Premier League: ten key points to watch for this round of fixtures

1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new battle

A Mancunian rematch may be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man has started to settle at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and displayed his skills in the Wolves match prior to the international break. His assist for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right prior to chipping a ball toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his earlier embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the pace with which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho faced Walker? When the Argentine found the net for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.

Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (kick-offs GMT)

Antoine Semenyo crucial to stopping Cherries' slide

Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill treatment following a alleged £65m release clause for a prospective winter exit, the gossip columns setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected for a attacker with six goals plus three assists and remains delightful to watch. However, his team occupy an tricky situation, experiencing a role reversal: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten 7-1 combined in their past two games following an strong start to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa but taking on a defensive unit without a clean sheet since August might be the best solution.

Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM

Danny Welbeck a surprise choice for the national team

It proved interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton forward reaches 35 in the coming days. “Without even being familiar with him, I understand what he can offer me,” stated the England manager. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a very traditional centre-forward position.” Having won the last of his 42 international appearances in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he is able to sustain his scoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker has additional strikes than any other English player in the Premier League this term with six and will be eager to increase that total as Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.

Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon three o'clock

4. Sessegnon needed as assist provider and finisher

The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided some positivity to Fulham's inconsistent start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his former side in 2024 following five challenging years at Tottenham, has emerged as a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left side due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man in the last term, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who provided ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's upcoming four fixtures take in three from the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed just nine goals this season to date. A threat emerges for a team that have developed a reputation for mid-table stability.

Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm

5. Time for Isak to deliver for the Merseyside club

The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they succumbed to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's team require a consistent improvement to muscle into the league contest from this position, plus a major upturn in results, and opportunity emerges as seven from their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures facing sides currently in the bottom half in the league. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a home league defeat to the title holders the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance versus aerial passes and counterattacks that remains under scrutiny. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The expensive signing has been absent for his club over four weeks following a groin injury while his second appearance in the lineup in four days in the Champions League triumph abroad. Isak returned as a substitute in Sweden's defeat by Switzerland but missed the midweek inconsequential game against Slovenia to secure his availability for next year's World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card on Tuesday might have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient