04 Sep 2026
English top flight: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Garnacho versus Walker set for a fresh clash
A Mancunian rematch could be in the offing as the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho in Lancashire. The winger is adapting well in west London after his summer move from Old Trafford and demonstrated his abilities in the Wolves match before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto blended blistering pace and a flawless low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto entailed cutting inside before chipping a delivery across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, replicating his earlier celebration with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, served as a testament of the pace with which circumstances change. The most recent instance Garnacho faced Walker? During the former found the net for United in their cup final win over Manchester City.
Burnley versus Chelsea, Saturday afternoon 12:30 PM (kick-offs GMT)
Antoine Semenyo crucial to ending Bournemouth's slump
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire rumour-mill attention due to a claimed £65m escape clause for a potential winter exit, the tabloids preparing him for graduation from the Premier League's middle class. It is to be expected for a wide player who has six goals plus three helpers and remains joyous to watch. However, his side find themselves in an tricky position, having undergone a form flip: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in with back-to-back victories, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven-one over two games over their previous two games following an impressive beginning to the campaign. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez in the four-nil loss by Aston Villa yet facing a backline lacking a clean sheet for months could be the best solution.
Bournemouth vs West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3pm
3. Welbeck a surprise choice for the Three Lions
It seemed notable to listen to Thomas Tuchel reference Danny Welbeck multiple times during the international break despite the fact that the Brighton attacker reaches 35 in the coming days. “Despite not knowing him, I understand what he can provide,” said the England boss. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite conventional centre-forward position.” Earning the final 42 England games in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be selected to the World Cup assuming he is able to maintain his goalscoring exploits. The ex- Manchester United and Arsenal attacker boasts a greater tally over every other English player in England's top division this season with six and is anxious to add to that total as Brighton entertain Brentford this weekend.
Brighton against Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The full-back needed as creator and finisher
Sessegnon's story has offered a degree of warmth to Fulham's bumpy opening. The former Tottenham man, who rejoined his former side recently following five challenging years with Spurs, has become a regular starter, operating on the left in the absence of the injured Antonee Robinson. The concern? With two goals, he's also their joint-top scorer in the Premier League together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their leading man in the last term, has scored a single goal while Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term owing to a hamstring operation. Additionally, Sessegnon being required to contribute in a creative role replacing Robinson, who provided 10 assists last season. The Cottagers' following four matches take in three from the best five plus Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine scores in the Premier League this season. Trouble awaits for a side that have built a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham against Sunderland, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The moment for Isak to perform for Liverpool
The debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's deficiencies during the match as they lost to a seventh defeat in ten matches. The coach's squad require a sustained recovery to muscle into the championship chase from here, along with a dramatic upturn in results, and the possibility presents itself as seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures against teams currently in the bottom half in the league. The risk is obvious from Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a defeat on their own turf to the title holders in the last term, but it is not only Liverpool's performance when facing direct play and counterattacks that will be under the spotlight. Now is the occasion that Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The big-money forward has not featured in domestic action for a month following a muscle issue when making his second appearance in the lineup in four days in the Champions League triumph in Germany. The striker came back off the bench during Sweden's reverse by Switzerland but missed the subsequent inconsequential game with Slovenia to secure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A yellow card in that match would have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient