English top flight: ten highlights to look out for this weekend
Walker faces Garnacho ready for a fresh clash
A Mancunian rematch could be in store as Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his summer move from Manchester United and displayed his talents versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a flawless grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right prior to dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, replicating his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the speed at which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? During the Argentine netted for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (all times GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to halting Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire rumour-mill attention due to a claimed £65m buyout clause for his possible mid-season move, the tabloids positioning him for advancement out of the Premier League's average tier. It is predictable from a attacker with a half-dozen strikes and three helpers who is joyous to watch. Still, his team find themselves in an tricky situation, having undergone a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who come in with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one on aggregate in their last two matches following an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss to Aston Villa but facing a defensive unit lacking a goalless game for months could be the perfect tonic.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday three o'clock
The striker a surprise option for England
It proved intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the national team window even though the Brighton forward turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he can provide,” said the England coach. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] in a very traditional striker role.” Gaining the final 42 international appearances in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be in the squad for the World Cup provided he is able to maintain his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has more goals compared to any English performer in the top flight this season with six and remains keen to add to that count when Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm
4. Sessegnon crucial as assist provider and scorer
Sessegnon's story has brought a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who returned to his youth team in 2024 following five difficult years with Spurs, has emerged as a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left flank in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? With two goals, he's also their leading marksman in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man in the last term, has bagged once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period due to a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute in a creative role replacing Robinson, who provided ten setups last season. The Cottagers' next four games take in three among the top five and Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine scores this season this season. A threat emerges for a side that have developed a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The occasion for Alexander Isak to produce for the Reds
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort against Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they fell to a seventh defeat in ten matches. Arne Slot's side need a consistent improvement to enter the championship chase from this position, along with a dramatic boost in performance, and the possibility arises with seven of their next 10 top-flight fixtures facing teams at the moment in the lower half in the standings. The danger is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a home league defeat on the champions last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus direct play and counterattacks that will be under the spotlight. It is time that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The expensive signing has not featured in domestic action in a month after picking up a groin injury when making his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League victory abroad. Isak returned from the bench in Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's meaningless match versus Slovenia to ensure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card in that match could have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
