Premier division: ten key points to watch for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a new battle
A Mancunian rematch may be in the offing as the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is finding his feet with Chelsea following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and demonstrated his abilities against Wolves before the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a perfect grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before dinking a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the pace with which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former found the net for United in their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
The winger crucial to stopping Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full gossip column focus following a claimed £65m escape clause for a potential mid-season move, the tabloids preparing him for advancement from the Premier League's middle class. This is predictable for a winger who has six finishes and three setups who is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth occupy an awkward spot, having undergone a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost seven to one on aggregate over their last two matches following an strong start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss to Aston Villa however facing a defensive unit lacking a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season could be the perfect solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
3. Welbeck a surprise choice for the Three Lions
It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the national team window despite the fact that the Brighton striker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he is able to offer me,” said the England manager. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very orthodox centre-forward position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 caps several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be in the squad for the World Cup if he is able to continue his scoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim more goals than any other English footballer in the top flight this season having six and remains eager to add to that total when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as playmaker and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a measure of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent opening. The left-sided player, who rejoined his boyhood club in 2024 following five challenging years with Spurs, has become a regular starter, pushing forward on the left side due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he remains their joint-top scorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who provided ten setups last time round. Fulham's following four games take in three from the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine scores in the league so far. Trouble awaits for a team that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
5. Time for Isak to perform for the Reds
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they fell to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The coach's team need a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from here, along with a dramatic improvement in form, and opportunity presents itself with seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures versus clubs presently in the bottom ten in the league. The risk is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a home league defeat to Liverpool in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus long balls and counterattacks that remains under scrutiny. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has not played for his club over four weeks following a muscle issue while his second appearance in the lineup in four days in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared from the bench in the Swedish reverse to Switzerland but was rested the midweek inconsequential game versus Slovenia to secure his availability for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card in that match might have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
