Premier division: 10 things to watch for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a fresh battle
A Manchester reunion could be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The winger is adapting well at Stamford Bridge after his summer move from the Red Devils and displayed his abilities in the Wolves match before the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration with a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right before lofting a delivery to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the pace with which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the Argentine found the net for United in their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger crucial to halting Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire rumour-mill attention due to a alleged £65m release clause for his prospective mid-season move, the gossip columns setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's average tier. That is predictable for a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes plus three assists and is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an difficult position, having undergone a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven-one combined in their last two matches following an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however facing a defence lacking a shutout for months might be the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
Danny Welbeck an outside shout for England
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton forward celebrates 35 next week. “Without even having met him, I know what he could offer me,” stated the England coach. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional striker role.” Earning the final 42 England games back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be selected for the World Cup if he manages to maintain his scoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts a greater tally than any other English performer in the top flight this season having six and will be keen to add to that total as Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a measure of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent start. The left-sided player, who came back to his youth team in 2024 following five tough years with Spurs, has become a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left side with the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he remains their leading marksman in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man last season, has netted a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute as a creator instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last time round. Fulham's upcoming four fixtures include three from the top five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine goals in the league to date. Trouble awaits for the club that have earned a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they succumbed to their seventh loss in ten matches. The coach's team need a consistent improvement to enter the title race from their current spot, along with a dramatic boost in performance, and a chance arises as seven from their next 10 top-flight fixtures versus sides presently in the bottom ten of the table. The risk is clear from Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a home league defeat to the title holders last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance when facing aerial passes and fast breaks that is under scrutiny. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played for his club in a month having sustained a muscle issue when making his second start in quick succession in continental competition win abroad. The striker came back as a substitute in Sweden's loss by Switzerland but was rested the subsequent meaningless match versus Slovenia to secure his fitness for the World Cup playoffs. A booking during the game might have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
