English top flight: 10 things to keep an eye on this round of fixtures
Walker faces Garnacho poised for a new encounter
A Mancunian rematch may be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Manchester United and demonstrated his talents in the Wolves match prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a perfect grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto involved cutting inside prior to lofting a cross toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, replicating his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? During the Argentine netted for United in the Wembley triumph against Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the entire transfer speculation attention due to a alleged £65m release clause for a potential January departure, the media preparing him for graduation from the Premier League's middle class. That is to be expected from a wide player with six finishes and three assists who is joyous to watch. Still, his side find themselves in an awkward position, experiencing a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who enter with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth are down 7-1 combined in their past two fixtures following an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the heavy loss by Aston Villa however taking on a defence lacking a goalless game for months could be the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
The striker an outside option for the Three Lions
It proved interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break although the Brighton striker reaches 35 soon. “Despite not having met him, I am aware what he is able to give me,” said the England coach. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a quite orthodox No 9 position.” Earning the final 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be in the squad for the World Cup if he can continue his scoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts a greater tally than any other English player in the Premier League this term having six and is eager to boost that total when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and finisher
Sessegnon's story has brought a measure of warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his boyhood club in 2024 after five difficult years in north London, is now a regular starter, operating on the left side in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man last season, has bagged a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who provided ten helpers in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four fixtures feature three from the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine scores in the Premier League so far. Trouble awaits for a side that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
5. Time for Isak to perform for Liverpool
The dispute regarding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they succumbed to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The coach's team must have a prolonged upturn to muscle into the league contest from this position, plus a dramatic boost in performance, and opportunity emerges with seven of their next 10 Premier League matches facing clubs currently in the lower half in the league. The risk is evident from Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a defeat on their own turf on the champions in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's performance versus direct play and counterattacks that is under scrutiny. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not played in domestic action for a month following a muscle issue when making his second consecutive start in four days in continental competition win at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned off the bench in the Swedish defeat against Switzerland but missed the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to ensure his fitness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A yellow card on Tuesday could have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
