Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for another battle
A Mancunian rematch could be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is adapting well in west London following his summer move from Manchester United and demonstrated his skills versus Wolverhampton before the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed blistering pace with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield prior to lofting a cross to the back post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the former scored for United during their cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to ending Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete gossip column focus following a claimed £65m escape clause for a prospective winter exit, the media setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. That is to be expected for a winger who has six finishes and three helpers and remains delightful to watch. Nonetheless, his side occupy an difficult spot, experiencing a role reversal: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one over two games in their past two matches after an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa yet facing a backline without a shutout for months might be the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker an outside shout for England
It seemed interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the national team window even though the Brighton forward celebrates 35 next week. “Even without having met him, I know what he could provide,” said the England manager. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a quite orthodox centre-forward position.” Having won the final 42 caps in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he is able to continue his scoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally compared to any English footballer in the top flight this term on six and remains anxious to add to that total as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The full-back crucial as creator and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy opening. The 25-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club in 2024 following five tough years with Spurs, has emerged as a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left side in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he is their top goalscorer this season as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has scored one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's upcoming four games take in three of the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine strikes in the league this season. Danger looms for a team that have earned a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for the Reds
The dispute regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they lost to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's squad need a sustained recovery to force their way into the title race from their current spot, as well as a dramatic boost in performance, and opportunity emerges as seven of their upcoming ten league games facing clubs presently in the lower half in the standings. The danger is clear from Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a home league defeat to Liverpool in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's performance when facing direct play and counterattacks that will be under scrutiny. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The big-money forward has not featured for his club over four weeks having sustained a groin problem when making his second start in quick succession in continental competition triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned off the bench in the Swedish reverse to Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's meaningless match versus Slovenia to secure his fitness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution in that match could have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
