The opening five rounds of the English Premier League might seem modest in length, but the first table of managerial pressure for the 2026/27 season has firmly identified its frontrunner. Tottenham Hotspur suffered yet another humiliation, remaining the only team in the league without a win, while the long-awaited success of Coventry City, the resurgence of Aston Villa, and Liverpool's breakthrough have significantly shuffled the deck at the bottom of the standings.
Group 20–16: Untouchables
20. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
The Gunners' flawless start in the Premier League was brought to a halt by a painful 0-3 defeat to Brighton. Although this heavy defeat stings, it poses no threat to the position of the reigning champions' boss. Arteta's influence stems from years of systemic trust from the hierarchy rather than the results of a single poor match. Brighton’s victory highlighted purely tactical issues rather than a crisis of confidence.
19. Enzo Maresca (Manchester City)
The Citizens outgunned Sunderland 5-3, maintaining a perfect record of victories. Brian Brobbey's hat-trick exposed defensive vulnerabilities, but with 15 points from 15 available, the Italian remains insulated during this transition period following Pep Guardiola's reign. Any defensive lapses will be the subject of tactical analysis rather than speculation about a sacking.
18. Fabian Huerzeler (Brighton)
The 3-0 demolition of the champions was the weekend's standout surprise, lifting Brighton to 10 points and showcasing their impressive attacking prowess. Huerzeler has earned significant credibility with two consecutive eighth-place finishes, and such a resounding triumph over Arsenal confirms that the club’s ambitious project is rapidly gathering momentum.
17. Keith Andrews (Brentford)
The Bees' 3-0 rout of Chelsea kept their unbeaten status intact and delivered nine points. All three goals came in the second half, turning a fiercely contested match into plain sailing for the hosts. The club's administrative continuity is commendable; the hierarchy at Brentford is renowned for its patience, and Andrews is backing it up with consistent results.
16. David Moyes (Everton)
The Toffees narrowly defeated Ipswich Town 1-0 thanks to a quick goal from Tierno Barry, remaining unbeaten. Moyes is providing Merseysiders with exactly what was sought in his return: discipline, solid defensive play, and a steady accumulation of points. Questions about attacking flair have temporarily subsided.
Group 15–11: Safe for now, but not immune
15. Andoni Iraola (Liverpool)
A late strike from Alexander Isak gave the Reds a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, emphasising Iraola's return against his former team. Liverpool still lacks variety in their positional play, but nine points without loss provides a sturdy foundation. The pressure surrounding this role is constant, yet there’s no immediate threat of dismissal.
14. Matthias Jaissle (Newcastle United)
After a setback against Leeds United, the Magpies rebounded with a hard-fought 2-1 home win over Hull City, who were previously unbeaten. The transition from Eddie Howe’s tenure remains a delicate subject, but eight points from five matches is a respectable haul. Each quick response to setbacks dims critics' voices.
13. Daniel Farke (Leeds United)
The Peacocks drew with Crystal Palace 0-0, extending their unbeaten run to nine points. Farke's authority is bolstered by promotion to the elite and maintaining top-flight status, with current results further solidifying his standing. The only potential threat may come from rising club expectations outpacing the squad's actual potential.
12. Regis Le Bris (Sunderland)
The 3-5 loss at Etihad Stadium showcased both sides of the Black Cats: Brobbey's hat-trick excited fans, but conceding five goals reminded everyone of the challenges faced in balancing Premier League commitments with European campaigns. Le Bris retains enormous backing following last season's seventh-place finish, and this setback won't alter perceptions, provided spirited performances don't spiral into a series of losses.
11. Sergey Yakirovich (Hull City)
The unbeaten run of the newly promoted side came to an end at St. James' Park (1-2), but they fought fiercely and outshot the hosts. Yakirovich has transformed from a top candidate for sacking at the tournament's start into the architect of a squad with eight points. One narrow away defeat does not negate this progress.
Group 10–6: Fragile mid-table
10. Xabi Alonso (Chelsea)
The Blues' second defeat in the current season was a staggering 0-3 setback against Brentford. Chelsea have conceded 12 goals — the worst record among clubs in the upper half of the table. While there’s currently no direct threat of dismissal, the traditional impatience from the club’s hierarchy makes such defeats a concern: a reliable defensive foundation is urgently needed to support their flashy attacking style.
9. Gary O'Neil (Ipswich Town)
A loss at Goodison Park (0-1) and the sending-off of Abdul Fatawu marked their second consecutive defeat following a bright start. Six points for a newcomer is a respectable tally, but the constant pressure of survival battles and shadows of past successes keep the gaffer on edge. As long as the team shows character, he remains outside the immediate danger zone.
8. Oliver Glasner (Nottingham Forest)
After a stunning away win against Aston Villa, a home slip against Coventry City (0-1) saw the opponents bag their first points and score their first goal of the season. Glasner's position is shaky thanks to club owner Evangelos Marinakis's demanding nature. Five points is not catastrophic, but handing wins to struggling sides on home turf is unacceptable.
7. Marco Rose (Bournemouth)
The Cherries lost to Liverpool (0-1) and are still searching for a taste of victory, managing only three points. Rose inherited a ready-made side that was in European contention, and not a disjointed squad in development. This fact makes the absence of wins feel dangerous: with each passing week, a lack of points becomes a tangible justification for perceived decline from the previous manager's era.
6. Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
A disappointing draw with Fulham (1-1), marred by an own goal from Lisandro Martinez, extended United's winless run to three matches. Five points from fifteen is a stark underachievement for last season's bronze medallists. Carrick’s past credentials in January provide some cushion, but emotional outbursts noticed after failures against Hull City and in the derby still linger. The side needs to demonstrate stability soon.
Group 5–1: Zone of mortal danger
5. Pierre Sarr (Crystal Palace)
A goalless draw in Leeds broke a string of losses, but four points keep the club in the relegation zone. Sarr's main issue is the inevitable comparisons with the Glasner era, which left trophies and a refined style. The Frenchman is still searching for an identity for his new side, and one clean match does not alleviate the tension hanging over him.
4. Alvaro Arbeloa (Fulham)
The draw with Manchester United (1-1) brought the Cottagers their second point in encounters with grand sides but Arbeloa remains winless, with just two points to his name. Their ability to fight hard against the favourites is commendable; however, the hierarchy did not replace Marco Silva just for a defensive slog. To justify a risky change in direction, the coaching staff urgently needs victories.
3. Frank Lampard (Coventry City)
A stunning away win in Nottingham (1-0) saved the club from a disastrous start, earning their first points and scoring their debut goal after four losses with a combined score of 0-15. Lampard remains vulnerable, as one local success does not compensate for a nightmarish opening; however, such hard-won victories may recharge the mentality of an outsider and strip them of their previous label as prime candidates for relegation.
2. Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
The Birmingham side clawed back a determined victory over Tottenham (3-2), earning four points in total. This result once again proved Emery's exceptional ability to extract the maximum from high-profile encounters, and his immense authority rules out a hasty sacking. Yet, with a position languishing in 15th and a structural imbalance at the start of the campaign, his stake remains in the high-risk zone.
1. Roberto De Zerbi (Tottenham)
The home loss in a shootout against Aston Villa (2-3) confirmed the bleak reality: Spurs remain the league's sole winless side. Their first goals of the season did not spare them from a third defeat, dropping the London club to the bottom of the table with just two points and a goal difference of minus six. The Italian was brought in for an explosive attacking style after significant investment in transfers. Just five games in, the club finds itself in the worst possible scenario: a flagging performance has morphed into home defeats against direct crisis competitors. In a club accustomed to swift managerial changes, De Zerbi's neck is the most vulnerable as the axe looms.
