Premier division: 10 things to watch for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a new battle
A Manchester reunion might be in store as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker is adapting well in west London following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his skills against Wolves prior to the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined electric speed and a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield prior to chipping a delivery to the back post. His celebration with Neto, replicating his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of how quickly circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? During the youngster found the net for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full rumour-mill attention following a reported £65m escape clause for his potential January departure, the media preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is to be expected from a winger with a half-dozen strikes plus three assists and remains joyous to watch. Still, his side find themselves in an awkward spot, experiencing a role reversal: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who enter on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth are down 7-1 over two games in their past two matches after an strong beginning to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa yet facing a backline without a goalless game in the league since the start of the season could be the best solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker an outside shout for the Three Lions
It proved intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton forward turns 35 soon. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he could offer me,” stated the England manager. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very orthodox centre-forward role.” Having won the final 42 international appearances several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be on the plane for the World Cup provided he is able to sustain his goal-getting performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim additional strikes compared to any English footballer in England's top division this campaign on six and is eager to add to that count when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm
The full-back crucial as creator and scorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a measure of positivity to Fulham's inconsistent opening. The 25-year-old, who came back to his boyhood club in 2024 after five difficult years at Tottenham, has become a first-team fixture, driving down the left side due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he remains their leading marksman in the league together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer in the last term, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver in a creative role replacing Robinson, who provided ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's upcoming four games feature three from the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine strikes this season to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have developed a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The occasion for Isak to produce for Liverpool
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they succumbed to their seventh loss in ten matches. The manager's team require a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from this position, as well as a dramatic improvement in form, and the possibility emerges with seven from their next 10 top-flight fixtures against sides currently in the bottom ten of the table. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a loss at Anfield to Liverpool in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display against long balls and fast breaks that will be in focus. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not played in domestic action for a month after picking up a groin problem when making his second start over a short period in continental competition victory in Germany. Isak returned as a substitute during Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but was rested the subsequent inconsequential game versus Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card in that match could have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
