Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho set for another encounter
A Manchester reunion might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is adapting well with Chelsea after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his talents versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace and a ideal low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, replicating his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the pace with which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? During the former found the net for United during their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo key to stopping Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full transfer speculation focus following a alleged £65m escape clause for his prospective January departure, the gossip columns setting him up for advancement out of the Premier League's middle class. That is understandable from a winger with six goals plus three setups and is joyous to watch. Still, his team find themselves in an tricky situation, experiencing a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth are down seven to one over two games over their last two fixtures after an impressive beginning to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss by Aston Villa but taking on a backline that hasn't kept a goalless game for months may prove the best remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck an outside shout for the national team
It proved notable to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the national team window even though the Brighton striker celebrates 35 next week. “Despite not knowing him, I understand what he is able to offer me,” commented the England manager. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] in a quite orthodox No 9 position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 international appearances back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup if he is able to sustain his goalscoring performances. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes than any other English performer in the Premier League this campaign having six and is anxious to add to that tally when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as playmaker and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought a degree of positivity to Fulham's uneven opening. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his former side recently after five difficult years in north London, is now a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he's also their top goalscorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer in the last term, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute in a creative role in place of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last time round. Fulham's upcoming four matches feature three among the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the league this season. Trouble awaits for the club that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they succumbed to their seventh loss in ten matches. The manager's side require a prolonged upturn to enter the championship chase from their current spot, plus a significant improvement in form, and the possibility arises with seven of their next 10 Premier League matches facing teams presently in the bottom half of the table. The threat is evident from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a home league defeat on the champions last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing against aerial passes and fast breaks that will be under scrutiny. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent at club level for a month having sustained a groin injury while his second start in four days in continental competition win abroad. The striker came back from the bench in the Swedish defeat to Switzerland but sat out the subsequent inconsequential game against Slovenia to secure his availability for the World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card on Tuesday might have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
