Premier division: 10 things to keep an eye on this round of fixtures

1. Garnacho and Walker ready for a fresh battle

A Manchester reunion could be in store as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces the Blues' Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The wide man is adapting well with Chelsea after his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his skills against Wolves before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined rapid acceleration and a ideal grounded ball. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside before chipping a ball to the back post. His celebration with Neto, mirroring his previous celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The last time Garnacho encountered Walker? When the Argentine netted for United during their Wembley triumph over Manchester City.

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

Antoine Semenyo vital to stopping Cherries' decline

Antoine Semenyo is getting the full gossip column focus amid a reported £65m escape clause for a prospective mid-season move, the gossip columns preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's average tier. It is understandable for a winger who has six goals and three helpers who is delightful to watch. Still, his team are in an difficult spot, having undergone a body swap: it is the relegation battlers West Ham who arrive on successive wins, whereas Bournemouth have lost seven to one over two games over their past two fixtures after an promising beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss to Aston Villa but facing a defensive unit that hasn't kept a goalless game for months could be the best remedy.

Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday afternoon three o'clock

The striker an outside shout for the Three Lions

It was notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break despite the fact that the Brighton striker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I understand what he can offer me,” stated the England manager. “He could serve as a stand-in for Harry [Kane] as a very conventional striker role.” Gaining the most recent of his 42 caps back in 2018, it's quite plausible that Welbeck might be selected to the World Cup assuming he is able to maintain his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts a greater tally than any other English footballer in England's top division this term with six and remains anxious to increase that total when Brighton entertain Brentford in Saturday's match.

Brighton against Brentford, Saturday three o'clock

4. Sessegnon needed as creator and goalscorer

Sessegnon's story has provided a measure of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The left-sided player, who returned to his boyhood club recently after five tough years at Tottenham, has emerged as a first-team fixture, pushing forward on the left side in the absence of the sidelined Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he remains their joint-top scorer this season together with Harry Wilson. Raúl Jiménez, their primary attacker in the last term, has netted a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for an extended period due to hamstring surgery. Sessegnon must also needing to deliver as a creator instead of Robinson, who provided ten helpers last time round. Fulham's next four games take in three of the top five plus Crystal Palace, who have allowed only nine scores in the league this season. Trouble awaits for the club that have built a name for consistency in the middle.

Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon three o'clock

5. Time for Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool

The dispute surrounding Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's shortcomings during the match as they succumbed to loss number seven in ten matches. The manager's squad require a prolonged upturn to enter the league contest from here, as well as a major upturn in results, and a chance emerges as seven from their upcoming ten top-flight fixtures against sides at the moment in the bottom half in the league. The risk is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to deliver a defeat on their own turf on the champions last season, but it is not only Liverpool's display against aerial passes and quick transitions that will be in focus. It is time that Alexander Isak to show up for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not played in domestic action in a month following a groin problem when making his second start in four days in continental competition win abroad. The striker came back off the bench during Sweden's loss by Switzerland but missed the subsequent dead rubber with Slovenia to secure his readiness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card during the game could have made him ineligible. He might be short of|lacking|deficient