Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this round of fixtures
Walker faces Garnacho set for a fresh battle
Another northwest showdown could be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is adapting well with Chelsea following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and showcased his skills in the Wolves match before the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto blended electric speed with a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield before dinking a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the speed at which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? During the youngster scored for United in the Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to halting Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire transfer speculation attention due to a claimed £65m release clause for a possible mid-season move, the media preparing him for promotion from the Premier League's middle class. That is to be expected from a winger with six goals plus three helpers and is delightful to watch. Still, Bournemouth occupy an difficult position, having engaged in a form flip: it is the struggling side West Ham who arrive on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth are down seven-one combined in their last two matches after an impressive opening to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however confronting a defensive unit lacking a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck a left-field choice for England
It proved intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the fixture pause even though the Brighton forward reaches 35 soon. “Without even having met him, I know what he is able to offer me,” stated the England boss. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional striker position.” Having won the most recent of his 42 caps back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be selected for the World Cup if he manages to continue his scoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has additional strikes than any other English performer in the Premier League this season having six and will be eager to boost that total when Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3pm
The full-back crucial as playmaker and finisher
Sessegnon's story has brought a measure of warmth to Fulham's bumpy start. The 25-year-old, who came back to his boyhood club recently after five difficult years in north London, has emerged as a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left flank due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he remains their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man last season, has bagged one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided ten setups last time round. Fulham's following four fixtures feature three of the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores in the Premier League so far. A threat emerges 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 Isak to perform for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they fell to loss number seven in ten matches. The coach's side need a consistent improvement to enter the league contest from this position, as well as a dramatic upturn in results, and a chance presents itself as seven of their following ten league games versus clubs presently in the bottom ten of the table. The danger is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a home league defeat to Liverpool the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's performance against direct play and counterattacks that will be under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has been absent at club level in a month after picking up a groin injury while his second consecutive start over a short period in continental competition triumph abroad. He reappeared off the bench during Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but was rested the midweek dead rubber against Slovenia to secure his readiness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card during the game might have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient