English top flight: ten key points to watch for this matchday

1. Garnacho and Walker poised for a fresh encounter

Another northwest showdown might be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker is finding his feet in west London after his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and displayed his skills versus Wolverhampton before the fixture pause. His assist for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace with a perfect grounded ball. His creation for Malo Gusto required shifting infield before dinking a cross to the back post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of the speed at which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? When the youngster scored for United during their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.

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

The winger crucial to halting Bournemouth's slump

Antoine Semenyo is getting the full gossip column focus due to a reported £65m escape clause for a possible winter exit, the tabloids setting him up for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. It is understandable from a wide player who has a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers who is delightful to watch. However, Bournemouth occupy an difficult situation, having undergone a role reversal: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth are down 7-1 combined in their past two matches after an promising beginning to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa but confronting a defence that hasn't kept a goalless game in the league since the start of the season may prove the perfect remedy.

Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday three o'clock

Danny Welbeck an outside shout for England

It seemed interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton attacker celebrates 35 next week. “Despite not having met him, I know what he could give me,” commented the England manager. “He might act as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a very traditional centre-forward position.” Having won the most recent of his 42 England games back in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup if he manages to maintain his scoring performances. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal forward has more goals than any other English performer in the top flight this term with six and will be eager to boost that total when Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.

Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday three o'clock

Ryan Sessegnon crucial as assist provider and goalscorer

The Ryan Sessegnon tale has provided a measure of positivity to Fulham's uneven start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his boyhood club in 2024 following five tough years in north London, has become a regular starter, driving down the left flank with the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he is their top goalscorer in the league together with Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their leading man in the last term, has scored once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term owing to hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up as an assist provider replacing Robinson, who supplied 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' upcoming four matches include three from the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine strikes in the Premier League to date. A threat emerges for a side that have built a reputation for solidity in the central positions.

Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday 3pm

The moment for The striker to produce for the Reds

The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies in that game as they succumbed to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. The manager's side need a prolonged upturn to muscle into the championship chase from here, plus a significant boost in performance, and opportunity presents itself as seven of their next 10 Premier League matches against clubs currently in the bottom half in the league. The risk is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the single club to inflict a loss at Anfield to the title holders last season, however it's not just Liverpool's display when facing aerial passes and fast breaks that will be under the spotlight. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not featured in domestic action over four weeks having sustained a groin problem when making his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back from the bench during Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but was rested the midweek dead rubber versus Slovenia to ensure his availability for the World Cup playoffs. A yellow card on Tuesday would have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient