The seventh round of the Premier League has shaken things up on the managerial front. Several managers, who had yet to taste victory this season, finally secured crucial points, shifting the focus of criticism onto others. The weekend's main casualty was Michael Carrick: a draw with Leeds United (1-1), whilst rivals celebrated wins, propelled him to the top of the list of managers facing the greatest threat of dismissal.
Here’s the current power dynamic among all the league's bosses—from those whose departure seems most likely to the untouchable leaders.
In the danger zone: chairs wobbling
1. Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
The winless streak for the Manchester side has now stretched to five matches in the league, leaving them languishing in 13th place, a far cry from last season's bronze finish. Amidst the successes of bottom-table teams, talk of a "new start" is losing its appeal to the hierarchy.
2. Matthias Jaissle (Newcastle United)
The latest drab defeat to Aston Villa drew boos from the St James' Park crowd. Trust in the project following Eddie Howe's departure is dwindling fast.
3. Oliver Glasner (Nottingham Forest)
Three consecutive losses and a catastrophic scoring record—just five goals in seven matches—means defensive organisation is becoming less of a valid argument in the absence of results.
4. Alvaro Arbeloa (Fulham)
A victory over Hull eased the pressure a bit and helped him slip down the risk ranking, but sitting in 18th still leaves no room for error.
5. Regis Le Bri (Sunderland)
A fourth straight defeat has sent the team to the bottom of the table. Previous achievements are protecting the boss for now, but the patience of the hierarchy is wearing thin.
Fragile middle: one step away from crisis
6. Pierre Sage (Crystal Palace)
An embarrassing 5-0 demolition in the derby against Brighton has rekindled doubts about his ability to manage the team in high-pressure matches.
7. Marco Rose (Bournemouth)
A confident win over Sunderland (2-0) relieved some tension after a thrashing at Chelsea and temporarily restored the crowd's faith.
8. Roberto De Zerbi (Tottenham)
A victory against Coventry (3-1) and the return of Maddison and Kulusevski has given the Italian much-needed oxygen, lifting the team to 16th place.
9. Frank Lampard (Coventry City)
A loss to Spurs ended a winning run, but the squad appears competitive and still has a fighting chance for stability in the top tier.
Relatively safe: working stability
10. Gary O'Neil (Ipswich Town)
A commendable performance against Manchester City proved the team's fighting spirit, although conceding 15 goals raises questions about their defensive reliability.
11. Sergey Yakirovich (Hull City)
The worst display of the season against Fulham has clouded an otherwise positive start, but nine points still provide a comfortable safety net.
12. Daniel Farke (Leeds United)
The draw with Manchester United showed that the Peacocks know how to cling to results. Just one loss in seven matches keeps the manager's position secure.
13. Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
A thrashing of Fenerbahce and a crucial away win against Newcastle marked a big leap forward, returning the Birmingham club to a comfortable mid-table position.
14. Xabi Alonso (Chelsea)
A first clean sheet in nine months and back-to-back victories have significantly cooled discussion around defensive issues among the Blues.
15. David Moyes (Everton)
The first loss of the season ended an unbeaten streak, but the solid foundation established by the Scot reassures the hierarchy.
Untouchables: ironclad positions
16. Kit Andrews (Brentford)
The defeat to Liverpool only occurred due to two red cards, so the trust in the Bees' boss remains consistently high.
17. Andoni Iraola (Liverpool)
A gritty away win and a strong showing in European competition have showcased the team's ability to bounce back from setbacks.
18. Fabian Huerzeler (Brighton)
The 5-0 rout of Palace has solidified the Seagulls' third-place standing with the best goal difference in the league (+18).
19. Enzo Maresca (Manchester City)
A historic record—seven wins from the first seven matches at the helm of the club and a clean lead at the top of the table.
20. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
Six wins in seven matches, minimal deficit from the leaders, and a well-structured system make the Spaniard’s position absolutely rock-solid.
