Premier division: ten key points to look out for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for another encounter
A Manchester reunion might be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker has started to settle with Chelsea after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and demonstrated his skills versus Wolverhampton before the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto combined electric speed and a flawless low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right before dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, echoing his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of how quickly things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the former found the net for United in the FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to stopping Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full gossip column focus amid a reported £65m buyout clause for a potential winter exit, the media positioning him for graduation out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is predictable from a winger who has a half-dozen strikes and three assists and is delightful to watch. Still, his team occupy an tricky situation, having engaged in a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one combined in their past two matches after an strong opening to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss to Aston Villa yet facing a defence lacking a goalless game in the league since the start of the season could be the best remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the Three Lions
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times during the fixture pause although the Brighton forward turns 35 next week. “Even without having met him, I am aware what he can give me,” said the England coach. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a very orthodox striker role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be in the squad for the World Cup if he manages to maintain his goal-getting exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker has additional strikes than any other English performer in England's top division this term with six and will be eager to increase that tally when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
4. Sessegnon needed as playmaker and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided some warmth to Fulham's bumpy opening. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his youth team recently after five tough years with Spurs, has become a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left side with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he's also their joint-top scorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer last season, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured until 2026 owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who provided 10 assists in the previous campaign. Fulham's following four games feature three of the best five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine goals this season this season. Danger looms for a team that have earned a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Reds
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they fell to their seventh loss in 10 games. The manager's side must have a sustained recovery to muscle into the league contest from this position, along with a dramatic upturn in results, and the possibility arises as seven from their upcoming ten Premier League matches against teams presently in the bottom ten in the standings. The danger is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a home league defeat to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display against aerial passes and counterattacks that remains under scrutiny. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played for his club in a month following a groin problem when making his second consecutive start in four days in Europe win in Germany. Isak returned as a substitute in Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but missed the midweek meaningless match versus Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card during the game would have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
