Premier League: ten highlights to watch for this round of fixtures
Walker faces Garnacho ready for another clash
A Manchester reunion could be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker has started to settle at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from the Red Devils and showcased his abilities against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a ideal grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right before chipping a ball to the back post. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a indication of the pace with which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? Back when the Argentine scored for United in their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to halting Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire gossip column treatment amid a claimed £65m release clause for a possible January departure, the gossip columns preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's middle class. This is to be expected from a winger with six finishes and three setups who is joyous to watch. However, his side occupy an difficult position, experiencing a body swap: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 over two games in their last two games following an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however taking on a defence lacking a shutout for months could be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck an outside option for the national team
It proved notable to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton forward reaches 35 in the coming days. “Even without knowing him, I understand what he is able to offer me,” said the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite conventional centre-forward position.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 England games in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he manages to maintain his goalscoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has more goals over every other English footballer in the top flight this term with six and is eager to boost that total as Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
The full-back needed as assist provider and finisher
Sessegnon's story has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The left-sided player, who came back to his former side in 2024 after five challenging years at Tottenham, is now a consistent pick, driving down the left side with the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer this season as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer in the last term, has netted one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also having to step up as a creator instead of Robinson, who supplied ten helpers last season. The Cottagers' upcoming four games feature three of the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine scores this season to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have developed a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for Alexander Isak to produce for the Reds
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority on the day as they lost to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The coach's team need a consistent improvement to force their way into the league contest from their current spot, along with a major upturn in results, and a chance emerges as seven out of their upcoming ten Premier League matches versus clubs presently in the bottom half in the league. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a home league defeat to the title holders in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and quick transitions that will be under scrutiny. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The big-money forward has been absent at club level in a month after picking up a muscle issue during his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League triumph in Germany. Isak returned as a substitute in the Swedish reverse by Switzerland but sat out the midweek dead rubber with Slovenia to ensure his availability for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A booking during the game would have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
