Premier League: 10 things to watch for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a new encounter
Another northwest showdown may be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger has started to settle in west London following his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his skills against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside before lofting a cross across the goalmouth. His goal reaction with Neto, replicating his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of how quickly circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? When the former netted for United during their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to halting Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete transfer speculation focus amid a claimed £65m release clause for a possible January departure, the gossip columns setting him up for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is to be expected from a attacker who has six finishes plus three assists and is pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an tricky position, having engaged in a role reversal: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth are down seven-one combined over their previous two fixtures after an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss to Aston Villa but confronting a backline without a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season might be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck a surprise shout for the national team
It was intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the national team window although the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 soon. “Despite not having met him, I understand what he can give me,” commented the England boss. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox No 9 position.” Having won the final 42 England games several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck may be in the squad for the World Cup provided he manages to maintain his goal-getting feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes compared to any English footballer in the top flight this season on six and remains keen to increase that count as Brighton host Brentford this weekend.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
The full-back needed as creator and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a degree of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his boyhood club in 2024 after five difficult years in north London, has emerged as a consistent pick, operating on the left due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man in the last term, has bagged one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out until 2026 due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who provided ten helpers in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' upcoming four matches take in three from the top five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine scores in the league so far. A threat emerges for the club that have built a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The occasion for Isak to produce for the Merseyside club
The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they succumbed to loss number seven in ten matches. The coach's squad must have a consistent improvement to force their way into the championship chase from this position, as well as a major improvement in form, and opportunity arises as seven out of their next 10 top-flight fixtures against sides at the moment in the lower half of the table. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to inflict a loss at Anfield to the title holders in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's performance against aerial passes and counterattacks that remains under the spotlight. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The big-money forward has not played in domestic action over four weeks following a groin injury during his second start in quick succession in Europe victory abroad. Isak returned as a substitute in the Swedish reverse against Switzerland but missed the midweek dead rubber versus Slovenia to secure his availability for the World Cup qualifiers. A caution during the game could have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
