Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a new battle
Another northwest showdown may be in the offing as Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is adapting well at Stamford Bridge after his summer move from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton prior to the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto required shifting infield before chipping a delivery to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a indication of the pace with which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the Argentine found the net for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to halting Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire rumour-mill focus due to a claimed £65m buyout clause for his possible winter exit, the gossip columns positioning him for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is to be expected from a winger who has six goals and three setups and is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth are in an awkward spot, having engaged in a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost seven-one over two games over their previous two matches after an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa yet facing a defence lacking a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a left-field choice for the Three Lions
It was interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break although the Brighton striker celebrates 35 next week. “Even without knowing him, I am aware what he is able to give me,” commented the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite orthodox striker role.” Having won the last of his 42 England games in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be on the plane for the World Cup if he can maintain his scoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes than any other English footballer in the Premier League this season on six and is anxious to boost that count when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon crucial as assist provider and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The 25-year-old, who came back to his youth team in 2024 after five challenging years with Spurs, has become a first-team fixture, operating on the left side with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he's also their top goalscorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has bagged once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who supplied ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' upcoming four fixtures include three among the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the league to date. A threat emerges for a side that have built a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm
5. Time for Isak to perform for Liverpool
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The coach's team require a sustained recovery to enter the championship chase from this position, as well as a major upturn in results, and the possibility emerges as seven of their next 10 Premier League matches against clubs currently in the bottom ten in the league. The risk is clear from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a defeat on their own turf on the champions in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing against long balls and fast breaks that remains under scrutiny. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played at club level for a month following a groin injury while his second start over a short period in the Champions League win abroad. The striker came back off the bench in the Swedish defeat to Switzerland but sat out the midweek inconsequential game versus Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A booking in that match might have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
