Premier League: ten key points to watch for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a new encounter
A Mancunian rematch could be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man has started to settle in west London following his summer move from Manchester United and demonstrated his skills versus Wolverhampton before the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed with a perfect grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before dinking a ball to the back post. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a indication of the pace with which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the former found the net for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to ending Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire gossip column attention due to a claimed £65m buyout clause for a potential January departure, the tabloids preparing him for graduation from the Premier League's middle class. This is to be expected for a wide player with six goals plus three helpers who is pleasurable to watch. However, his team are in an awkward spot, having undergone a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one over two games over their last two games after an impressive start to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss by Aston Villa however facing a backline that hasn't kept a goalless game since August may prove the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck an outside choice for England
It proved interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 soon. “Without even knowing him, I know what he could provide,” said the England boss. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a quite traditional centre-forward role.” Earning the last of his 42 England games in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup provided he is able to continue his goal-getting performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has additional strikes than any other English performer in the top flight this season having six and will be eager to add to that tally when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The full-back required as assist provider and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who came back to his boyhood club in 2024 after five tough years in north London, has become a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left flank due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he remains their leading marksman in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man in the last term, has bagged once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 because of hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who provided ten helpers in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' upcoming four games feature three of the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine goals in the league to date. Trouble awaits for the club that have built a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
5. Time for The striker to perform for the Reds
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they fell to loss number seven in 10 games. The manager's side need a consistent improvement to muscle into the league contest from here, along with a dramatic improvement in form, and the possibility arises as seven out of their next 10 league games versus clubs presently in the lower half in the league. The risk is evident 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 performance against aerial passes and counterattacks that will be in focus. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not featured in domestic action over four weeks following a muscle issue during his second consecutive start over a short period in Europe victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared as a substitute in Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's meaningless match with Slovenia to ensure his availability for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A booking in that match might have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
