Jordan Henderson returns to Everton after scoring vs Bournemouth

Jordan Henderson, 36, is back on Merseyside this weekend, carrying momentum from a standout recent outing: last Saturday he produced two goals and an assist versus Bournemouth. The preview stresses that his return comes alongside Xabi Alonso and a midfield partnership with Moisés Caicedo, giving balance to an attack that has been thriving through Morgan Rogers, João Pedro and Cole Palmer.

Fulham’s matchday narrative also centres on finishing. Gonzalo García has scored once in the league from 18 shots and is still searching for consistency after joining the club from Real Madrid in the summer. He’s without a goal since debutting against Chelsea, and Fulham host Hull City with the club sitting bottom and winless.

City’s attacking response

Manchester City, despite their 4-2 Champions League loss to PSG on Wednesday after recovering from 3-0 down, still look like an attacking side. The report notes Enzo Maresca’s team keeps playing with pace, even as a guilty verdict over financial breaches hangs over the club.

Newcastle under scrutiny

Newcastle will also be under the microscope after a 4-1 defeat at Coventry on Monday night. Matthias Jaissle insists on high-tempo “vertical football”, but the visit of Aston Villa to St James’ Park is framed as a serious test of whether Newcastle can deliver.

The Guardian highlights Bournemouth vs Sunderland as an early gauge for the grind between international breaks, with both sides separated by seven points after six rounds, plus the expected returns of Justin Kluivert and Brian Brobbey.