Premier League: 10 things to watch for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker set for another clash
Another northwest showdown could be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from the Red Devils and demonstrated his abilities against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a flawless low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right prior to chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former scored for United in the FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
The winger key to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full gossip column focus amid a alleged £65m escape clause for his possible mid-season move, the media positioning him for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. This is predictable from a attacker who has six goals plus three helpers who is joyous to watch. However, his team are in an awkward situation, having undergone a body swap: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who enter on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one combined in their previous two games after an impressive beginning to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however facing a backline lacking a goalless game for months may prove the perfect solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the national team
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the international break even though the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 next week. “Even without having met him, I understand what he is able to give me,” stated the England manager. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox striker position.” Having won the last of his 42 caps in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be selected for the World Cup if he can maintain his goalscoring feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal attacker can claim additional strikes than any other English performer in the Premier League this campaign on six and will be keen to boost that total as Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
Ryan Sessegnon needed as assist provider and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a measure of warmth to Fulham's inconsistent start. The left-sided player, who came back to his boyhood club recently after five challenging years at Tottenham, has become a regular starter, operating on the left flank with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured until 2026 owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute in a creative role in place of Robinson, who registered ten setups last time round. The Cottagers' next four games feature three among the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine goals in the Premier League to date. A threat emerges for a side that have built a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to perform for the Reds
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they succumbed to their seventh loss in ten matches. Arne Slot's team need a sustained recovery to muscle into the league contest from here, plus a major upturn in results, and opportunity emerges as seven from their following ten league games against teams currently in the lower half in the league. The risk is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a home league defeat on the champions in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display when facing long balls and fast breaks that remains under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has been absent for his club for a month after picking up a muscle issue during his second consecutive start over a short period in continental competition victory in Germany. The striker came back from the bench during Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's meaningless match against Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A yellow card during the game might have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
