Premier League: ten key points to look out for this matchday

Garnacho versus Walker set for a fresh battle

A Mancunian rematch could be in store when Burnley's Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The attacker has started to settle in west London after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and displayed his talents against Wolves before the national team interval. His key pass for Pedro Neto combined electric speed with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto entailed moving onto his right before chipping a ball toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the pace with which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former scored for United in their cup final win against Manchester City.

Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)

Antoine Semenyo crucial to stopping Bournemouth's slump

Antoine Semenyo is getting the entire transfer speculation focus amid a claimed £65m buyout clause for his prospective mid-season move, the media setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's middle class. This is understandable from a winger who has six finishes and three helpers and remains delightful to watch. Still, his side find themselves in an difficult situation, having engaged in a body swap: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in on successive wins, while Bournemouth have lost seven to one combined over their previous two fixtures after an promising opening to the campaign. Semenyo had his effort saved from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss by Aston Villa yet taking on a defence lacking a goalless game since August could be the best remedy.

Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm

3. Welbeck a left-field option for the national team

It seemed interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break even though the Brighton striker reaches 35 soon. “Despite not knowing him, I know what he is able to provide,” said the England boss. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a very orthodox centre-forward position.” Earning the last of his 42 England games several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be selected to the World Cup assuming he can sustain his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim more goals over every other English player in the Premier League this campaign on six and remains anxious to add to that tally as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.

Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm

The full-back crucial as assist provider and scorer

The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's bumpy start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his former side in 2024 after five tough years at Tottenham, has emerged as a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? With two goals, he's also their leading marksman in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their top scorer last season, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term because of hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up in a creative role replacing Robinson, who provided ten setups in the previous campaign. Fulham's next four matches include three among the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in merely nine strikes in the Premier League so far. Trouble awaits for a team that have built a standing for solidity in the central positions.

Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM

The occasion for Isak to perform for the Merseyside club

The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The coach's team require a prolonged upturn to enter the championship chase from this position, as well as a major boost in performance, and a chance emerges with seven of their following ten league games versus clubs at the moment in the lower half in the league. The threat is evident posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield to the title holders the previous campaign, however it's not just Liverpool's performance against aerial passes and counterattacks that remains under the spotlight. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played at club level in a month after picking up a groin injury while his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned from the bench in the Swedish reverse to Switzerland but was rested the midweek meaningless match against Slovenia to secure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card in that match could have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient