Premier League: ten highlights to watch for this matchday

Walker faces Garnacho poised for another encounter

A Mancunian rematch might be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger is finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from the Red Devils and showcased his abilities against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His setup for Pedro Neto combined blistering pace with a perfect low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside prior to lofting a ball toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of how quickly things transform. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? During the former netted for United in their cup final win over Manchester City.

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

2. Semenyo key to stopping Cherries' decline

Antoine Semenyo is receiving the complete rumour-mill focus due to a alleged £65m buyout clause for a potential winter exit, the media setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's middle class. This is understandable from a wide player with a half-dozen strikes plus three assists and remains pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an difficult spot, having undergone a role reversal: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter on successive wins, while Bournemouth have lost 7-1 combined in their past two games following an impressive opening to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the spot by Emi Martínez in their heavy loss to Aston Villa but facing a backline that hasn't kept a goalless game in the league since the start of the season might be the perfect solution.

Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM

The striker a surprise choice for the Three Lions

It proved notable to hear Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the fixture pause even though the Brighton striker turns 35 next week. “Without even knowing him, I know what he could provide,” commented the England coach. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] as a very traditional striker role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 international appearances in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck could be on the plane to the World Cup assuming he is able to sustain his goalscoring feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts a greater tally than any other English performer in the top flight this term on six and is anxious to increase that total when Brighton entertain Brentford on Saturday.

Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3pm

4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and finisher

The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided some positivity to Fulham's uneven start. The left-sided player, who rejoined his former side recently following five tough years in north London, has emerged as a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left in the absence of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he remains their joint-top scorer in the Premier League as well as Harry Wilson. Their main striker, their primary attacker last season, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is injured for the long term due to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also having to step up as an assist provider in place of Robinson, who registered ten helpers last season. Fulham's following four fixtures include three among the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded just nine strikes this season so far. Trouble awaits for the club that have built a name for solidity in the central positions.

Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM

The occasion for Isak to perform for the Reds

The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings on the day as they fell to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. The manager's squad require a consistent improvement to enter the league contest from their current spot, as well as a significant upturn in results, and a chance emerges as seven of their next 10 Premier League matches against teams at the moment in the bottom half of the table. The risk is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a defeat on their own turf to the title holders in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's performance against long balls and counterattacks that is in focus. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action for a month following a muscle issue during his second consecutive start in four days in continental competition victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back from the bench in Sweden's defeat by Switzerland but sat out the midweek meaningless match versus Slovenia to secure his availability for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds. A caution during the game would have made him ineligible. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient