Premier division: ten key points to keep an eye on this weekend

Walker faces Garnacho poised for a new encounter

A Mancunian rematch could be on the cards as Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker has started to settle at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from the Red Devils and showcased his talents versus Wolverhampton prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace with a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed shifting infield before lofting a cross toward the far post. His goal reaction with Neto, echoing his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of how quickly things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? During the Argentine netted for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.

Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (all times GMT)

Antoine Semenyo crucial to halting Bournemouth's slump

Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire transfer speculation attention due to a claimed £65m escape clause for a potential winter exit, the media positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. This is to be expected from a wide player with six goals and three assists and is pleasurable to watch. However, Bournemouth occupy an awkward position, having undergone a body swap: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 over two games over their past two matches following an promising beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa yet confronting a backline lacking a shutout in the league since the start of the season may prove the perfect solution.

Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3pm

3. Welbeck a surprise choice for England

It proved interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break although the Brighton striker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he is able to offer me,” said the England coach. “He could serve as a back-up for Harry [Kane] as a quite orthodox striker position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 caps in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be in the squad to the World Cup if he can sustain his goalscoring feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim a greater tally than any other English player in the Premier League this campaign with six and remains anxious to boost that total when Brighton host Brentford in Saturday's match.

Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM

4. Sessegnon needed as playmaker and goalscorer

The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has offered some positivity to Fulham's inconsistent opening. The left-sided player, who returned to his boyhood club last year following five difficult years at Tottenham, has become a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left side due to the injury of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he's also their joint-top scorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer the previous campaign, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver in a creative role replacing Robinson, who registered ten setups last season. Fulham's following four fixtures include three of the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores in the league so far. Trouble awaits for the club that have developed a reputation for mid-table stability.

Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3pm

The occasion for The striker to produce for Liverpool

The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they fell to loss number seven in ten matches. Arne Slot's squad need a sustained recovery to force their way into the title race from their current spot, as well as a significant improvement in form, and a chance emerges as seven from their next 10 top-flight fixtures versus clubs currently in the bottom half of the table. The danger is evident from Nottingham Forest, the single club to deliver a loss at Anfield on the champions in the last term, however it's not just Liverpool's showing versus direct play and counterattacks that will be in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The expensive signing has not featured at club level in a month after picking up a groin problem during his second start in quick succession in continental competition triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back as a substitute in the Swedish defeat against Switzerland but sat out the subsequent dead rubber with Slovenia to secure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A caution during the game might have suspended him. He might be short of|lacking|deficient