English top flight: ten key points to watch for this weekend

Garnacho versus Walker poised for another battle

A Mancunian rematch might be on the cards as the Clarets' Kyle Walker lines up against the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger has started to settle at Stamford Bridge following his close-season transfer from Manchester United and demonstrated his abilities in the Wolves match before the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace with a perfect low cross. His contribution for Malo Gusto required moving onto his right prior to lofting a cross to the back post. His joyous moment with Neto, mirroring his prior hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, was a testament of how quickly situations evolve. The most recent instance Garnacho took on Walker? When the former found the net for United during their cup final win over Manchester City.

Burnley vs Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (start times GMT)

The winger vital to ending Cherries' decline

Antoine Semenyo is getting the complete rumour-mill focus due to a alleged £65m buyout clause for a prospective mid-season move, the media positioning him for graduation from the Premier League's middle class. It is understandable for a wide player with six goals plus three assists who is pleasurable to watch. Nonetheless, Bournemouth find themselves in an difficult spot, having undergone a form flip: now it's the bottom-half team West Ham who come in with successive wins, whereas Bournemouth are down 7-1 combined in their past two games following an promising start to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the spot by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa however facing a backline that hasn't kept a shutout since August might be the best remedy.

Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday three o'clock

Danny Welbeck a surprise option for the Three Lions

It was interesting to hear Thomas Tuchel name-drop Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion during the fixture pause despite the fact that the Brighton striker turns 35 in the coming days. “Despite not having met him, I know what he could offer me,” commented the England coach. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] as a very traditional centre-forward role.” Having won the last of his 42 caps in 2018, it's entirely possible that Welbeck might be selected for the World Cup provided he manages to maintain his goal-getting feats. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal striker can claim additional strikes compared to any English footballer in the Premier League this season on six and will be keen to boost that tally as Brighton host Brentford this weekend.

Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock

Ryan Sessegnon crucial as creator and goalscorer

Sessegnon's story has brought a measure of positivity to Fulham's uneven beginning. The 25-year-old, who came back to his former side last year following five tough years in north London, is now a first-team fixture, operating on the left flank with the injured Antonee Robinson. The issue? On two goals, he is their joint-top scorer this season alongside Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their leading man last season, has bagged once while Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period because of hamstring surgery. Sessegnon is also having to step up in a creative role replacing Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. The Cottagers' next four games take in three of the best five and Crystal Palace, who have let in just nine goals in the league this season. A threat emerges for the club that have developed a name for mid-table stability.

Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock

The occasion for Isak to deliver for the Reds

The controversy regarding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal versus Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The coach's squad require a sustained recovery to enter the championship chase from this position, along with a major upturn in results, and the possibility emerges as seven of their upcoming ten league games facing sides currently in the lower half in the league. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the single club to hand a home league defeat to the title holders the previous campaign, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's showing against direct play and fast breaks that is under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. The £125m striker has been absent for his club in a month having sustained a groin problem when making his second consecutive start over a short period in continental competition win abroad. The striker came back as a substitute in the Swedish loss to Switzerland but was rested Tuesday's dead rubber against Slovenia to guarantee his fitness for the World Cup knockout rounds. A yellow card on Tuesday could have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient