Premier League: 10 things to keep an eye on this round of fixtures
Walker faces Garnacho set for a fresh clash
Another northwest showdown might be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is adapting well with Chelsea after his summer move from the Red Devils and showcased his abilities versus Wolverhampton prior to the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace with a flawless grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto required cutting inside prior to chipping a cross toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the pace with which things transform. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? When the Argentine scored for United in their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to ending Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire transfer speculation attention due to a reported £65m release clause for a prospective January departure, the gossip columns setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's average tier. That is understandable for a winger who has a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers and is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his side are in an awkward spot, having engaged in a form flip: now it's the struggling side West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one over two games in their last two fixtures after an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however taking on a defence that hasn't kept a shutout for months might be the best remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3pm
3. Welbeck a left-field shout for the Three Lions
It proved interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause even though the Brighton striker turns 35 in the coming days. “Despite not being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to provide,” said the England coach. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox centre-forward position.” Earning the last of his 42 England games in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup provided he manages to maintain his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts a greater tally compared to any English footballer in the top flight this term with six and is eager to boost that count as Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon required as creator and scorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's bumpy start. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his former side in 2024 after five challenging years with Spurs, has emerged as a regular starter, driving down the left side with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he's also their top goalscorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer last season, has scored once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 owing to a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver in a creative role instead of Robinson, who registered ten helpers last season. Fulham's next four games include three of the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine scores in the league so far. Trouble awaits for a team that have built a standing for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The moment for Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they lost to a seventh defeat in 10 games. Arne Slot's team need a prolonged upturn to muscle into the title race from this position, plus a major boost in performance, and opportunity emerges with seven out of their following ten league games against teams currently in the bottom ten in the league. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's performance versus direct play and quick transitions that will be under scrutiny. It is time that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured for his club for a month having sustained a groin problem when making his second consecutive start over a short period in the Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back as a substitute in the Swedish loss by Switzerland but missed the subsequent dead rubber with Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card during the game could have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
