Premier division: ten highlights to look out for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a fresh encounter
Another northwest showdown may be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker has started to settle in west London following his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his abilities against Wolves before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace and a flawless grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before dinking a cross toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the pace with which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? When the youngster found the net for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to stopping Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire rumour-mill attention amid a alleged £65m release clause for his prospective January departure, the media preparing him for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is predictable for a winger with a half-dozen strikes and three setups and is joyous to watch. However, Bournemouth occupy an awkward situation, experiencing a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 on aggregate in their last two matches after an impressive beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa but taking on a defensive unit that hasn't kept a shutout in the league since the start of the season could be the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3pm
3. Welbeck an outside option for the Three Lions
It proved intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton striker turns 35 soon. “Even without knowing him, I understand what he could give me,” said the England boss. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite conventional centre-forward position.” Having won the final 42 caps back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be on the plane to the World Cup if he manages to maintain his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim a greater tally over every other English footballer in the Premier League this season having six and is keen to add to that tally as Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
Ryan Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered some comfort to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who rejoined his former side in 2024 following five difficult years in north London, has emerged as a consistent pick, operating on the left side with the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he remains their joint-top scorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer last season, has bagged one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period owing to a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who registered 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' next four matches feature three from the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine goals in the Premier League so far. A threat emerges for a side that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The occasion for Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The debate about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The coach's side need a consistent improvement to muscle into the league contest from their current spot, as well as a dramatic upturn in results, and a chance emerges as seven of their following ten Premier League matches facing clubs at the moment in the lower half of the table. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a loss at Anfield on the champions last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance against long balls and counterattacks that remains in focus. It is time for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The expensive signing has not played in domestic action over four weeks following a groin problem while his second consecutive start in quick succession in continental competition win in Germany. He reappeared from the bench in Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but sat out the midweek dead rubber against Slovenia to ensure his fitness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution during the game would have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient