English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a fresh battle
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man has started to settle with Chelsea following his off-season signing from the Red Devils and displayed his talents against Wolves before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a perfect grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which things transform. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? During the former scored for United in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to ending Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete gossip column focus following a reported £65m buyout clause for a prospective mid-season move, the media preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's average tier. This is to be expected for a attacker with six goals plus three setups and is delightful to watch. Still, his side find themselves in an difficult position, experiencing a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who come in with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have lost seven to one combined in their last two fixtures after an promising beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa but confronting a defensive unit without a goalless game in the league since the start of the season may prove the best tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3pm
3. Welbeck a left-field option for the Three Lions
It seemed interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 next week. “Even without knowing him, I understand what he could give me,” stated the England manager. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional No 9 role.” Gaining the last of his 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup if he manages to sustain his scoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts additional strikes than any other English footballer in the top flight this term on six and remains anxious to add to that count as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon needed as assist provider and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a measure of comfort to Fulham's bumpy opening. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team recently following five difficult years at Tottenham, has emerged as a consistent pick, driving down the left flank in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he's also their top goalscorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has bagged a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who provided 10 assists last time round. Fulham's upcoming four games take in three of the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores this season so far. A threat emerges for the club that have developed a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
5. Time for Isak to perform for the Reds
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they lost to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The manager's team require a consistent improvement to enter the title race from here, as well as a major upturn in results, and a chance emerges as seven from their next 10 league games against teams presently in the bottom ten in the league. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance when facing long balls and fast breaks that remains under scrutiny. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not played for his club over four weeks having sustained a groin injury while his second consecutive start in quick succession in the Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned as a substitute in the Swedish reverse to Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's meaningless match against Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A caution in that match could have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
