English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this round of fixtures
Garnacho versus Walker ready for a fresh battle
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace and a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield prior to chipping a ball to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? When the youngster found the net for United in the FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo vital to ending Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full transfer speculation treatment amid a claimed £65m escape clause for a potential January departure, the tabloids setting him up for advancement from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is predictable from a attacker with a half-dozen strikes and three helpers who is pleasurable to watch. However, his team occupy an difficult spot, experiencing a role reversal: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who enter on successive wins, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one on aggregate over their previous two matches after an strong opening to the season. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa yet taking on a defensive unit lacking a goalless game since August could be the perfect remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck an outside choice for the national team
It was interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton striker celebrates 35 soon. “Without even being familiar with him, I understand what he could give me,” said the England coach. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional No 9 role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 England games several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck may be on the plane to the World Cup if he is able to continue his goalscoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker has a greater tally over every other English footballer in England's top division this campaign on six and is eager to add to that count when Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon required as playmaker and goalscorer
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a degree of comfort to Fulham's uneven opening. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his boyhood club in 2024 after five tough years in north London, has become a regular starter, pushing forward on the left flank with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he remains their joint-top scorer this season as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer in the last term, has scored once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who supplied 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' upcoming four games feature three from the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine goals in the Premier League so far. Trouble awaits for the club that have earned a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The occasion for The striker to perform for the Merseyside club
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they succumbed to loss number seven over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's team must have a sustained recovery to force their way into the championship chase from here, along with a major boost in performance, and a chance emerges as seven of their next 10 Premier League matches against teams presently in the bottom ten of the table. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a defeat on their own turf to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing versus long balls and fast breaks that remains under the spotlight. It is time that Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The big-money forward has not played for his club for a month after picking up a muscle issue while his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back off the bench in Sweden's loss to Switzerland but missed the subsequent meaningless match versus Slovenia to ensure his availability for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A yellow card in that match could have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
