Chelsea’s win over Bournemouth came with an unwelcome note, as Xabi Alonso confirmed that club captain Reece James has suffered another injury. The defender had been expected to be available after returning to training, but he was left out of the squad just a day later.

James had already missed Chelsea’s defeat to Brentford before the international break, while Thomas Tuchel also left him out of England’s squad because of injury. On Friday, Alonso had sounded encouraged, saying his captain was “ready to go” for the Bournemouth match. That made his absence on Saturday a surprise, but the reason quickly became clear after the final whistle.

Alonso said the problem emerged in training and later showed up during testing.

“He felt something in training,” Alonso said after the match. “But after we did the tests later in the afternoon he had some little issues on the knee, so we need to check how long it will be.”

The new issue was described as a knee injury, and it came during Chelsea’s final session before the game. While there was no formal diagnosis, the earlier problem James had been managing before the international break was understood to be muscular. This latest setback therefore appears to be separate, and that will concern Chelsea given the short time span involved.

Alonso declined to set a return date and instead said that “we need to assess him week by week.” A trip to Everton is Chelsea’s next league assignment, and a return there is possible in the best-case scenario. Even so, the club may choose caution because of James’s injury history and the importance of avoiding another setback.

That could mean Chelsea hold him back for longer, with a home London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Oct. 24 mentioned as another possible target. James has started the season almost exclusively as a central midfielder under Alonso, adding further weight to the decision over when he returns.

After an international break that was longer than most, the Premier League resumes with a slate of fixtures that should quickly restore the league to centre stage. Gameweek 6 brings heavyweight meetings, difficult home tests and plenty of pressure on sides already searching for rhythm.

Arsenal’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion before the break ended a remarkable run and raised the question of how they would react. Five months had passed since their previous league loss, but the 3-0 reverse on the south coast was a severe setback. Leeds United now arrive at the Emirates Stadium unbeaten and sitting fifth, only three points behind the Gunners, while history still strongly favours Arsenal, who have won their last eight meetings with Leeds in all competitions.

Chelsea also need a response after being beaten 3-0 by Brentford. That result was their third consecutive league match without a win and the third time they have conceded three goals in a game this season. Bournemouth’s visit offers little comfort, especially with Chelsea waiting on late checks for João Pedro, Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo and Reece James. Marco Rose’s side may be winless, but they have taken points from Chelsea in four of the last six meetings.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur meet under clear pressure. United have managed only five points from a manageable run, with defeats to Hull City and 10-man Manchester City damaging the mood. Tottenham, meanwhile, sit bottom after two goalless draws and three defeats, and Roberto De Zerbi’s side arrive with their costly new arrivals yet to settle. The stakes are obvious for both clubs.

The weekend’s headline fixture comes at Liverpool, where Manchester City play for the first time since being found guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. After a three-year investigation, the verdict has inevitably shifted attention onto Enzo Maresca and his players, even if they had no part in the issue. City have won all five league games under Maresca, but this is a different test entirely.

Liverpool have every reason to make the occasion felt. They have twice been runners-up to City title teams since 2009 and remain one of the most persistent challengers of the last decade. With the atmosphere set to be intense, this could become one of the defining matches of the round.

Alex Scott’s future is still open to question, with Bournemouth expecting strong transfer attention to continue around the midfielder. Chelsea are said to be in the strongest position at present, while Arsenal and Liverpool remain part of the picture.

Scott underlined his qualities with a standout full debut for England in the 7-0 win over Croatia, showing the combination of athleticism, tenacity and grace that has made him such an attractive target. Chelsea’s interest is not new. They made more than one bid for him in the most recent transfer window, but Bournemouth rejected every offer. Those proposals were reportedly above $79 million (£60 million).

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea plan to revisit the pursuit over the next year and are currently leading the race. Bournemouth are understood to have ruled out a winter move, although Chelsea are prepared to wait until next summer, when Scott would have only one year left on his contract.

Arsenal are also among the clubs linked, and the appeal is obvious. The chance to join the Premier League champions would be significant, but regular playing time would not be guaranteed. Arsenal already have a strong midfield group, with Declan Rice the main figure and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard, Martín Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz all in the mix. The situation became even more competitive with the arrival of Bruno Guimarães.

That leaves Scott with a clear footballing choice to make if interest turns into a formal move. Arsenal would be an impressive destination, but the squad balance suggests he would face serious competition for minutes. Arsenal also have other areas needing attention, particularly on the left wing and at center forward, which makes Scott a valuable but not essential target.