Premier League: ten highlights to keep an eye on this round of fixtures

Walker faces Garnacho ready for a new battle

A Manchester reunion could be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The winger has started to settle at Stamford Bridge after his close-season transfer from Manchester United and demonstrated his abilities in the Wolves match before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration with a flawless along-the-deck delivery. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before lofting a ball toward the far post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his prior celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a reminder of the pace with which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho encountered Walker? During the Argentine netted for United during their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.

Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday half past twelve (all times GMT)

2. Semenyo crucial to halting Bournemouth's slide

Antoine Semenyo is getting the full rumour-mill focus amid a alleged £65m buyout clause for his potential January departure, the gossip columns positioning him for promotion from the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is to be expected from a attacker with six finishes plus three helpers who is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, his team find themselves in an difficult situation, experiencing a body swap: it is the struggling side West Ham who arrive with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one on aggregate in their past two matches after an strong start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa yet confronting a defence lacking a clean sheet since August may prove the ideal remedy.

Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm

The striker a surprise choice for the national team

It was interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times during the international break even though the Brighton striker turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I know what he could give me,” commented the England manager. “He can be a stand-in for Harry [Kane] in a very orthodox centre-forward role.” Having won the most recent of his 42 caps in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be in the squad to the World Cup if he can maintain his scoring performances. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts more goals compared to any English player in the Premier League this term with six and will be anxious to boost that tally when Brighton host Brentford this weekend.

Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm

The full-back crucial as playmaker and scorer

Sessegnon's story has offered a degree of positivity to Fulham's uneven opening. The 25-year-old, who returned to his youth team recently after five tough years in north London, has become a consistent pick, pushing forward on the left side due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he remains their leading marksman this season as well as Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker last season, has netted a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable for an extended period because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also having to step up as a creator in place of Robinson, who registered 10 assists in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' next four matches include three among the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine scores in the league to date. Trouble awaits for a team that have developed a reputation for consistency in the middle.

Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM

The moment for Isak to produce for Liverpool

The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they lost to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's side must have a consistent improvement to force their way into the title race from here, as well as a dramatic improvement in form, and opportunity arises as seven of their following ten league games facing sides currently in the bottom half in the standings. The risk is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield on the champions the previous campaign, but it is not only Liverpool's showing against aerial passes and fast breaks that is under scrutiny. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The expensive signing has not featured for his club over four weeks after picking up a groin injury during his second appearance in the lineup in four days in continental competition victory abroad. He reappeared as a substitute during Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but sat out the midweek meaningless match with Slovenia to secure his availability for the World Cup knockout rounds. A booking in that match might have ruled him out. The striker could be short of|lacking|deficient