Premier League: ten key points to keep an eye on this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a new encounter
A Mancunian rematch might be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is adapting well at Stamford Bridge after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and showcased his skills in the Wolves match before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before chipping a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a indication of how quickly things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the youngster found the net for United in their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo key to ending Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete rumour-mill treatment amid a reported £65m release clause for a potential winter exit, the tabloids setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is understandable for a wide player who has six goals and three helpers who is pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his side occupy an difficult spot, experiencing a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one combined in their past two fixtures following an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa but facing a defensive unit without a shutout since August could be the best tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
The striker an outside shout for the national team
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the fixture pause although the Brighton forward turns 35 soon. “Even without being familiar with him, I am aware what he is able to offer me,” said the England boss. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional centre-forward role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup if he can maintain his goalscoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts additional strikes over every other English player in the Premier League this season with six and is anxious to boost that tally when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon needed as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The 25-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club last year after five challenging years at Tottenham, has become a consistent pick, operating on the left side in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he remains their top goalscorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man last season, has scored once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term owing to a hamstring operation. 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 of the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine scores this season this season. Trouble awaits for the club that have developed a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The moment for The striker to deliver for the Merseyside club
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they lost to a seventh defeat in ten matches. Arne Slot's squad must have a sustained recovery to force their way into the title race from here, as well as a major improvement in form, and the possibility presents itself as seven from their next 10 Premier League matches versus sides presently in the bottom half of the table. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a loss at Anfield to the title holders the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display against long balls and counterattacks that remains under the spotlight. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The big-money forward has been absent for his club over four weeks following a muscle issue during his second consecutive start over a short period in continental competition win at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back from the bench during Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but sat out the midweek dead rubber with Slovenia to secure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A yellow card in that match could have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient