English top flight: 10 things to look out for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a new encounter
A Mancunian rematch could be in the offing as Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The winger has started to settle in west London following his summer move from the Red Devils and demonstrated his talents against Wolves prior to the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace and a perfect grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to lofting a cross toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of how quickly circumstances change. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? When the Argentine scored for United in their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is getting the full transfer speculation attention due to a reported £65m release clause for a prospective mid-season move, the media preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's average tier. It is understandable for a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes and three setups and is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his team are in an tricky situation, having engaged in a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one combined in their past two matches after an strong opening to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however taking on a backline that hasn't kept a clean sheet for months could be the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The striker an outside shout for the national team
It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the fixture pause even though the Brighton forward turns 35 in the coming days. “Even without knowing him, I know what he is able to give me,” commented the England boss. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a very orthodox centre-forward position.” Earning the last of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup provided he can continue his scoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts more goals than any other English player in England's top division this term with six and will be anxious to boost that count when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and scorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a measure of warmth to Fulham's uneven start. The 25-year-old, who came back to his boyhood club in 2024 following five challenging years at Tottenham, has become a regular starter, operating on the left flank in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he remains their top goalscorer in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man in the last term, has bagged once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last season. The Cottagers' next four games take in three among the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine goals this season to date. A threat emerges for a team that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for The striker to produce for Liverpool
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they fell to their seventh loss in 10 games. Arne Slot's side require a prolonged upturn to enter the championship chase from their current spot, along with a dramatic boost in performance, and the possibility emerges as seven of their following ten league games versus teams currently in the bottom ten of the table. The threat is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a home league defeat to the title holders last season, but it is not only Liverpool's showing versus direct play and counterattacks that will be under the spotlight. It is time that Alexander Isak to deliver in a Liverpool shirt. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action in a month following a groin problem during his second consecutive start in quick succession in the Champions League victory abroad. The striker came back from the bench in the Swedish defeat to Switzerland but missed the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to secure his readiness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card in that match would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
