Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a new battle
Another northwest showdown could be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is finding his feet in west London after his summer move from Manchester United and displayed his skills versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield before lofting a ball to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? When the former netted for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full gossip column attention amid a claimed £65m buyout clause for his possible winter exit, the gossip columns positioning him for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is predictable for a winger who has six finishes and three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Still, Bournemouth find themselves in an awkward spot, having engaged in a form flip: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who come in on successive wins, while Bournemouth are down seven to one combined in their last two matches after an impressive start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however confronting a defensive unit without a clean sheet for months might be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker a left-field option for the national team
It was notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break even though the Brighton forward celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I know what he is able to give me,” said the England coach. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite traditional striker position.” Gaining the last of his 42 international appearances in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be selected to the World Cup provided he is able to maintain his goalscoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts a greater tally over every other English player in the Premier League this term on six and will be anxious to add to that total when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The full-back needed as playmaker and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy opening. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his youth team in 2024 after five tough years in north London, has become a regular starter, operating on the left side due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he is their leading marksman in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who supplied ten helpers in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four fixtures feature three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine strikes in the Premier League to date. Trouble awaits for the club that have developed a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The moment for Isak to produce for the Reds
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. The coach's team require a consistent improvement to force their way into the championship chase from their current spot, plus a significant improvement in form, and a chance arises with seven from their upcoming ten Premier League matches facing sides at the moment in the bottom ten in the league. The risk is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a loss at Anfield to Liverpool the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's performance when facing direct play and counterattacks that remains under scrutiny. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured at club level in a month following a groin injury during his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in Europe victory abroad. He reappeared from the bench in the Swedish defeat against Switzerland but was rested the subsequent dead rubber versus Slovenia to guarantee his availability for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution in that match might have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
