Premier League: ten key points to watch for this matchday
Garnacho versus Walker set for a fresh encounter
Another northwest showdown might be in store as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his summer move from Old Trafford and displayed his abilities against Wolves before the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside before dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? During the youngster found the net for United in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger vital to stopping Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full transfer speculation attention amid a alleged £65m release clause for a prospective winter exit, the media positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's middle class. This is understandable from a wide player with a half-dozen strikes and three helpers and is delightful to watch. Still, his side occupy an difficult position, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in with successive wins, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one over two games over their past two fixtures after an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss to Aston Villa but taking on a backline without a clean sheet for months might be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker a left-field choice for the national team
It was interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the national team window even though the Brighton attacker turns 35 soon. “Even without being familiar with him, I am aware what he could give me,” said the England coach. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a quite traditional striker role.” Gaining the final 42 England games several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be selected for the World Cup if he manages to continue his scoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim additional strikes over every other English footballer in the top flight this season having six and will be anxious to boost that tally as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
The full-back required as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a degree of warmth to Fulham's uneven opening. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his boyhood club recently after five challenging years in north London, is now a consistent pick, operating on the left flank due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man the previous campaign, has netted once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute as a creator instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last time round. Fulham's following four matches take in three of the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the Premier League to date. A threat emerges for a team that have developed a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The moment for Isak to produce for the Merseyside club
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they fell to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's squad need a consistent improvement to muscle into the championship chase from this position, plus a major improvement in form, and a chance arises as seven out of their upcoming ten Premier League matches against teams presently in the bottom ten in the league. The danger is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a home league defeat on the champions the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance versus aerial passes and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action for a month following a groin injury during his second start in quick succession in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned off the bench in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's dead rubber with Slovenia to ensure his fitness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution on Tuesday might have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
