Premier League: ten highlights to watch for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a fresh clash
A Manchester reunion might be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger has started to settle in west London after his summer move from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside prior to dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, echoing his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the former netted for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (all times GMT)
The winger key to stopping Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire transfer speculation focus amid a alleged £65m escape clause for a potential winter exit, the media setting him up for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. This is predictable for a wide player who has six goals plus three assists and is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, his side are in an awkward position, having undergone a role reversal: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who enter on consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one over two games in their last two games after an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but taking on a defence lacking a clean sheet since August may prove the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
Danny Welbeck a left-field option for England
It was notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the national team window although the Brighton attacker turns 35 next week. “Despite not knowing him, I understand what he is able to give me,” said the England manager. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional striker role.” Gaining the final 42 England games back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be selected for the World Cup provided he manages to continue his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker can claim more goals over every other English player in the Premier League this campaign with six and will be eager to boost that count when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon crucial as assist provider and finisher
Sessegnon's story has provided a degree of positivity to Fulham's bumpy opening. The 25-year-old, who came back to his former side in 2024 after five difficult years at Tottenham, is now a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left side with the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he is their leading marksman in the Premier League alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man in the last term, has bagged once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also having to step up in a creative role in place of Robinson, who provided ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four fixtures feature three of the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine scores this season so far. A threat emerges for a team that have earned a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for Alexander Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The coach's team need a consistent improvement to muscle into the title race from here, along with a significant boost in performance, and a chance emerges as seven out of their next 10 Premier League matches facing clubs presently in the bottom ten in the standings. The threat is evident from Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display when facing direct play and counterattacks that remains in focus. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The expensive signing has not featured for his club for a month having sustained a groin injury during his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in Europe win at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned from the bench in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but sat out the subsequent meaningless match with Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the World Cup qualifiers. A booking in that match could have ruled him out. He might be short of|lacking|deficient
