Premier League: 10 things to watch for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a new battle
Another northwest showdown could be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities against Wolves before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration and a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? Back when the youngster netted for United in their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete gossip column attention following a claimed £65m release clause for a possible mid-season move, the gossip columns setting him up for promotion from the Premier League's middle class. It is predictable from a attacker who has six goals plus three assists and is delightful to watch. Still, his team are in an tricky position, having undergone a role reversal: it is the struggling side West Ham who arrive on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down 7-1 combined in their last two games following an promising beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa yet confronting a defensive unit that hasn't kept a goalless game since August may prove the best remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker an outside choice for England
It was interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the national team window even though the Brighton striker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Without even knowing him, I know what he is able to offer me,” said the England boss. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional centre-forward position.” Earning the last of his 42 England games several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup if he is able to sustain his goal-getting feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts additional strikes compared to any English footballer in the Premier League this season having six and remains anxious to add to that count when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The full-back needed as creator and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy start. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his boyhood club last year following five challenging years at Tottenham, has become a regular starter, driving down the left flank in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he's also their leading marksman in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man in the last term, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period due to a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver in a creative role replacing Robinson, who registered 10 assists last season. Fulham's next four games feature three among the top five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine strikes in the Premier League so far. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
5. Time for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they lost to loss number seven in ten matches. The coach's team need a sustained recovery to enter the title race from their current spot, plus a major upturn in results, and opportunity emerges as seven of their next 10 top-flight fixtures facing teams presently in the lower half in the league. The threat is evident from Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf to the title holders last season, but it is not only Liverpool's showing versus long balls and fast breaks that will be under the spotlight. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played at club level over four weeks after picking up a muscle issue during his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in Europe win abroad. The striker came back off the bench during Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but missed Tuesday's dead rubber with Slovenia to secure his availability for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card in that match might have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
