English top flight: ten highlights to keep an eye on this round of fixtures
1. Garnacho and Walker ready for another encounter
A Mancunian rematch could be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker has started to settle in west London following his summer move from Manchester United and demonstrated his skills in the Wolves match before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined electric speed and a perfect low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield prior to dinking a ball to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho faced Walker? During the former found the net for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo key to halting Cherries' slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the complete gossip column attention due to a reported £65m buyout clause for his prospective January departure, the tabloids preparing him for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. This is to be expected for a attacker who has a half-dozen strikes plus three setups who is joyous to watch. Still, his side occupy an awkward situation, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with successive wins, while Bournemouth have lost seven to one combined in their last two fixtures following an strong beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but taking on a backline lacking a goalless game in the league since the start of the season could be the ideal tonic.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The striker a left-field shout for the national team
It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break although the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 in the coming days. “Despite not knowing him, I understand what he could give me,” commented the England boss. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very orthodox No 9 position.” Having won the most recent of his 42 caps several years ago, there is every chance that Welbeck might be in the squad for the World Cup assuming he can continue his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes compared to any English performer in the Premier League this campaign on six and remains eager to boost that count as Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
Ryan Sessegnon required as playmaker and finisher
Sessegnon's story has offered a degree of positivity to Fulham's uneven start. The left-sided player, who came back to his former side in 2024 following five difficult years with Spurs, has emerged as a regular starter, pushing forward on the left flank due to the injury of the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he's also their top goalscorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker in the last term, has netted a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period owing to a surgical procedure. Sessegnon must also having to step up as a creator instead of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. Fulham's following four games take in three among the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine scores in the league so far. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm
The moment for Alexander Isak to produce for Liverpool
The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they succumbed to loss number seven in ten matches. Arne Slot's team need a consistent improvement to enter the league contest from this position, along with a significant improvement in form, and a chance emerges as seven out of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures against clubs presently in the lower half in the league. The danger is evident from Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a home league defeat to Liverpool the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance versus long balls and quick transitions that will be under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The £125m striker has been absent for his club over four weeks following a muscle issue when making his second consecutive start in four days in Europe triumph in Germany. The striker came back from the bench in the Swedish loss against Switzerland but sat out the subsequent meaningless match versus Slovenia to ensure his availability for the World Cup playoffs. A booking in that match would have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
