5 things we learned: Liverpool are title contenders, City get last minute winner

Crystal Palace and West Ham: a tale of one relegation-bound city

London’s two less popular teams are sharing more than the great metropolis as their home. It looks like their shared destiny this season is to wallow in relegation zone misery. Palace have failed to score a goal in three games, and look to battle Brighton in the race to the bottom. It’s not entirely surprising to see Palace in this position, as they haven’t added any significant pieces and look unsettled under new coach Frank de Boer.

However, it’s very surprising to see West Ham in this position. The Hammers board has invested significantly during the summer transfer window, supplanting talent at virtually every position — from England keeper Joe Hart, to foreign scoring talent with a proven track record of success in the Premier League such as Chicharito Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic.

The 3-0 lost to newly-promoted Newcastle turned Slaven Bilic’s seat from lukewarm to hot. After spending the early part of last season on the hot seat, the Croatian manager is the early-season favorite for the first manager to get sacked. By all accounts West Ham have the talent to be a mid-table force to be reckoned with in the Premier League. Unless the Hammers turn the tide following the international break, look for the board to shake things up. Their next game is at home against Huddersfield. It’s safe to say only a win will serve to cool off Bilic’s seat.

Speaking of managers on the hot seat …