English top flight: ten highlights to look out for this weekend
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a new clash
Another northwest showdown could be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The wide man is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities versus Wolverhampton prior to the international break. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined electric speed and a ideal grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to lofting a cross toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, replicating his earlier hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the pace with which situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? When the former scored for United in their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to stopping Cherries' decline
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire gossip column treatment amid a claimed £65m escape clause for a potential mid-season move, the tabloids setting him up for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is understandable for a winger who has six goals and three setups and remains pleasurable to watch. However, Bournemouth find themselves in an tricky position, experiencing a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on successive wins, while Bournemouth are down seven-one on aggregate over their last two games after an impressive start to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa however facing a defence lacking a clean sheet since August may prove the ideal solution.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
3. Welbeck a surprise shout for the national team
It was interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break even though the Brighton forward reaches 35 next week. “Even without being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to give me,” said the England manager. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite orthodox striker position.” Having won the final 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup provided he can continue his goalscoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim more goals over every other English player in the top flight this campaign with six and will be keen to increase that total as Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock
The full-back required as playmaker and finisher
The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered some positivity to Fulham's uneven beginning. The former Tottenham man, who returned to his youth team in 2024 following five tough years at Tottenham, has emerged as a regular starter, pushing forward on the left side in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he is their joint-top scorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker last season, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is injured until 2026 due to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also being required to contribute as a creator in place of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last season. Fulham's next four games feature three of the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine scores in the league this season. Danger looms for the club that have earned a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The moment for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool
The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they lost to their seventh loss in ten matches. Arne Slot's side must have a prolonged upturn to force their way into the league contest from this position, along with a dramatic upturn in results, and opportunity arises as seven out of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures versus sides at the moment in the lower half of the table. The threat is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a loss at Anfield to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing versus aerial passes and quick transitions that will be under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not featured at club level in a month following a muscle issue when making his second start over a short period in the Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt. He reappeared as a substitute during Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's inconsequential game versus Slovenia to ensure his fitness for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A caution on Tuesday would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
