Premier League: ten highlights to watch for this matchday
Garnacho versus Walker set for another encounter
Another northwest showdown may be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is finding his feet with Chelsea following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and displayed his skills versus Wolverhampton before the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed with a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield prior to chipping a ball toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the speed at which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former found the net for United in the cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire transfer speculation treatment following a reported ÂŁ65m buyout clause for his prospective January departure, the media setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. It is predictable for a winger who has a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. However, his side occupy an tricky spot, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 combined in their last two fixtures following an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi MartĂnez in their four-nil loss to Aston Villa however facing a defensive unit that hasn't kept a clean sheet since August might be the best tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a left-field choice for the Three Lions
It was interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the national team window even though the Brighton forward reaches 35 soon. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he is able to provide,” said the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a quite traditional striker position.” Gaining the final 42 international appearances back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck might be selected to the World Cup assuming he is able to sustain his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts a greater tally over every other English footballer in England's top division this campaign with six and remains keen to boost that count when Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The full-back required as playmaker and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a measure of comfort to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team last year following five difficult years in north London, has emerged as a consistent pick, operating on the left due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he is their joint-top scorer this season alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker last season, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who registered ten setups last season. Fulham's following four matches include three among the top five and Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores in the Premier League to date. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
5. Time for The striker to deliver for Liverpool
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they fell to loss number seven in 10 games. Arne Slot's team must have a consistent improvement to force their way into the title race from this position, plus a major improvement in form, and the possibility emerges with seven out of their upcoming ten league games versus teams at the moment in the bottom half of the table. The danger is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus direct play and quick transitions that remains under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played at club level in a month following a muscle issue when making his second appearance in the lineup in four days in Europe victory in Germany. The striker came back off the bench during Sweden's loss by Switzerland but missed the midweek inconsequential game against Slovenia to secure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A caution on Tuesday could have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
