Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker poised for a new battle
A Mancunian rematch may be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his summer move from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities versus Wolverhampton prior to the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto blended electric speed and a flawless low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before lofting a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the pace with which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? When the Argentine netted for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo key to halting Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full rumour-mill treatment amid a claimed £65m escape clause for his potential mid-season move, the media setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected from a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes and three helpers who is pleasurable to watch. However, his team occupy an awkward situation, having engaged in a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth are down seven to one on aggregate in their past two fixtures after an promising start to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa but confronting a defensive unit lacking a clean sheet for months may prove the ideal solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a surprise option for the national team
It proved interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the international break although the Brighton forward turns 35 soon. “Without even having met him, I understand what he could offer me,” stated the England boss. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox centre-forward position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 international appearances several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck might be in the squad for the World Cup if he is able to maintain his scoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker can claim additional strikes over every other English player in the Premier League this term on six and will be eager to add to that count when Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
4. Sessegnon needed as assist provider and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven beginning. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team in 2024 after five challenging years with Spurs, is now a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he is their joint-top scorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer the previous campaign, has scored once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four matches take in three among the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the league so far. A threat emerges for a team that have built a name for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The manager's side must have a prolonged upturn to enter the title race from their current spot, along with a dramatic boost in performance, and opportunity arises with seven out of their following ten top-flight fixtures versus sides currently in the bottom ten of the table. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a home league defeat to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display when facing long balls and fast breaks that will be in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not played in domestic action in a month following a groin injury when making his second start over a short period in the Champions League triumph abroad. The striker came back off the bench in Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the World Cup playoffs. A caution during the game might have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient