Premier League: 10 things to keep an eye on this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a fresh battle
A Mancunian rematch might be in store as Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and displayed his skills versus Wolverhampton prior to the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a flawless grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to dinking a delivery toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of the speed at which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? When the youngster scored for United during their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to halting Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire transfer speculation focus amid a reported £65m buyout clause for a potential January departure, the gossip columns preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is to be expected from a winger with a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers and remains delightful to watch. However, his team occupy an difficult spot, experiencing a role reversal: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who enter with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth are down 7-1 over two games over their last two fixtures after an impressive opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa yet taking on a backline without a goalless game since August might be the perfect solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
The striker a surprise option for the national team
It proved intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton forward turns 35 in the coming days. “Despite not knowing him, I am aware what he could provide,” stated the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a very traditional centre-forward role.” Gaining the last of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be in the squad for the World Cup assuming he can continue his scoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has more goals than any other English footballer in England's top division this season having six and is anxious to increase that total when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a degree of positivity to Fulham's inconsistent opening. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his former side last year after five tough years in north London, has become a first-team fixture, operating on the left in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he remains their top goalscorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term due to a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up as a creator replacing Robinson, who registered ten helpers last time round. Fulham's upcoming four fixtures feature three from the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores in the league to date. A threat emerges for a team that have developed a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for Isak to perform for Liverpool
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they fell to loss number seven in 10 games. Arne Slot's squad need a sustained recovery to muscle into the title race from their current spot, plus a major improvement in form, and the possibility emerges with seven out of their next 10 top-flight fixtures against teams currently in the lower half in the league. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a home league defeat on the champions last season, but it is not only Liverpool's display against long balls and counterattacks that is under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not featured in domestic action in a month having sustained a groin problem while his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned from the bench in Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to ensure his readiness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card on Tuesday would have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
