EPL Round Up: Palmer continues to deliver, Is Slot in the title race?

Is Arne Slot prepared to rival Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola for the Premier League title this season? (Photo credit: GOAL) After Bournemou...

Is Arne Slot prepared to rival Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola for the Premier League title this season? (Photo credit: GOAL)

After Bournemouth clinically defeated Southampton on Monday night, it's important to look at a few talking points from the recently concluded weekend. Here you go!

The hidden truth remains that Palmer is ice cold.

At what point do we begin to question whoever authorised the sale of Cole Palmer at Manchester City? Could the same person be responsible for Jeremy Doku's acquisition? Well, they made a bloody mistake, and Palmer proves that to them every game week.

The England playmaker scored four goals in the first half against an adventurous Brighton side on Saturday; he was the leading light in a gloomy Chelsea team last season, and he has picked up from where he left off already. Is he vying for the golden boot?

Is Ipswich an exception to the rule?

Let’s forget about the three teams that came up last season; they gave us nothing to talk about, but, with Southampton looking like a relegation candidate, can we begin to pin a survival hope on Ipswich?

The Tractor Boys played out a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, a team many expected to tear them apart, and they could have gone on to win it as they pelted the Villa defence relentlessly in the closing stages. It looks like we’d be seeing Ed Sheeran around for longer.

Deadly kicks and referees’ consistency

The new rule book describes Arsenal's two-time reduction to ten men as a "deliberate attempt to delay the restart," but can referees apply this rule consistently?

We can understand why players are sent off for rash tackles and deliberate attempts to deny a goal scoring opportunity, but why are they sent off for simply tapping the ball away? If this continues, we should see at least one red card a game for this offence, or does it only apply to Arsenal?

Is Rodri the reason City won’t win the title?

Forget the reverse psychology that Pep Guardiola has been talking about in the media; he knows the importance of Rodri to the Manchester City team, and his prolonged absence will hurt the champions.

The Cityzens dropped points at Newcastle and must now find ways to cope without the big Spaniard, who could be out until next season. Matteo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, and the returning Ilkay Gundogan are the guys to come in; will they be able to do the “Rodri job?”

Is the slot machine ready to compete?

As things stand, no one is tipping Liverpool to win the title, but Arne Slot is quietly going about his business; he currently tops the standings and could be the shocker of the season with what he is building.

Liverpool's squad is thin, especially in midfield; expect the Kops to be busy in the winter window; they will most likely bring in bodies to shore things up; if they continue to plug away, the 20th title could just be around the corner.