English top flight: ten key points to watch for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho set for a fresh encounter
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man has started to settle with Chelsea following his summer move from Old Trafford and displayed his abilities versus Wolverhampton before the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto required shifting infield before dinking a cross to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of how quickly things transform. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? During the youngster found the net for United in their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo key to stopping Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire transfer speculation treatment 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 mid-table ranks. It is to be expected for a winger with a half-dozen strikes and three setups and is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his side are in an difficult spot, having engaged in a form flip: it is the struggling side West Ham who arrive on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one combined in their last two matches after an impressive start to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss to Aston Villa yet confronting a defensive unit lacking a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season could be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker a left-field shout for the national team
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the international break although the Brighton forward reaches 35 in the coming days. “Despite not being familiar with him, I understand what he could offer me,” commented the England coach. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite traditional centre-forward role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 England games several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup assuming he can maintain his goal-getting feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts more goals over every other English footballer in England's top division this season having six and remains eager to boost that total when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon required as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his former side recently after five difficult years at Tottenham, has become a regular starter, driving down the left flank due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he's also their leading marksman in the league alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker in the last term, has bagged one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last season. The Cottagers' following four fixtures take in three among the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine strikes in the Premier League so far. A threat emerges for a team that have earned a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
5. Time for The striker to perform for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they lost to their seventh loss in ten matches. The coach's team need a prolonged upturn to muscle into the league contest from this position, as well as a significant improvement in form, and opportunity emerges with seven of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures against sides at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The threat is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a loss at Anfield to Liverpool the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's display when facing long balls and fast breaks that is under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not featured at club level in a month having sustained a muscle issue when making his second start over a short period in the Champions League win abroad. Isak returned as a substitute in the Swedish loss by Switzerland but sat out the subsequent inconsequential game versus Slovenia to secure his fitness for the World Cup qualifiers. A booking on Tuesday would have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
