English top flight: ten key points to watch for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for another battle
A Mancunian rematch might be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and demonstrated his skills in the Wolves match prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside before dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of how quickly situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? During the youngster scored for United during their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to ending Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full rumour-mill treatment following a claimed £65m release clause for a prospective January departure, the gossip columns setting him up for graduation from the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected from a winger who has six finishes and three helpers who is joyous to watch. Still, his side are in an difficult spot, having undergone a form flip: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost 7-1 over two games in their last two games following an strong beginning to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but confronting a defensive unit that hasn't kept a shutout in the league since the start of the season might be the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker a left-field shout for the Three Lions
It was notable to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break even though the Brighton forward celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even knowing him, I am aware what he can provide,” said the England boss. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional No 9 position.” Having won the final 42 England games several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he is able to maintain his goalscoring exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward has additional strikes than any other English player in the top flight this term with six and will be keen to add to that total when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a degree of positivity to Fulham's uneven start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his youth team in 2024 following five difficult years at Tottenham, has become a first-team fixture, operating on the left flank due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who supplied 10 assists last time round. The Cottagers' next four fixtures take in three among the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine strikes this season to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have built a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
5. Time for Isak to produce for Liverpool
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they succumbed to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. The manager's squad require a prolonged upturn to force their way into the championship chase from here, along with a major improvement in form, and opportunity arises as seven from their next 10 league games against sides at the moment in the bottom half in the league. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a home league defeat to the title holders the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display when facing long balls and fast breaks that is under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The big-money forward has been absent at club level over four weeks after picking up a groin injury when making his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in continental competition victory abroad. The striker came back as a substitute in Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but missed the midweek dead rubber against Slovenia to secure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card during the game could have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
