Premier division: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Walker faces Garnacho set for another clash

A Mancunian rematch could be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man is finding his feet in west London following his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his abilities versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto involved moving onto his right before chipping a delivery to the back post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? When the Argentine netted for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.

Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (start times GMT)

Antoine Semenyo key to halting Bournemouth's slide

Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire transfer speculation treatment amid a reported £65m escape clause for his possible winter exit, the media positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's middle class. This is to be expected for a wide player who has six finishes and three assists who is delightful to watch. However, his team are in an tricky spot, experiencing a form flip: it is the struggling side West Ham who come in with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 on aggregate in their past two matches after an impressive opening to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa however confronting a defensive unit without a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the ideal tonic.

Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock

3. Welbeck an outside option for England

It proved interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the national team window even though the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Without even knowing him, I am aware what he is able to give me,” commented the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a very conventional No 9 position.” Having won the most recent of his 42 England games back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be selected for the World Cup assuming he is able to continue his goalscoring exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker can claim additional strikes over every other English performer in the Premier League this campaign with six and is eager to boost that count when Brighton welcome Brentford this weekend.

Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday three o'clock

The full-back needed as creator and finisher

Sessegnon's story has provided a measure of warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The left-sided player, who came back to his boyhood club in 2024 following five difficult years in north London, has emerged as a regular starter, pushing forward on the left with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he remains their top goalscorer this season together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute as a creator instead of Robinson, who registered ten helpers last season. Fulham's next four matches take in three of the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine scores this season this season. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a name for consistency in the middle.

Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM

The moment for Isak to produce for Liverpool

The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they lost to loss number seven in 10 games. The manager's team require a consistent improvement to muscle into the league contest from this position, along with a dramatic upturn in results, and a chance presents itself as seven of their next 10 top-flight fixtures against sides currently in the bottom ten in the standings. The risk is evident from Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield on the champions last season, but it is not only Liverpool's showing against direct play and quick transitions that remains under the spotlight. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not played at club level over four weeks following a muscle issue while his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in continental competition triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back from the bench in Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but sat out the subsequent dead rubber with Slovenia to guarantee his availability for the World Cup playoffs. A booking in that match could have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient