Premier division: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a fresh encounter
A Mancunian rematch may be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents in the Wolves match before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration with a flawless grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to lofting a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the pace with which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? During the former netted for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill focus following a claimed £65m release clause for his prospective mid-season move, the gossip columns setting him up for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is to be expected for a winger who has six finishes and three setups who is joyous to watch. Still, his team find themselves in an difficult situation, having engaged in a body swap: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 on aggregate in their previous two matches following an promising start to the season. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez during the heavy loss to Aston Villa yet taking on a backline without a goalless game since August could be the best tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3pm
3. Welbeck a surprise shout for the national team
It seemed interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break even though the Brighton forward turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he is able to give me,” said the England boss. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very traditional No 9 position.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 England games several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup provided he can continue his goalscoring feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts a greater tally over every other English footballer in England's top division this campaign having six and will be eager to add to that count as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
4. Sessegnon required as playmaker and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a degree of positivity to Fulham's inconsistent start. The left-sided player, who returned to his boyhood club last year after five tough years at Tottenham, has emerged as a regular starter, pushing forward on the left flank with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he remains their top goalscorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured until 2026 due to a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last season. The Cottagers' following four fixtures take in three among the best five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine scores this season to date. Danger looms for a team that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
The moment for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they lost to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's squad need a sustained recovery to muscle into the league contest from their current spot, plus a dramatic boost in performance, and the possibility emerges as seven out of their following ten Premier League matches versus clubs at the moment in the bottom half in the standings. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a home league defeat to the title holders in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing against direct play and quick transitions that is under the spotlight. It is time that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The expensive signing has not played for his club in a month after picking up a groin problem during his second start over a short period in Europe triumph in Germany. The striker came back off the bench in Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but missed Tuesday's dead rubber versus Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card on Tuesday might have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
