Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a new encounter
A Mancunian rematch might be in the offing as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker has started to settle with Chelsea following his off-season signing from Manchester United and demonstrated his skills versus Wolverhampton before the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right before dinking a ball across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of the pace with which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? When the Argentine netted for United in the FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to stopping Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete rumour-mill focus amid a alleged £65m release clause for his prospective January departure, the tabloids positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. That is understandable for a wide player who has six finishes plus three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Still, his side are in an awkward spot, having undergone a form flip: it is the struggling side West Ham who enter on successive wins, while Bournemouth have lost seven to one on aggregate over their previous two matches after an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss to Aston Villa however taking on a defensive unit lacking a goalless game since August could be the best remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
3. Welbeck an outside choice for England
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton forward reaches 35 in the coming days. “Even without having met him, I know what he can give me,” commented the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite traditional striker position.” Gaining the final 42 England games several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be in the squad for the World Cup if he manages to maintain his scoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim additional strikes over every other English performer in the top flight this campaign with six and will be anxious to increase that count when Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as playmaker and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a degree of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent opening. The 25-year-old, who came back to his youth team in 2024 following five challenging years with Spurs, has become a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left flank due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he's also their top goalscorer this season alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has netted one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term because of a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' upcoming four games include three among the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine goals this season this season. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for The striker to deliver for Liverpool
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they lost to their seventh loss in ten matches. Arne Slot's squad need a sustained recovery to enter the league contest from here, as well as a major upturn in results, and opportunity emerges with seven from their upcoming ten league games versus sides at the moment in the bottom ten of the table. The threat is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and quick transitions that is in focus. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not featured in domestic action for a month having sustained a muscle issue when making his second start in four days in continental competition triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back off the bench in the Swedish reverse against Switzerland but missed the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A caution in that match would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient