English top flight: ten key points to keep an eye on this weekend

1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a new encounter

A Mancunian rematch could be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is adapting well in west London after his summer move from the Red Devils and demonstrated his skills in the Wolves match prior to the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a flawless low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield prior to dinking a cross across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? During the youngster found the net for United in their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.

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

The winger crucial to stopping Cherries' slump

Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire transfer speculation treatment due to a claimed £65m buyout clause for his possible mid-season move, the media positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's average tier. It is understandable from a attacker who has six goals and three helpers who is pleasurable to watch. Still, his team occupy an awkward situation, having engaged in a form flip: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven-one on aggregate in their last two matches after an strong opening to the campaign. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa yet taking on a backline lacking a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season may prove the best remedy.

Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM

Danny Welbeck a surprise option for England

It proved notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times during the national team window even though the Brighton forward turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even knowing him, I know what he could give me,” said the England manager. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional No 9 position.” Earning the last of his 42 international appearances several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be selected to the World Cup provided he manages to maintain his goalscoring exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward boasts more goals compared to any English performer in the top flight this season having six and will be keen to boost that count when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.

Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock

4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and goalscorer

The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy beginning. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his boyhood club in 2024 after five tough years in north London, is now a first-team fixture, operating on the left side in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he is their joint-top scorer this season as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker in the last term, has netted one goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who provided 10 assists last time round. The Cottagers' following four matches include three from the best five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine goals this season to date. Danger looms for a team that have earned a name for mid-table stability.

Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM

The moment for Alexander Isak to produce for Liverpool

The debate about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in 10 games. Arne Slot's squad require a sustained recovery to force their way into the title race from their current spot, plus a major upturn in results, and opportunity emerges with seven out of their next 10 league games facing teams currently in the bottom ten in the standings. The threat is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a defeat on their own turf to Liverpool in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's display when facing long balls and quick transitions that remains under scrutiny. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to show up wearing red. The £125m striker has not featured for his club for a month having sustained a groin problem when making his second appearance in the lineup in four days in Europe win abroad. He reappeared off the bench in the Swedish loss by Switzerland but missed the subsequent dead rubber with Slovenia to ensure his readiness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A yellow card in that match would have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient