Key Points of the Weekend

Arne Slot under serious pressure at Liverpool

Liverpool's poor form continued over the weekend following their 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest which saw them drop down to 11th in the table and 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.

I asked a few weeks back if Arne Slot was under pressure when the reds were in the early stages of their poor form and with things now arguably worse, I now think Slot is under serious pressure.

Slot does have credit in the bank after leading the reds to the title last season and by some distance.

A lot of people may think that he overperformed last season as no one expected Liverpool to be anywhere near challenging for the title at the beginning of last season. It could also been seen as a fluke as he did win the league with Klopp's team.

It's looking more like a fluke as he's had a transfer window to bring in his own players and some very good ones when you look at the names they signed.

But hardly any of their new signings have made the team better because Florian Writz has struggledf to adapt to the pace of the Premier League, Alexander Isak hasn't been fit after going on strike at Newcastle prior to his move, and both Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have been disappointing.

They did in all fairness lose two key players in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz over the summer and their absences are being felt as they're missing Alexander-Arnold's creativity and Diaz's energy and work rate from the front.

They're not pressing the same way they used and have looked disorganised at the back and whilst the players will take a share of the blame for that, it's the manager who takes the responsibility for it as he's the one who sends the players out there to perform the way he wants to.

If Liverpool's poor form continues over the next few weeks leading up to Christmas, Slot's position could well be questioned.

Is Yeremy Pino Palace's new Eze?

When Eberechi Eze left Palace during the summer, a number of people may have been asking who will replace him as there were very few players in the team on his level.

That player could well be Yeremy Pino following his impressive display against Wolves where he also got his first Palace goal.

His performance got me asking if he is Palace's new Eze?

Well he does have the no.10 shirt which previously belonged to Eze and could suggest that he was signed as an Eze replacement.

He showed against Wolves that he could be their new Eze as he was the player that made them tick on the day with his ability to run into spaces and creates chances for his teammates.

He rounded off his performance with a very well taken goal which was a curling strike into the top corner and he'll definitely looking to add more goals to his game between now and the end of the season.

If he can put in more performances like he did against Wolves and score more goals, he could well be Palace's new Eze.

Could win over City kick start Newcastle's season?

Newcastle's season has been rather frustrating so far as they've struggled for consistency in terms of results.

Their results at home have been genuinely very good but away from home they've struggled as they're yet to win on their travels.

They picked up a morale boosting win over Man City on Saturday which will no doubt give them a lot of confidence as any win against a top side can do that.

Could it be the result that can kick start their season?

Newcastle haven't won back-to-back games all season and one reason for this because of their poor form away from home.

I mentioned earlier that they're yet to win on the road this season and their next game in the league is away from home against Everton, who have been strong at home this season.

I mentioned earlier that their win over City will give them confidence and that is because winning games gives any team confidence and especially against a big side like City.

Any win against a top side can give a team belief that they can beat any team and Newcastle will certainly be feeling that after beating City and playing well to get the win as well.

If they can sort out their away form and kick on from the City win, their season could finally be up and running.

Race for the England no.10 spot hotting up

The no.10 role is one of the positions up for grabs in the England team ahead of the World Cup in the summer and the race for that spot is now very much hotting up following the performances of some of the players who will be looking to claim that spot this summer.

Morgan Gibbs-White, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze are among the names fighting it out for that spot and they all scored for their respective club sides over the weekend.

Rogers is arguably leading the race to start in the no.10 position as he's played in that position in England's recent games and he played well in all of them. He bolstered his claim to start there at the World Cup further on Sunday after netting a double in Villa's win at Leeds.

Eze put himself right in the mix with his hat trick against Spurs on Sunday and his performance on the day will give him a lot of confidence moving forward.

The performances that both Rogers and Eze put in over the weekend will have made them serious contenders to start in the no.10 role at the World Cup.

Bellingham is probably the favourite on paper to start in that role because of the brilliant player he is. But the performances that both Rogers and Eze put in over the weekend will have made them serious contenders to start there and encourage Bellingham to up his game between now and the World Cup.

Gibbs-White was left out of the last England squad and him scoring against Liverpool on Saturday alongside his all-round performance will give him confidence and belief that he can get himself back in that squad and provide further competition.

Phil Foden and Cole Palmer will also be looking to put themselves in the conversation with Foden being the more likely of the two as things stand as he's having a good season for City.

Palmer's latest injury setback has left questions hanging over his chances of making the squad as he's not set to be out for another month. But once he can get himself back fit and playing well for Chelsea, he'll surely be looking to put himself back in the mix.