the Premier League to date. A threat emerges for a side that have built a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
5. Time for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they lost to loss number seven in 10 games. The manager's side must have a prolonged upturn to enter the championship chase from this position, along with a major improvement in form, and opportunity arises with seven out of their next 10 Premier League matches versus teams at the moment in the lower half in the standings. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a home league defeat on the champions in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance versus aerial passes and quick transitions that remains under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The £125m striker has not played at club level over four weeks following a groin problem while his second start in four days in Europe victory in Germany. He reappeared from the bench during Sweden's loss against Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the World Cup playoffs. A caution during the game could have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient