Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for another battle
A Mancunian rematch might be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The winger is finding his feet with Chelsea after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and showcased his skills against Wolves before the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed with a ideal grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right before dinking a delivery toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of how quickly things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? Back when the youngster found the net for United in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
The winger key to stopping Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full gossip column treatment following a reported £65m release clause for his possible January departure, the media preparing him for advancement from the Premier League's average tier. This is understandable from a wide player with a half-dozen strikes plus three assists who is pleasurable to watch. Still, his team occupy an difficult position, experiencing a body swap: it is the struggling side West Ham who enter with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost seven-one combined over their past two fixtures after an strong opening to the season. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however confronting a defence without a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season might be the best tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3pm
Danny Welbeck a surprise choice for the national team
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause even though the Brighton striker turns 35 next week. “Without even being familiar with him, I am aware what he can give me,” commented the England boss. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite traditional centre-forward position.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 England games in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be in the squad to the World Cup if he manages to continue his scoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim additional strikes over every other English player in England's top division this term having six and will be keen to increase that tally when Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon crucial as creator and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a measure of comfort to Fulham's bumpy start. The 25-year-old, who returned to his former side in 2024 following five tough years in north London, has become a regular starter, driving down the left with the injured Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he is their leading marksman in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man last season, has bagged a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute as a creator instead of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last time round. The Cottagers' next four matches include three of the best five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine scores in the Premier League to date. Danger looms for the club that have developed a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The occasion for Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they lost to their seventh loss in 10 games. Arne Slot's squad require a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from their current spot, plus a significant improvement in form, and the possibility arises with seven from their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures facing sides presently in the bottom ten in the league. The danger is evident from Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a defeat on their own turf on the champions last season, however it's not just Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action for a month having sustained a groin problem when making his second start in four days in the Champions League triumph abroad. The striker came back off the bench in the Swedish defeat to Switzerland but sat out the subsequent meaningless match against Slovenia to guarantee his availability for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution during the game could have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
