Premier division: ten key points to watch for this matchday

Walker faces Garnacho ready for a fresh encounter

Another northwest showdown may be in the offing when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho on Burnley's turf. The winger has started to settle at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Manchester United and demonstrated his talents in the Wolves match before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration and a flawless grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto required shifting infield prior to dinking a cross toward the far post. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a indication of the pace with which things transform. The last time Garnacho took on Walker? During the youngster scored for United during their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.

Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (start times GMT)

2. Semenyo key to stopping Cherries' slump

Antoine Semenyo is receiving the full gossip column attention following a claimed £65m release clause for a potential winter exit, the gossip columns positioning him for graduation out of the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected for a attacker who has a half-dozen strikes plus three helpers who is delightful to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an tricky situation, having undergone a body swap: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who enter with back-to-back victories, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one over two games over their last two games after an promising start to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez during the four-nil loss by Aston Villa but facing a backline without a clean sheet for months could be the ideal tonic.

Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM

The striker an outside shout for England

It proved notable to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck multiple times throughout the fixture pause although the Brighton forward reaches 35 soon. “Without even being familiar with him, I know what he can offer me,” said the England coach. “He might act as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a quite traditional No 9 role.” Earning the most recent of his 42 England games several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck could be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he can sustain his goalscoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal forward can claim a greater tally over every other English performer in England's top division this term having six and remains keen to increase that total as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.

Brighton vs Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3pm

The full-back needed as playmaker and finisher

The Ryan Sessegnon tale has brought a degree of positivity to Fulham's uneven beginning. The 25-year-old, who rejoined his youth team recently following five challenging years in north London, has emerged as a regular starter, driving down the left side with the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he's also their leading marksman in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their top scorer last season, has netted once while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. Fulham's following four fixtures feature three among the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have conceded only nine goals in the Premier League so far. Danger looms for the club that have developed a name for mid-table stability.

Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm

The occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for the Reds

The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort in the match with Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they succumbed to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. The manager's squad require a consistent improvement to force their way into the title race from this position, along with a dramatic improvement in form, and a chance emerges as seven out of their next 10 league games facing clubs at the moment in the bottom ten of the table. The threat is clear from Nottingham Forest, the only team to deliver a loss at Anfield to Liverpool in the last term, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus long balls and counterattacks that is in focus. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to perform in a Liverpool shirt. The £125m striker has been absent at club level over four weeks having sustained a muscle issue when making his second consecutive start in four days in the Champions League victory in Germany. He reappeared as a substitute in Sweden's loss against Switzerland but was rested the midweek dead rubber against Slovenia to ensure his readiness for next year's World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card during the game could have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient