English top flight: 10 things to look out for this round of fixtures

Walker faces Garnacho poised for another encounter

A Mancunian rematch might be in store when the Clarets' Kyle Walker confronts the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The attacker has started to settle at Stamford Bridge after his close-season transfer from Old Trafford and displayed his skills against Wolves prior to the national team interval. His assist for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration and a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto involved shifting infield before dinking a delivery across the goalmouth. His celebration with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a reminder of the speed at which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the former found the net for United in their cup final win over Manchester City.

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

2. Semenyo key to stopping Cherries' slump

Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full gossip column attention amid a claimed £65m release clause for his prospective winter exit, the tabloids positioning him for graduation out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is to be expected for a attacker who has six goals plus three setups who is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an difficult spot, having undergone a form flip: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who enter with consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth are down 7-1 on aggregate over their previous two games after an promising start to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss by Aston Villa but confronting a defence that hasn't kept a clean sheet for months might be the perfect solution.

Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM

The striker an outside option for England

It seemed notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the international break although the Brighton striker turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even knowing him, I know what he can provide,” said the England boss. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] playing a quite orthodox No 9 position.” Earning the most recent of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be in the squad to the World Cup provided he can sustain his goal-getting exploits. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim additional strikes over every other English performer in the Premier League this season with six and remains anxious to add to that count as Brighton host Brentford on Saturday.

Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday three o'clock

4. Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and scorer

The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a degree of warmth to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The left-sided player, who came back to his former side last year following five tough years in north London, is now a regular starter, operating on the left due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? Having scored twice, he remains their joint-top scorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer the previous campaign, has scored one goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of hamstring surgery. Additionally, Sessegnon having to step up in a creative role in place of Robinson, who provided ten helpers in the previous campaign. Fulham's following four games include three from the leading five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine scores in the Premier League this season. A threat emerges for a team that have earned a reputation for consistency in the middle.

Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday 3:00 PM

The occasion for Isak to produce for the Reds

The controversy about Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they lost to loss number seven over ten fixtures. The coach's side require a consistent improvement to force their way into the league contest from here, along with a significant boost in performance, and opportunity arises with seven from their next 10 league games facing clubs presently in the bottom ten in the league. The danger is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield to the title holders in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's showing when facing direct play and quick transitions that will be under the spotlight. It is time for Alexander Isak to perform wearing red. The big-money forward has not played for his club in a month having sustained a muscle issue while his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in continental competition victory in Germany. He reappeared off the bench in Sweden's defeat to Switzerland but was rested the midweek dead rubber with Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card during the game might have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient