English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a new battle
Another northwest showdown might be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man has started to settle with Chelsea following his summer move from Manchester United and displayed his skills against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield before chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the pace with which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? Back when the youngster scored for United in the cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to halting Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full rumour-mill treatment amid a reported £65m buyout clause for a potential winter exit, the tabloids positioning him for advancement from the Premier League's average tier. It is understandable from a wide player with six finishes and three assists and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his team occupy an tricky position, having undergone a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down seven-one on aggregate over their previous two fixtures following an impressive beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but taking on a backline lacking a shutout since August might be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker an outside choice for the Three Lions
It was interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window although the Brighton attacker turns 35 soon. “Even without having met him, I understand what he could give me,” commented the England manager. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very traditional centre-forward role.” Gaining the last of his 42 international appearances back in 2018, there is every chance 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 attacker has more goals over every other English footballer in the top flight this term with six and will be anxious to add to that count when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
Ryan Sessegnon needed as playmaker and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has provided a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his boyhood club recently after five difficult years in north London, has emerged as a regular starter, pushing forward on the left flank in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he is their joint-top scorer this season alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer in the last term, has bagged a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute in a creative role replacing Robinson, who supplied 10 assists last season. Fulham's upcoming four games take in three from the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed just nine scores this season so far. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
5. Time for Alexander Isak to produce for Liverpool
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they fell to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The coach's team require a prolonged upturn to force their way into the championship chase from here, plus a significant improvement in form, and the possibility emerges as seven from their upcoming ten league games against teams currently in the bottom half of the table. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a home league defeat to the title holders the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's display against direct play and fast breaks that remains under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The big-money forward has been absent at club level over four weeks having sustained a groin problem during his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League triumph abroad. The striker came back off the bench in Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but missed Tuesday's meaningless match versus Slovenia to ensure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card during the game would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
