Premier League: ten key points to watch for this matchday

1. Garnacho and Walker set for a fresh battle

A Manchester reunion might be in the offing as Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is adapting well at Stamford Bridge following his off-season signing from Manchester United and demonstrated his talents versus Wolverhampton prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended rapid acceleration with a flawless grounded ball. His contribution for Malo Gusto required shifting infield before chipping a cross to the back post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his previous embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the speed at which things transform. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? When the youngster netted for United in their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.

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

2. Semenyo vital to stopping Cherries' slump

Antoine Semenyo is getting the full rumour-mill focus due to a claimed £65m buyout clause for a possible mid-season move, the media setting him up for advancement from the Premier League's average tier. That is to be expected from a winger who has a half-dozen strikes and three helpers who is joyous to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth occupy an difficult position, having engaged in a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive on consecutive triumphs, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven-one over two games over their previous two matches following an strong beginning to the season. Semenyo saw his attempt stopped from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa yet taking on a defensive unit lacking a shutout since August might be the best solution.

Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock

The striker a surprise shout for the national team

It seemed interesting to listen to Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck multiple times during the fixture pause although the Brighton forward celebrates 35 next week. “Even without being familiar with him, I understand what he is able to give me,” said the England coach. “He might act as a back-up for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional No 9 role.” Having won the most recent of his 42 caps several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be on the plane to the World Cup assuming he manages to sustain his goal-getting feats. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes over every other English performer in the top flight this campaign having six and remains anxious to increase that total when Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.

Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday 3:00 PM

The full-back needed as playmaker and finisher

The Ryan Sessegnon tale has offered a degree of warmth to Fulham's inconsistent start. The former Tottenham man, who came back to his former side last year following five difficult years with Spurs, has become a first-team fixture, operating on the left flank with the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The concern? On two goals, he is their leading marksman this season alongside Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man in the last term, has netted a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is unavailable until 2026 because of a hamstring operation. Sessegnon must also being required to contribute in a creative role in place of Robinson, who supplied ten setups in the previous campaign. The Cottagers' upcoming four matches take in three from the leading five and Crystal Palace, who have conceded merely nine scores in the league so far. A threat emerges for a side that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.

Fulham vs Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3pm

The occasion for Alexander Isak to produce for Liverpool

The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City failed to mask Liverpool's shortcomings in that game as they fell to a seventh defeat over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's team require a sustained recovery to enter the championship chase from this position, along with a dramatic boost in performance, and opportunity emerges with seven of their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures facing sides currently in the lower half of the table. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the only team to hand a home league defeat to Liverpool last season, but it is not only Liverpool's performance against direct play and quick transitions that will be in focus. The moment has come for Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The expensive signing has been absent in domestic action over four weeks following a muscle issue during his second start over a short period in continental competition win at Eintracht Frankfurt. Isak returned off the bench in Sweden's defeat against Switzerland but sat out Tuesday's meaningless match with Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for the upcoming World Cup playoffs. A caution in that match would have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient