Premier division: 10 things to watch for this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker ready for another clash
A Manchester reunion could be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is finding his feet in west London following his summer move from the Red Devils and showcased his skills versus Wolverhampton prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto blended electric speed with a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right prior to lofting a ball to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the former netted for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to stopping Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full gossip column attention amid a claimed £65m release clause for his possible January departure, the tabloids setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's middle class. That is predictable from a wide player with six finishes plus three setups and is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his side are in an awkward situation, having undergone a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven-one combined in their previous two matches following an strong start to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss by Aston Villa however confronting a defence that hasn't kept a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the ideal solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
The striker a surprise option for the national team
It seemed notable to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times during the fixture pause even though the Brighton striker reaches 35 next week. “Despite not being familiar with him, I understand what he can give me,” said the England boss. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox centre-forward position.” Gaining the last of his 42 England games in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be in the squad for the World Cup assuming he can maintain his goal-getting performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward has a greater tally compared to any English footballer in the Premier League this campaign on six and is eager to boost that total as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The full-back required as creator and finisher
Sessegnon's story has brought a measure of warmth to Fulham's uneven start. The 25-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club in 2024 after five tough years at Tottenham, has emerged as a consistent pick, operating on the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he is their top goalscorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man in the last term, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who registered ten helpers last season. Fulham's next four games include three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine strikes this season so far. Danger looms for a team that have developed a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
5. Time for Alexander Isak to perform for the Reds
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they fell to their seventh loss in ten matches. Arne Slot's side require a prolonged upturn to muscle into the championship chase from their current spot, plus a significant boost in performance, and a chance arises as seven from their next 10 Premier League matches against clubs currently in the bottom half of the table. The risk is clear from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a loss at Anfield on the champions in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's display versus direct play and counterattacks that is in focus. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has not played at club level in a month after picking up a groin injury while his second consecutive start in four days in continental competition win at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared from the bench in the Swedish reverse to Switzerland but missed the midweek inconsequential game versus Slovenia to secure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A caution on Tuesday would have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
