Premier League: ten key points to keep an eye on this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new encounter
Another northwest showdown may be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and showcased his skills versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration with a perfect low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto required shifting infield before chipping a cross across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? When the Argentine scored for United during their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to stopping Bournemouth's decline
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the complete gossip column treatment amid a alleged £65m escape clause for a prospective January departure, the tabloids setting him up for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is to be expected from a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes plus three setups and remains joyous to watch. Nonetheless, his side find themselves in an awkward position, having undergone a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost 7-1 on aggregate over their last two games after an promising beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss to Aston Villa yet taking on a defensive unit without a clean sheet since August could be the ideal solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
Danny Welbeck a surprise option for the national team
It seemed interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break even though the Brighton attacker turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I understand what he could give me,” commented the England boss. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] in a very orthodox striker position.” Having won the final 42 England games back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be selected for the World Cup provided he can continue his goal-getting feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes than any other English footballer in the top flight this season with six and remains keen to add to that count when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon required as creator and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy start. The 25-year-old, who came back to his boyhood club in 2024 after five difficult years at Tottenham, has become a regular starter, operating on the left flank with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he is their joint-top scorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer last season, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who registered 10 assists last time round. The Cottagers' upcoming four fixtures feature three from the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the Premier League so far. Trouble awaits for the club that have built a standing for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
5. Time for The striker to perform for Liverpool
The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they fell to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's team must have a prolonged upturn to enter the league contest from their current spot, as well as a dramatic boost in performance, and the possibility presents itself with seven of their next 10 Premier League matches against sides presently in the bottom ten in the standings. The risk is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a home league defeat to Liverpool last season, but it is not only Liverpool's display versus direct play and fast breaks that will be under scrutiny. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has not played for his club for a month following a muscle issue during his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in continental competition win in Germany. Isak returned as a substitute in Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but sat out the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to secure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A booking in that match might have suspended him. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
