English top flight: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Walker faces Garnacho ready for a new clash

A Mancunian rematch may be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker has started to settle in west London after his off-season signing from Old Trafford and displayed his talents in the Wolves match before the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a perfect low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before dinking a delivery toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of how quickly things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? During the youngster scored for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.

Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (start times GMT)

2. Semenyo vital to halting Bournemouth's slide

Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire gossip column focus amid a claimed £65m escape clause for his potential mid-season move, the tabloids positioning him for graduation from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is understandable for a winger who has a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth occupy an awkward position, having engaged in a role reversal: it is the struggling side West Ham who arrive with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one on aggregate in their past two games after an impressive opening to the season. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss to Aston Villa yet facing a defence that hasn't kept a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season could be the perfect tonic.

Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM

Danny Welbeck a left-field choice for the Three Lions

It seemed intriguing to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton striker reaches 35 next week. “Without even being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to give me,” said the England boss. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite traditional striker role.” Gaining the final 42 international appearances back in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup if he is able to continue his scoring feats. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts additional strikes over every other English player in the Premier League this term with six and is eager to increase that total as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.

Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM

Ryan Sessegnon needed as playmaker and scorer

The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has brought a measure of comfort to Fulham's uneven opening. The left-sided player, who came back to his boyhood club in 2024 following five difficult years in north London, is now a first-team fixture, operating on the left in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he is their top goalscorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man last season, has bagged a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for the long term because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who provided 10 assists last season. Fulham's following four matches take in three among the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine goals this season so far. A threat emerges for the club that have earned a standing for solidity in the central positions.

Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock

The occasion for Isak to produce for the Reds

The debate regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they succumbed to loss number seven in ten matches. Arne Slot's side need a consistent improvement to enter the championship chase from their current spot, plus a dramatic upturn in results, and the possibility presents itself as seven of their following ten Premier League matches facing teams currently in the lower half in the league. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a loss at Anfield to the title holders last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus aerial passes and quick transitions that remains under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The £125m striker has not featured in domestic action in a month following a groin injury when making his second appearance in the lineup in four days in Europe win in Germany. He reappeared as a substitute in Sweden's loss by Switzerland but missed the subsequent dead rubber against Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A caution on Tuesday would have suspended him. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient