English top flight: ten highlights to watch for this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker ready for a new battle
Another northwest showdown may be in the offing as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man has started to settle in west London following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a flawless grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the speed at which things transform. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? When the Argentine scored for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to ending Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill attention due to a claimed £65m escape clause for a possible mid-season move, the tabloids setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. This is predictable from a attacker with a half-dozen strikes and three assists and is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an awkward situation, experiencing a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 combined over their last two matches following an impressive opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss by Aston Villa but confronting a defence lacking a shutout since August might be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a surprise shout for the national team
It was interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the fixture pause even though the Brighton attacker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Even without knowing him, I know what he could offer me,” commented the England boss. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] in a quite orthodox striker role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 caps back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup assuming he can sustain his scoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward has more goals over every other English performer in the top flight this campaign with six and is anxious to increase that count when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon required as assist provider and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered some comfort to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who rejoined his former side last year after five difficult years with Spurs, has become a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left flank due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he remains their leading marksman this season together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man in the last term, has scored one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also having to step up in a creative role instead of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' upcoming four fixtures take in three among the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine strikes in the league this season. A threat emerges for a team that have built a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
5. Time for The striker to perform for Liverpool
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they fell to loss number seven in ten matches. The coach's squad require a sustained recovery to enter the championship chase from this position, plus a major improvement in form, and the possibility emerges as seven from their following ten Premier League matches versus teams at the moment in the lower half in the standings. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a loss at Anfield to the title holders last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing versus long balls and fast breaks that will be under scrutiny. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The expensive signing has not played for his club in a month after picking up a groin problem when making his second start in four days in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back off the bench in the Swedish defeat to Switzerland but was rested the subsequent inconsequential game against Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the World Cup qualifiers. A booking in that match would have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient