English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a new encounter
A Manchester reunion could be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker has started to settle with Chelsea following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and displayed his talents against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a perfect grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the speed at which things transform. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? When the Argentine netted for United in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
The winger crucial to stopping Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full transfer speculation attention following a alleged £65m release clause for a possible January departure, the gossip columns setting him up for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is understandable from a attacker who has a half-dozen strikes plus three assists who is pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an tricky position, experiencing a body swap: now it's the struggling side West Ham who arrive with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one on aggregate over their past two games after an promising start to the season. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss to Aston Villa but facing a backline lacking a shutout since August could be the best remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
3. Welbeck a surprise shout for the Three Lions
It seemed notable to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times during the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton attacker turns 35 in the coming days. “Even without having met him, I am aware what he could offer me,” commented the England coach. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite traditional No 9 position.” Earning the final 42 caps back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be selected to the World Cup assuming he is able to maintain his scoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts more goals over every other English performer in the Premier League this term with six and remains keen to boost that total as Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon needed as creator and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought some positivity to Fulham's bumpy start. The 25-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club recently after five difficult years with Spurs, has emerged as a regular starter, operating on the left side with the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he is their top goalscorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also having to step up as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' next four fixtures take in three of the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores this season so far. Danger looms for a team that have developed a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for Isak to deliver for the Reds
The dispute regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they fell to their seventh loss in ten matches. The coach's side must have a sustained recovery to enter the championship chase from here, along with a major boost in performance, and a chance presents itself as seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures against sides presently in the bottom half in the league. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display against aerial passes and fast breaks that remains in focus. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action for a month after picking up a groin problem while his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League triumph in Germany. The striker came back from the bench in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's dead rubber with Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card on Tuesday would have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
