Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker ready for another battle
A Manchester reunion may be in the offing as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his skills in the Wolves match prior to the international break. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a ideal low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto required cutting inside prior to chipping a cross to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of how quickly things transform. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? Back when the Argentine scored for United in the cup final win against Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo crucial to ending Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete gossip column treatment following a claimed £65m buyout clause for his potential mid-season move, the media positioning him for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. That is to be expected from a attacker with a half-dozen strikes plus three setups who is joyous to watch. Still, his team are in an awkward situation, experiencing a form flip: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one on aggregate in their previous two fixtures following an strong start to the season. Semenyo had his effort saved on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however confronting a defensive unit that hasn't kept a goalless game in the league since the start of the season might be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday 3pm
Danny Welbeck an outside choice for the Three Lions
It proved interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause even though the Brighton forward reaches 35 next week. “Despite not being familiar with him, I know what he is able to provide,” said the England boss. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] as a quite orthodox centre-forward role.” Having won the final 42 England games several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck may be selected for the World Cup provided he is able to maintain his scoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward has more goals over every other English performer in the Premier League this season having six and remains eager to add to that count when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM
The full-back needed as assist provider and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought some comfort to Fulham's bumpy opening. The left-sided player, who returned to his former side in 2024 after five challenging years at Tottenham, has become a first-team fixture, operating on the left flank due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The worry? On two goals, he's also their joint-top scorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has scored a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who provided ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four fixtures include three of the best five and Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine strikes in the league this season. Danger looms for the club that have built a standing for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Reds
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they succumbed to their seventh loss in ten matches. Arne Slot's squad need a sustained recovery to muscle into the league contest from their current spot, as well as a major improvement in form, and a chance presents itself with seven of their following ten Premier League matches facing sides currently in the bottom half in the league. The risk is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a loss at Anfield on the champions last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus aerial passes and fast breaks that remains under the spotlight. It is time that Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not featured in domestic action in a month having sustained a groin problem when making his second start in four days in the Champions League victory in Germany. He reappeared off the bench in Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but missed the subsequent meaningless match versus Slovenia to ensure his fitness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution on Tuesday might have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
