English top flight: ten key points to watch for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a fresh clash
A Manchester reunion may be in store as Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger has started to settle in west London following his summer move from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents in the Wolves match prior to the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a perfect grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before chipping a cross to the back post. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the Argentine found the net for United in their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to halting Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire gossip column treatment amid a reported £65m buyout clause for a possible mid-season move, the gossip columns positioning him for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected from a attacker with six goals plus three assists and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his team are in an tricky situation, having undergone a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one over two games in their previous two matches after an promising start to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss by Aston Villa yet taking on a backline without a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season could be the best solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a surprise shout for the Three Lions
It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times during the national team window although the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 next week. “Even without being familiar with him, I am aware what he is able to provide,” commented the England coach. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a very orthodox centre-forward role.” Earning the final 42 England games in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck might be on the plane for the World Cup provided he can sustain his goal-getting performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts more goals over every other English player in the top flight this season having six and remains anxious to add to that tally when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
4. Sessegnon needed as creator and finisher
Sessegnon's story has offered some comfort to Fulham's uneven beginning. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his former side last year after five tough years at Tottenham, is now a consistent pick, operating on the left with the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer in the last term, has scored a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided 10 assists in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four matches feature three among the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine goals in the league this season. Trouble awaits for the club that have built a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for Isak to produce for the Reds
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they lost to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The coach's side require a consistent improvement to muscle into the championship chase from this position, along with a significant boost in performance, and the possibility emerges as seven out of their upcoming ten league games versus sides at the moment in the bottom half of the table. The risk is evident from Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a home league defeat on the champions in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's display against long balls and fast breaks that is in focus. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has not played for his club in a month having sustained a muscle issue during his second consecutive start in four days in Europe win in Germany. He reappeared off the bench in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but sat out the subsequent dead rubber versus Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card in that match would have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
