Premier division: 10 things to watch for this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a new encounter
A Mancunian rematch may be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger has started to settle in west London after his summer move from Old Trafford and displayed his abilities in the Wolves match before the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace with a ideal grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside prior to dinking a cross toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of the pace with which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? When the Argentine found the net for United in their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire gossip column treatment due to a claimed £65m escape clause for a potential January departure, the media positioning him for advancement out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is understandable from a wide player who has six finishes and three assists and remains pleasurable to watch. Still, his team find themselves in an awkward spot, experiencing a body swap: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who enter on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one combined in their last two games after an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however confronting a backline without a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season could be the best tonic.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the Three Lions
It proved interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the international break even though the Brighton forward reaches 35 soon. “Even without having met him, I understand what he could give me,” commented the England boss. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a quite conventional centre-forward position.” Having won the last of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be in the squad for the World Cup provided he manages to sustain his scoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim a greater tally over every other English player in the Premier League this term having six and remains eager to add to that count as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon needed as creator and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has brought some positivity to Fulham's inconsistent start. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his former side in 2024 following five challenging years at Tottenham, has emerged as a consistent pick, operating on the left flank with the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he is their top goalscorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker last season, has scored one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period owing to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who provided 10 assists last time round. The Cottagers' upcoming four matches include three from the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine goals in the Premier League to date. Danger looms for the club that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The occasion for The striker to produce for the Merseyside club
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's squad require a consistent improvement to enter the league contest from this position, along with a dramatic upturn in results, and a chance emerges with seven from their next 10 Premier League matches versus sides currently in the lower half in the standings. The risk is evident from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display against long balls and counterattacks that is in focus. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The big-money forward has not featured for his club in a month having sustained a groin injury during his second consecutive start in quick succession in continental competition win abroad. Isak returned off the bench during Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but missed the subsequent meaningless match against Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A booking on Tuesday might have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
