Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this round of fixtures
Garnacho versus Walker poised for a fresh battle
A Mancunian rematch might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is adapting well with Chelsea following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and displayed his abilities against Wolves before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right prior to chipping a delivery toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the pace with which things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? Back when the youngster netted for United during their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to ending Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full transfer speculation attention amid a alleged £65m escape clause for his possible winter exit, the tabloids preparing him for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is predictable for a winger who has six finishes and three setups and is delightful to watch. Still, his team are in an difficult position, having engaged in a form flip: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost seven-one on aggregate over their past two fixtures following an impressive opening to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but facing a defensive unit without a clean sheet for months may prove the perfect solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3pm
The striker a left-field choice for the national team
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton attacker reaches 35 soon. “Even without being familiar with him, I know what he can provide,” stated the England manager. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional No 9 role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 England games several years ago, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be in the squad to the World Cup provided he manages to maintain his scoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward has a greater tally than any other English player in the top flight this term with six and is keen to increase that total when Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
Ryan Sessegnon crucial as creator and goalscorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a degree of positivity to Fulham's uneven opening. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his youth team in 2024 after five challenging years at Tottenham, is now a consistent pick, operating on the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he is their leading marksman in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period due to hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute in a creative role instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last time round. The Cottagers' following four matches take in three from the top five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine strikes in the Premier League to date. Danger looms for a side that have earned a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for the Merseyside club
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority during the match as they lost to their seventh loss in ten matches. The coach's side require a consistent improvement to force their way into the league contest from their current spot, plus a major upturn in results, and opportunity arises with seven out of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures versus teams currently in the bottom half in the league. The threat is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's performance against aerial passes and fast breaks that will be under scrutiny. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has been absent at club level over four weeks following a groin injury during his second consecutive start in quick succession in the Champions League triumph in Germany. The striker came back from the bench in Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but was rested the subsequent dead rubber with Slovenia to secure his fitness for the World Cup playoffs. A yellow card on Tuesday would have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
