English top flight: ten key points to watch for this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker ready for a fresh battle
A Manchester reunion may be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is adapting well in west London after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a perfect grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to dinking a cross to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a indication of the pace with which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former scored for United during their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger crucial to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full gossip column treatment following a reported £65m escape clause for a prospective mid-season move, the gossip columns preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's average tier. It is understandable for a wide player with a half-dozen strikes and three setups and remains delightful to watch. However, his side occupy an awkward spot, having undergone a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have lost seven-one combined over their past two fixtures following an strong start to the season. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however confronting a defence without a shutout for months might be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3pm
3. Welbeck a left-field choice for England
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton attacker reaches 35 soon. “Without even having met him, I understand what he is able to provide,” stated the England coach. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] in a very orthodox No 9 position.” Earning the last of his 42 England games in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup provided he can sustain his goalscoring feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts a greater tally than any other English footballer in the top flight this campaign with six and remains anxious to increase that total when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
The full-back needed as creator and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who came back to his youth team recently following five tough years with Spurs, is now a regular starter, driving down the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man in the last term, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 owing to a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who supplied ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' following four games take in three from the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores this season to date. A threat emerges for a side that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
5. Time for The striker to deliver for the Reds
The dispute regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they succumbed to loss number seven in ten matches. The coach's side must have a sustained recovery to force their way into the league contest from their current spot, plus a major boost in performance, and opportunity presents itself with seven of their following ten league games versus teams currently in the bottom half in the league. The risk is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a home league defeat to Liverpool in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's performance versus long balls and quick transitions that remains under scrutiny. It is time for Alexander Isak to deliver in a Liverpool shirt. The expensive signing has been absent at club level over four weeks after picking up a groin injury during his second consecutive start in quick succession in Europe win abroad. Isak returned off the bench in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but sat out the subsequent inconsequential game against Slovenia to secure his availability for the World Cup playoffs. A booking during the game might have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
