Premier League: 10 things to watch for this round of fixtures
Walker faces Garnacho set for a new battle
Another northwest showdown may be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger has started to settle at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and displayed his skills in the Wolves match before the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a ideal along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to chipping a delivery to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of how quickly situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? When the youngster scored for United during their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (start times GMT)
2. Semenyo vital to stopping Cherries' slide
Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full gossip column treatment amid a reported £65m release clause for a possible mid-season move, the tabloids setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's average tier. That is predictable from a wide player with six goals and three helpers and is joyous to watch. However, his team are in an difficult spot, having undergone a role reversal: now it's the struggling side West Ham who come in on successive wins, while Bournemouth have lost seven-one on aggregate in their last two games following an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa however confronting a defensive unit that hasn't kept a shutout for months may prove the ideal solution.
Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
3. Welbeck a left-field option for England
It was intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly during the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton striker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Even without having met him, I am aware what he could provide,” said the England boss. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a quite traditional No 9 position.” Earning the last of his 42 international appearances in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck might be in the squad to the World Cup if he manages to maintain his scoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has more goals compared to any English player in the top flight this campaign with six and will be keen to increase that count as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.
Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3pm
4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and finisher
The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered a degree of positivity to Fulham's bumpy opening. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his boyhood club in 2024 after five difficult years at Tottenham, is now a consistent pick, operating on the left side with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the league as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man the previous campaign, has bagged one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period due to a surgical procedure. Additionally, Sessegnon needing to deliver as a creator replacing Robinson, who registered ten setups last season. The Cottagers' following four games include three from the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine strikes in the Premier League to date. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a reputation for mid-table stability.
Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver for the Reds
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they fell to loss number seven in ten matches. The manager's side must have a prolonged upturn to force their way into the championship chase from their current spot, as well as a significant improvement in form, and opportunity presents itself with seven of their next 10 top-flight fixtures against sides at the moment in the lower half of the table. The danger is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a defeat on their own turf on the champions in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing versus direct play and counterattacks that remains in focus. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to show up in a Liverpool shirt. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action in a month having sustained a muscle issue when making his second appearance in the lineup over a short period in continental competition triumph abroad. Isak returned as a substitute in the Swedish defeat by Switzerland but missed the subsequent meaningless match with Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A caution during the game would have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient
