Premier League Talking Points: Liverpool Extend Lead, Arsenal Struggles As Palace Set Records

‎Liverpool opened up a five-point Premier League lead after a thrilling weekend of action that saw them edge Everton in the Merseyside derby, while Arsenal and Manchester City shared the spoils in a tense 1-1 draw.

‎Elsewhere, Crystal Palace extended their remarkable unbeaten run, leaving plenty of storylines for fans to digest.

‎Arsenal Still the Nearly Men

‎Gabriel Martinelli’s stunning stoppage-time strike spared Arsenal from suffering a second defeat in their opening five league games.

‎However, the Gunners’ inability to put away a fatigued Manchester City side once again raised questions about their title credentials.

‎After finishing second in each of the last three campaigns, Mikel Arteta’s men spent heavily over the summer to add depth across the squad. Yet, their transfer strategy came at a cost.

‎By spreading their budget across multiple positions, Arsenal missed out on competing with Liverpool for Alexander Isak a decision that could haunt them.

‎City reminded Arsenal of the power of elite strikers. Erling Haaland bulldozed through Arsenal’s defense to score his 13th goal of the season in just eight appearances across club and country.

‎Meanwhile, Viktor Gyökeres once again struggled to impose himself in a big fixture, continuing a pattern seen against Manchester United and Liverpool earlier in the month.

‎With Liverpool already five points ahead, Arsenal face a daunting trip to Newcastle next weekend where they lost twice last season. Another slip could see their title hopes fade before autumn has even settled in.

‎Ekitike Proves Liverpool’s Firepower

‎While Arsenal searches for answers up front, Liverpool appears to have solved their striker problem. Arne Slot has the luxury of rotating between two high-class number nines: Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

‎Isak, who signed for a British transfer record, made his debut in midweek against Atletico Madrid. But it has been Ekitike, the £69 million arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt, who has carried the early-season burden.

‎The Frenchman has started all five Premier League games, scoring three goals including a composed finish in the 2-1 win over Everton.

‎”Like any other team in this league, every team has two number nines,” said Slot.

‎”We have two numbers nines of excellent quality.”

‎Ekitike’s early form has been crucial with Isak still regaining fitness and £100 million midfielder Florian Wirtz yet to live up to expectations.

‎Despite not yet hitting their peak, Liverpool keep winning, and their ability to grind out results while integrating new signings shows why they already look like the team to beat in this year’s title race.

‎Crystal Palace’s Record-Breaking Run

‎Beyond the traditional title contenders, Crystal Palace continue to defy expectations. The Eagles’ 2-1 win over West Ham stretched their unbeaten streak to 17 games across all competitions a new club record.

‎This remarkable run includes victories over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, two gritty battles with Liverpool, and tough trips to Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Aston Villa.

‎”This is the result of our good results, not just for two weeks, but really for months now,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

‎”The players believe in what we are doing. Football is a game of momentum.”

‎Palace face their toughest test yet when they host Liverpool next weekend.

‎Shortly after, their first-ever European campaign begins, with the Eagles among the favorites to win the UEFA Conference League following their demotion from the Europa League for breaching multi-club ownership rules.

‎But the added pressure of midweek fixtures could stretch their relatively thin squad. How Glasner manages his resources will determine whether Palace can balance European glory with a push for a top-six Premier League finish.