English top flight: ten key points to look out for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a fresh battle
Another northwest showdown may be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is adapting well in west London following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his abilities versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a ideal low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to lofting a delivery across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of how quickly things transform. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? When the Argentine netted for United during their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to halting Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full transfer speculation attention amid a claimed £65m buyout clause for his potential mid-season move, the media setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's middle class. It is understandable from a wide player who has six finishes and three assists and is delightful to watch. However, his team occupy an tricky situation, having undergone a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 over two games over their last two matches after an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa but facing a defensive unit without a shutout since August could be the best tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3pm
3. Welbeck a surprise option for the Three Lions
It was intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton striker turns 35 soon. “Without even knowing him, I know what he is able to offer me,” said the England coach. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very orthodox No 9 position.” Gaining the last of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup assuming he can sustain his goal-getting performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts more goals over every other English performer in England's top division this season on six and will be eager to add to that tally as Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon required as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered some comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his boyhood club recently following five challenging years in north London, has emerged as a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left flank in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he is their top goalscorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man last season, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as a creator in place of Robinson, who registered ten setups last time round. The Cottagers' next four games feature three among the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine scores in the league to date. Trouble awaits for a side that have developed a reputation for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The moment for Alexander Isak to produce for Liverpool
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they fell to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The coach's side need a sustained recovery to enter the championship chase from this position, plus a major upturn in results, and the possibility presents itself with seven of their upcoming ten Premier League matches facing teams presently in the lower half of the table. The risk is evident from Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a home league defeat to Liverpool in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's performance when facing long balls and fast breaks that is under scrutiny. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has not played at club level for a month after picking up a muscle issue while his second start in quick succession in the Champions League win abroad. Isak returned as a substitute in the Swedish defeat against Switzerland but sat out the subsequent meaningless match against Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the World Cup playoffs. A booking in that match could have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
