Premier division: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a fresh clash
Another northwest showdown may be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker has started to settle in west London after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and showcased his skills in the Wolves match prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration and a perfect low cross. His creation for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to dinking a ball to the back post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the youngster scored for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
The winger vital to stopping Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete gossip column focus following a alleged £65m buyout clause for a prospective mid-season move, the tabloids setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. It is understandable for a attacker with a half-dozen strikes plus three setups who is pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an difficult position, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the struggling side West Ham who come in with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one over two games over their last two fixtures after an strong start to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss to Aston Villa however taking on a defence lacking a goalless game for months could be the perfect solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
Danny Welbeck an outside option for the Three Lions
It proved intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton striker celebrates 35 next week. “Even without being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to give me,” said the England manager. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional centre-forward position.” Having won the final 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be selected to the World Cup if he is able to maintain his goal-getting feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim more goals compared to any English performer in England's top division this season having six and is keen to increase that total as Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
4. Sessegnon needed as assist provider and scorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a degree of warmth to Fulham's uneven opening. The 25-year-old, who came back to his youth team in 2024 following five difficult years with Spurs, has emerged as a regular starter, operating on the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he is their joint-top scorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker in the last term, has scored a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured until 2026 because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as a creator in place of Robinson, who registered 10 assists in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' upcoming four games feature three from the best five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine strikes this season to date. A threat emerges for the club that have built a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for The striker to perform for Liverpool
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's side need a prolonged upturn to force their way into the championship chase from this position, as well as a dramatic boost in performance, and the possibility presents itself as seven out of their following ten top-flight fixtures facing teams currently in the bottom ten of the table. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a defeat on their own turf on the champions the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's showing when facing aerial passes and fast breaks that remains under scrutiny. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The £125m striker has been absent at club level for a month having sustained a muscle issue while his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League victory in Germany. Isak returned from the bench in Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's dead rubber with Slovenia to secure his fitness for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A booking during the game could have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
