Premier division: 10 things to watch for this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a new battle
A Manchester reunion might be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger has started to settle with Chelsea after his summer move from the Red Devils and demonstrated his abilities versus Wolverhampton before the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto blended electric speed with a perfect grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of the pace with which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? During the Argentine scored for United during their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (kick-offs GMT)
The winger vital to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire rumour-mill attention amid a claimed £65m release clause for his possible January departure, the tabloids setting him up for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is predictable for a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Still, his side are in an difficult spot, having undergone a form flip: it is the struggling side West Ham who arrive with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one on aggregate over their past two games following an strong start to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss to Aston Villa however taking on a defence lacking a clean sheet since August might be the best tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck an outside option for England
It seemed notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton striker turns 35 soon. “Even without having met him, I know what he is able to provide,” commented the England coach. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox striker position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 England games back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup if he can continue his goal-getting performances. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward has more goals than any other English performer in the Premier League this season having six and remains eager to increase that total when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon crucial as assist provider and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The 25-year-old, who came back to his youth team in 2024 after five difficult years in north London, has become a first-team fixture, driving down the left due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he's also their leading marksman in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer in the last term, has bagged a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also having to step up as a creator instead of Robinson, who registered ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four games feature three from the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores in the league to date. Danger looms for a team that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The moment for Alexander Isak to produce for Liverpool
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they fell to their seventh loss in ten matches. The manager's squad need a prolonged upturn to force their way into the title race from this position, as well as a dramatic boost in performance, and opportunity presents itself as seven of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures facing teams currently in the lower half in the standings. The danger is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a home league defeat to Liverpool last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus aerial passes and counterattacks that remains in focus. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action in a month following a muscle issue while his second start in four days in continental competition victory in Germany. The striker came back off the bench during Sweden's reverse against Switzerland but missed the midweek dead rubber versus Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A caution on Tuesday would have suspended him. He might be short of|lacking|deficient