Premier division: ten key points to keep an eye on this weekend

1. Garnacho and Walker set for a new clash

Another northwest showdown might be in the offing when the Clarets' Kyle Walker faces Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The wide man has started to settle in west London after his close-season transfer from the Red Devils and demonstrated his abilities against Wolves prior to the fixture pause. His key pass for Pedro Neto mixed rapid acceleration with a perfect along-the-deck delivery. His creation for Malo Gusto required cutting inside before chipping a delivery to the back post. His celebration with Neto, echoing his prior embrace with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a indication of how quickly situations evolve. The previous occasion Garnacho took on Walker? When the Argentine netted for United during their Wembley triumph against Manchester City.

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

Antoine Semenyo crucial to stopping Cherries' slide

Antoine Semenyo is attracting the full rumour-mill attention following a alleged £65m escape clause for a prospective winter exit, the gossip columns setting him up for promotion out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. It is to be expected for a winger with six finishes and three helpers and remains pleasurable to watch. Still, his team find themselves in an difficult situation, having undergone a form flip: it is the bottom-half team West Ham who arrive with successive wins, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one over two games over their previous two games after an promising beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied from the penalty spot by Emi Martínez during the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa but facing a defence without a clean sheet since August could be the perfect solution.

Bournemouth against West Ham, Saturday 3:00 PM

3. Welbeck a surprise choice for the national team

It seemed intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck on more than one occasion throughout the international break despite the fact that the Brighton forward reaches 35 soon. “Despite not having met him, I understand what he is able to provide,” commented the England boss. “He could serve as a reserve for Harry [Kane] playing a quite traditional centre-forward position.” Having won the last of his 42 caps several years ago, it's entirely possible that Welbeck may be on the plane to the World Cup if he can continue his goalscoring exploits. Once of Manchester United and Arsenal striker boasts additional strikes over every other English footballer in the Premier League this campaign having six and will be keen to increase that tally when Brighton welcome Brentford on Saturday.

Brighton against Brentford, Saturday 3pm

Ryan Sessegnon crucial as playmaker and finisher

The narrative around Ryan Sessegnon has provided a degree of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent start. The 25-year-old, who came back to his boyhood club recently following five tough years at Tottenham, has emerged as a regular starter, driving down the left side due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The worry? Having scored twice, he's also their leading marksman this season as well as Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their top scorer in the last term, has bagged once whereas Rodrigo Muniz is out for the long term owing to a hamstring operation. Sessegnon is also having to step up as an assist provider instead of Robinson, who supplied ten setups last time round. Fulham's upcoming four fixtures take in three among the leading five as well as Crystal Palace, who have let in only nine scores this season so far. Trouble awaits for a side that have earned a name for solidity in the central positions.

Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock

The occasion for Alexander Isak to perform for the Reds

The controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk's chalked-off effort versus Manchester City could not hide Liverpool's deficiencies on the day as they succumbed to a seventh defeat in 10 games. The manager's squad require a prolonged upturn to enter the title race from this position, plus a significant upturn in results, and opportunity arises with seven from their following ten top-flight fixtures against clubs at the moment in the lower half in the standings. The danger is obvious posed by Nottingham Forest, the sole side to hand a home league defeat on the champions last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display against direct play and quick transitions that remains under the spotlight. The moment has come that Alexander Isak to perform for Liverpool. The £125m striker has been absent in domestic action for a month after picking up a groin problem while his second start in quick succession in Europe victory in Germany. He reappeared as a substitute during Sweden's reverse to Switzerland but missed the subsequent meaningless match with Slovenia to ensure his fitness for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. A caution on Tuesday could have ruled him out. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient