English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho ready for another clash
A Manchester reunion may be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is finding his feet with Chelsea following his summer move from Old Trafford and showcased his skills against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined electric speed with a perfect low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required cutting inside prior to dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of how quickly things transform. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? When the youngster netted for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger key to stopping Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire gossip column focus due to a reported £65m escape clause for a prospective mid-season move, the media preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is predictable from a attacker with six goals and three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Still, his team are in an difficult position, having engaged in a role reversal: now it's the struggling side West Ham who arrive on consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one on aggregate over their last two games after an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however facing a defensive unit that hasn't kept a shutout in the league since the start of the season might be the best solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
3. Welbeck an outside choice for the Three Lions
It was interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the international break even though the Brighton forward celebrates 35 soon. “Without even having met him, I understand what he can give me,” said the England manager. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional striker role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be in the squad for the World Cup if he manages to maintain his scoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker has more goals than any other English footballer in the top flight this season on six and will be eager to add to that tally as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The full-back crucial as creator and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided some positivity to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The 25-year-old, who came back to his boyhood club recently after five challenging years at Tottenham, has emerged as a first-team fixture, driving down the left due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he's also their top goalscorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has bagged a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who supplied ten helpers last time round. Fulham's next four games feature three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores this season this season. Danger looms for the club that have developed a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The manager's squad must have a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from this position, along with a major improvement in form, and a chance arises as seven of their following ten league games versus teams presently in the bottom ten in the standings. The danger is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a loss at Anfield on the champions in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's display when facing long balls and counterattacks that is under the spotlight. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The big-money forward has not featured for his club in a month following a groin injury when making his second appearance in the lineup in four days in continental competition triumph in Germany. Isak returned from the bench in the Swedish reverse against Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's meaningless match with Slovenia to ensure his readiness for the World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card on Tuesday would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
