Premier League: 10 things to watch for this matchday
Garnacho versus Walker set for a fresh encounter
A Manchester reunion could be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man has started to settle at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed with a ideal grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to chipping a ball to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of the pace with which circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the youngster scored for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo key to ending Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full gossip column treatment amid a claimed £65m buyout clause for a possible January departure, the tabloids setting him up for advancement from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is to be expected for a attacker with six finishes plus three setups and remains delightful to watch. Nonetheless, his side are in an difficult position, experiencing a body swap: it is the struggling side West Ham who enter with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 combined in their last two fixtures following an promising beginning to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa yet facing a defence lacking a goalless game in the league since the start of the season could be the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a surprise option for the national team
It seemed interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break even though the Brighton striker celebrates 35 soon. “Without even being familiar with him, I am aware what he could provide,” said the England boss. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional striker position.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 England games several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck might be selected to the World Cup if he can maintain his scoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts additional strikes than any other English player in the top flight this campaign having six and is eager to add to that count as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon required as playmaker and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven start. The left-sided player, who returned to his youth team last year following five difficult years in north London, has become a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left side with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he's also their joint-top scorer this season alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who provided 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' following four fixtures include three from the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores this season so far. A threat emerges for a side that have developed a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they fell to loss number seven in 10 games. Arne Slot's squad require a sustained recovery to force their way into the league contest from their current spot, as well as a significant improvement in form, and opportunity emerges as seven of their upcoming ten Premier League matches facing teams presently in the lower half of the table. The threat is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a loss at Anfield to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus long balls and counterattacks that remains under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The expensive signing has not featured at club level for a month following a groin injury when making his second start over a short period in continental competition triumph in Germany. Isak returned off the bench in Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but was rested the subsequent meaningless match with Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A caution in that match might have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
