English top flight: 10 things to look out for this matchday
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for another battle
A Manchester reunion may be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and displayed his abilities in the Wolves match before the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed electric speed and a ideal low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right prior to dinking a ball toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the youngster netted for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12.30pm (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to halting Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full gossip column attention amid a claimed £65m release clause for a potential mid-season move, the media preparing him for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is predictable for a wide player who has six finishes plus three assists and is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth are in an tricky spot, experiencing a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 combined over their last two games following an impressive beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa yet taking on a backline lacking a goalless game in the league since the start of the season might be the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday 3pm
3. Welbeck a left-field shout for the Three Lions
It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the national team window even though the Brighton forward celebrates 35 next week. “Even without being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to give me,” stated the England manager. “He can be a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very conventional striker position.” Having won the final 42 England games several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup assuming he manages to sustain his goalscoring feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim a greater tally than any other English performer in the top flight this season with six and is keen to boost that count when Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock
The full-back needed as playmaker and scorer
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy opening. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his former side in 2024 after five challenging years with Spurs, has become a first-team fixture, driving down the left in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he remains their leading marksman in the league together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has netted once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also having to step up in a creative role replacing Robinson, who registered ten setups last time round. The Cottagers' next four games feature three from the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores in the league to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have earned a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM
The occasion for Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they succumbed to their seventh loss in ten matches. The manager's squad must have a prolonged upturn to force their way into the league contest from this position, as well as a major improvement in form, and a chance emerges as seven from their following ten league games versus clubs presently in the bottom ten in the standings. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a home league defeat on the champions last season, however it's not just Liverpool's showing against aerial passes and quick transitions that is under scrutiny. It is time for Alexander Isak to deliver wearing red. The expensive signing has not played in domestic action over four weeks having sustained a muscle issue during his second consecutive start in quick succession in Europe win abroad. The striker came back from the bench during Sweden's defeat by Switzerland but missed the subsequent meaningless match with Slovenia to secure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A booking on Tuesday might have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
