Premier League: ten key points to look out for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a new battle
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is finding his feet in west London after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and displayed his talents versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration and a flawless low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to dinking a delivery to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the former found the net for United during their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to stopping Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full transfer speculation focus due to a claimed £65m release clause for a potential January departure, the gossip columns positioning him for promotion out of the Premier League's average tier. It is to be expected for a attacker who has six goals and three assists who is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his side find themselves in an tricky situation, having undergone a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth are down seven to one over two games in their past two games following an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss by Aston Villa but facing a backline lacking a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season may prove the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck an outside option for the Three Lions
It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton forward reaches 35 soon. “Even without having met him, I understand what he could provide,” commented the England coach. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] in a quite conventional No 9 role.” Having won the last of his 42 England games several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be selected to the World Cup assuming he is able to sustain his goalscoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward has additional strikes compared to any English performer in the Premier League this campaign on six and will be keen to increase that total as Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as creator and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided some positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who returned to his youth team last year after five challenging years in north London, has become a regular starter, pushing forward on the left side with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker in the last term, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver in a creative role instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four matches take in three among the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine scores this season so far. A threat emerges for a side that have built a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The occasion for Isak to perform for the Reds
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they fell to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The manager's side require a prolonged upturn to muscle into the title race from this position, as well as a dramatic improvement in form, and a chance presents itself with seven out of their upcoming ten league games against clubs currently in the bottom ten of the table. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a loss at Anfield to Liverpool last season, but it is not only Liverpool's showing when facing direct play and quick transitions that remains under scrutiny. It is time that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has been absent in domestic action in a month following a muscle issue during his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared off the bench in the Swedish reverse by Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's meaningless match versus Slovenia to secure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A caution on Tuesday might have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
