Premier League: ten key points to watch for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a new clash
Another northwest showdown may be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man has started to settle in west London following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and showcased his skills against Wolves before the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a perfect low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before lofting a delivery toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of how quickly things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? When the youngster scored for United during their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger vital to ending Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire gossip column attention due to a claimed ÂŁ65m escape clause for his prospective mid-season move, the media preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is understandable for a winger who has six finishes and three assists who is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his team are in an awkward position, experiencing a form flip: now it's the struggling side West Ham who arrive on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one combined over their previous two matches following an promising beginning to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi MartĂnez in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but facing a defence lacking a clean sheet since August may prove the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker a left-field option for England
It was interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton striker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Despite not knowing him, I am aware what he could offer me,” said the England coach. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a quite orthodox No 9 role.” Earning the final 42 international appearances in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be in the squad for the World Cup if he manages to sustain his goalscoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker has additional strikes over every other English player in the top flight this campaign with six and is anxious to increase that total as Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
Ryan Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent opening. The left-sided player, who came back to his boyhood club last year following five difficult years in north London, is now a first-team fixture, driving down the left with the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he remains their top goalscorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man the previous campaign, has bagged once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided 10 assists in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four fixtures take in three among the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine strikes in the Premier League this season. Trouble awaits for a team that have built a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The moment for The striker to deliver for the Reds
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they lost to a seventh defeat in 10 games. Arne Slot's team must have a prolonged upturn to force their way into the title race from this position, along with a significant boost in performance, and opportunity arises with seven out of their next 10 Premier League matches versus teams at the moment in the bottom half in the league. The danger is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a loss at Anfield to Liverpool last season, however it's not just Liverpool's display when facing long balls and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. It is time for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action for a month having sustained a muscle issue while his second start over a short period in Europe triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back as a substitute in the Swedish defeat by Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's dead rubber versus Slovenia to secure his readiness for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A booking in that match would have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
