Premier League: ten highlights to watch for this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a fresh clash
A Manchester reunion may be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker has started to settle in west London following his summer move from the Red Devils and demonstrated his skills in the Wolves match prior to the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace and a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside before dinking a cross toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, mirroring his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the speed at which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? Back when the former found the net for United in their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to ending Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill focus amid a reported £65m escape clause for a potential winter exit, the gossip columns preparing him for advancement out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is to be expected from a attacker with six goals and three assists and is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an tricky situation, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one combined over their last two games following an impressive beginning to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa yet taking on a defence lacking a goalless game in the league since the start of the season could be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a surprise choice for the Three Lions
It was intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton forward celebrates 35 soon. “Even without having met him, I am aware what he is able to offer me,” commented the England coach. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a quite conventional centre-forward position.” Having won the most recent of his 42 caps several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be in the squad for the World Cup if he can sustain his goalscoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has a greater tally over every other English player in the top flight this term with six and is keen to increase that count as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
4. Sessegnon required as playmaker and finisher
Sessegnon's story has offered a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his boyhood club in 2024 following five difficult years with Spurs, has become a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left side with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer this season together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker the previous campaign, has bagged once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 because of a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute as a creator in place of Robinson, who registered ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four fixtures take in three from the top five and Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine scores this season this season. Trouble awaits for the club that have built a reputation for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
5. Time for Alexander Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they fell to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The coach's team require a prolonged upturn to muscle into the league contest from this position, along with a dramatic boost in performance, and the possibility presents itself with seven out of their upcoming ten league games against sides presently in the bottom ten of the table. The risk is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a loss at Anfield to Liverpool last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing versus aerial passes and quick transitions that will be under the spotlight. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not featured at club level for a month having sustained a muscle issue during his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in continental competition triumph in Germany. Isak returned from the bench in Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's dead rubber versus Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card during the game would have suspended him. He might be short of|lacking|deficient