The Premier League Sack-o-Meter: Who is in danger with six games gone?

/ Football News / Premier League News The Premier League Sack-o-Meter: Who is in danger with six games gone? Ten games in is the traditional time when clubs examine whether their manager is succeeding. It’s fair to say some aren’t the minute…

We are six games into the new Premier League season and not far from the stage where clubs tend to assess their start.

That can bring heat on to the manager and there are a number of top-flight bosses who will be looking over their shoulders at the minute.

So, who is safe and has no worries and who is nervously needing a few wins? Welcome to the Sack-o-Meter, where we gauge the security of managers in top-flight roles. Remember, the higher the score the greater the danger…

Mikel Arteta – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 2No-one is completely safe in the trigger-happy world of Premier League football but Arteta has arguably the most secure role at the minute. The Spaniard is the longest-serving boss in the top four divisions having been appointed in December 2019. He has been on shaky ground at various points over the past seven years but guiding Arsenal to the title last season solidified his position. He was rewarded with a new, four-year deal just last week.

Unai Emery – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 3Emery has worked wonders at Villa Park and has no fears over his job. That’s not to say he has an easy task on his hands with Villa starting slowly after a summer of upheaval that saw several big-name players, including Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, move on. Emery will be given plenty of time to build a new team and don’t be surprised if Villa are hovering around the Champions League spots again come May.

Marco Rose – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 8Rose had the unenviable job of replacing Andoni Iraola and has struggled to make an impact so far. The Cherries are yet to win in the Premier League and were hammered 5-1 at Chelsea on Saturday having been 2-0 down inside 149 seconds. Performances have not been as bad as the results suggest but there is no doubt this is a big week for Rose with Bournemouth facing Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday night before a crunch clash with fellow strugglers Sunderland on Sunday.

Keith Andrews – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 3Brentford raised eyebrows when they opted for Andrews to replace Tottenham-bound Thomas Frank last summer, yet the Irishman had been groomed for the position for some time. It was yet another wise decision from the savvy West London club. Andrews has arguably made Brentford better and, although they just missed out on European football last season, they appear a good bet to qualify this time after an unbeaten start that sees them sit nicely in fourth place.

Fabian Hurzeler – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 5Brighton have been a very well-run club for many years now. Their ability to sign previously unknown players and polish them into diamonds is well known but they have also managed to replicate that skill with the unearthing of Fabian Hurzeler. Despite having just 18 months of management experience under his belt, Hurzeler joined the Seagulls from St Pauli in June 2024 aged just 31. It has not always been plain sailing and there have been grumblings over the past two years but his position has never looked more secure with Brighton third having won three league games on the trot.

Xabi Alonso – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 6Is anyone ever safe at Chelsea? The big-spending London club burned through both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior last season, prompting the arrival of Xabi Alonso. He has made a mixed start with some of Chelsea’s early performances – most notably the 3-0 hammering at Brentford – suggesting this could be a short-term appointment. But the dismantling of Bournemouth at the weekend has seemingly bought him some time. That display needs to be the norm to dissuade Chelsea’s impatient owners from acting.

COVENTRY Frank Lampard – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 4Lampard has done a fine job in guiding Coventry back to the top flight after a 25-year absence, enhancing his reputation after a couple of underwhelming spells at Everton and Chelsea. The Sky Blues spent heavily in the summer but the early results were not forthcoming. Back-to-back wins over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle have calmed the waters, though, and Lampard is not under any immediate pressure.

Pierre Sage – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 7Sunday’s somewhat fortunate win over Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest lifted some of the pressure on Sage but there is no doubt Palace have lost some of their momentum under the Frenchman. Under Glasner, they were viewed as a team that could beat the best on their day – evidenced by the FA Cup final win over Manchester City – but it could be a season of struggle in South London. Sage will need to produce performances on a consistent basis to remain.

David Moyes – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 4Everton under David Moyes are as solid a Premier League team as you can find. They are not flashy, won’t win any stylistic awards but the veteran Scot deserves credit for improving a team that became accustomed to an annual relegation fight. With the club up for sale, that brings an element of uncertainty and it may be new owners want a more progressive coach. For now, though, Moyes has no worries.

Alvaro Arbeloa – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 9Arbeloa was arguably promoted over his station by getting the Fulham job over the summer. Having Real Madrid on his CV was likely the clincher but his spell at the Santiago Bernabeu was characterised by average displays and a dressing room that lost all self-control. His time at Craven Cottage has shown little to suggest he will be a success in England either. Having lost at Ipswich on Saturday, the pressure is now on. The other two promoted clubs – Hull and Coventry – are next. Failure to win either of them and that will likely be that.

HULL Sergej Jakirović – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 6Jakirovic produced miracles in leading Hull to the top flight despite a modest budget and transfer embargoes. The affable Bosnian has shown plenty of tactical nous in the Tigers’ strong start too, leaning on set-pieces to help his side shock Manchester United on the opening day. In theory, he should hold one of the safest seats in the Premier League but his score is increased by the fact Hull have a volatile owner in Acun Ilicali. If results start to turn, Jakirovic may be a victim.

Gary O’Neil – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 5Ipswich have proved they are willing to stand by a manager even in the event of relegation, not that that eventuality seems likely at the minute with the Tractor Boys enjoying their return to the top table. Three wins from six games has Ipswich in the top half with O’Neil again proving he can cut it at the elite level. That situation may change, of course, and it is unrealistic to expect them not to slide towards the relegation battle as the season progresses. For now, though, O’Neil is on solid ground.

Daniel Farke – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 3Farke has enjoyed a remarkable surge in popularity ever since the well-publicised switch to a back three last November. Having been among the relegation contenders at that point, Leeds have since been transformed into one of the best drilled teams in the Premier League, as shown again in a hard-luck defeat at Arsenal on Saturday. Leeds are a good shout to qualify for Europe this season, cementing Farke’s position at Elland Road.

Andoni Iraola – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 7Liverpool are renown for giving their managers time but there is no doubt Iraola is feeling the pinch a little bit at the minute. He has not been helped by injuries that continue to deprive him of several key players but the Spaniard’s high-tempo approach that worked so well at Bournemouth has yet to be replicated on Merseyside. He has to work out the Florian Wirtz conundrum while new signing Bradley Barcola has yet to shine. Iraola is not in any immediate danger but results, and most importantly, performances need to improve.

MANCHESTER CITY Enzo Maresca – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 2A change in manager is the last thing on the minds of Manchester City’s owners right now. They have much bigger fish to fry. And to be fair, Enzo Maresca has thrived since replacing Pep Guardiola. As we’ve seen at Manchester United and Arsenal, succeeding a legendary boss is a tricky task but the Italian seems very much at home at the Etihad. He has a 100% record midway through October and the manner of the win at Liverpool at the weekend suggests the club is getting it right on the pitch, at least.

Michael Carrick – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 9Carrick is a quiet, unassuming chap, unlikely to ruffle any feathers but, unfortunately for him, his team are mirroring his approach at the minute. United appear tame, lethargic and lacking ideas – not a great combination. Sir Jim Ratcliffe was almost forced into taking Carrick on permanently given the job he did last season but it threatens to backfire. Their next three league games are against Leeds, Bournemouth and Chelsea. It seems a pivotal time for Carrick.

Matthias Jaissle – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 8Jaissle seemed the cheap option to replace Eddie Howe and he has done little to convince the Newcastle fans he is an upgrade. Results have not been terrible but the underlying metrics – and a couple of heavy defeats at Leeds and Coventry – suggest it could be a long winter for Newcastle. Whether Jaissle will be around in the spring remains to be seen.

Oliver Glasner – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 7Glasner has a good CV and did a wonderful job at Crystal Palace. He has not set the world alight on the banks of the Trent as yet but, at most clubs, he would be given plenty of time to work with a good squad. However, Forest is not most clubs and owner Evangelos Marinakis is not a patient man, as we saw last season. Glasner will have walked into this with his eyes open and the Austrian knows he needs results to keep his job.

Regis Le Bris – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 6Le Bris has done a brilliant job at Sunderland, leading the club from the Championship to the Europa League, moulding a new squad and producing some memorable moments. And yet, there is still a feeling the club’s ownership strive for better. Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is not afraid of making big calls and there was speculation around Le Bris’ position after promotion in the summer of 2025. There seems no immediate threat but the Wearsiders have started slowly and if there’s any danger to the club’s top-flight status, Louis-Dreyfus may act.

Roberto De Zerbi – Sack-o-Meter Rating: 7De Zerbi did a good job in dragging Spurs clear of relegation danger last season but their surprisingly slow start this term casts a doubt over his future. Having spent the best part of £300million on new signings, Spurs were expected to go well and, although performances have not been as bad as the results suggest, the hierarchy will expect him to drag the team away from the lower reaches soon or it could get a little dicy for the former Brighton boss.

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