Premier League: 10 things to watch for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho set for a fresh clash
A Mancunian rematch could be in the offing as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man has started to settle with Chelsea after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and displayed his skills in the Wolves match prior to the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace and a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside prior to dinking a cross to the back post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a indication of the speed at which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the Argentine found the net for United during their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to halting Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the complete gossip column focus due to a claimed £65m buyout clause for a potential winter exit, the media setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's middle class. That is to be expected for a attacker who has six goals plus three setups who is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, his side find themselves in an difficult situation, having undergone a body swap: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost seven-one on aggregate over their past two fixtures following an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa but confronting a defensive unit that hasn't kept a goalless game since August might be the best solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the national team
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times during the national team window although the Brighton striker turns 35 next week. “Even without knowing him, I understand what he can offer me,” said the England coach. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very orthodox No 9 position.” Having won the last of his 42 caps in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup if he can continue his goalscoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker has more goals than any other English player in the top flight this season on six and is anxious to add to that tally as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The full-back needed as creator and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a measure of warmth to Fulham's inconsistent opening. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his boyhood club in 2024 after five challenging years at Tottenham, has emerged as a regular starter, driving down the left side in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he is their leading marksman in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer last season, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last season. Fulham's next four matches include three from the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores in the Premier League so far. Trouble awaits for a side that have developed a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for Alexander Isak to produce for the Reds
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they fell to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The coach's squad require a prolonged upturn to muscle into the title race from their current spot, plus a significant upturn in results, and the possibility presents itself as seven out of their next 10 league games facing teams at the moment in the lower half of the table. The danger is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing versus aerial passes and counterattacks that remains under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The big-money forward has been absent at club level in a month after picking up a groin injury during his second start in four days in continental competition triumph abroad. Isak returned off the bench in the Swedish reverse by Switzerland but sat out the subsequent dead rubber versus Slovenia to ensure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card during the game might have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
