The Premier League Sack Race: Who’s Safe and Who’s Sweating (20–11)

The Premier League carousel has started clunking into motion again and, as ever, a couple of bad weeks can turn a dugout into a blast furnace. Ruben Amorim’s first year at Manchester United already has a few scorch marks, while Arne Slot’s title-winning bow at Liverpool has the red half of Merseyside humming. In this results business, sentiment counts for nothing; points, performances and boardroom patience are the only currencies that matter. If you fancy a flutter on the sack race, make sure you know your way around the best betting sites before you dive in.

How we’ve judged it

Form trends, injury context, recruitment, board temperament and the ever-blinding spotlight all factor into these calls. Here’s the rundown from 20 (least likely to be binned) to 11 (creeping into the conversation).

20) Mikel Arteta — Arsenal

Second again last term and a Champions League semi-final to boot, yet no cigar. Injuries to Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz blunted the Gunners at key moments, but Declan Rice looked every inch a future captain. They’ve had to watch others lift trophies, which stings, but the football has been convincing and the start to this campaign has soothed nerves. Arteta’s seat? Secure as they come.

19) Pep Guardiola — Manchester City

City endured a wobble for the ages after Rodri’s ACL blow and finally ceded their crown. There were whispers Pep might walk, but he inked fresh terms through 2027 and the Etihad reset has been emphatic: new sporting director Hugo Viana, plus Tijani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Aït-Nouri in the door as Kevin De Bruyne bids farewell. When a great gets a new toy box, you don’t talk sackings — you brace for a response.

18) Unai Emery — Aston Villa

Villa’s stride faltered when Champions League nights clogged the diary, and missing the top five on the final day hurt. But Emery’s turned Villa Park into a bear pit again, with Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and Evan Guessand giving them thrust. Monchi’s exit put Emery firmly at the wheel and a statement 2-1 over Arsenal reminded everyone: Villa are not just pesky — they’re relevant. No sack talk here.

17) Régis Le Bris — Sunderland

The Black Cats rolled the dice on a coach untested in England and came up trumps with promotion via Wembley. Le Bris has been brave and adaptable, leaning on kids like Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham while handing the armband to Granit Xhaka — a shrewd stabiliser. Early-season form’s been lively, and a derby win over Newcastle buys gallons of goodwill. Safe as houses for now.

16) Oliver Glasner — Crystal Palace

From Selhurst stress to FA Cup glory: Glasner’s flipped the script. He even called out Pep’s system after a 5-2 lesson and then marched his Eagles to Wembley vindication. Doing it without Eberechi Eze for stretches makes it even more impressive. A 19-game unbeaten run, a win over Liverpool, and only a blip at Everton to halt the streak — this is a project with legs, not a pink slip.

15) Enzo Maresca — Chelsea

At Chelsea, the manager’s office comes with a revolving door as standard. Yet Maresca banked the Conference League and then delivered the Club World Cup, beating PSG in the final for good measure. The football’s coherent, but we’ve seen this movie before: recruitment debates and trigger-happy owners can undo anyone. He deserves backing; whether he gets it is another matter. Warm, not hot.

14) Keith Andrews — Brentford

Following Thomas Frank is a bit like following Freddie Mercury at Live Aid — good luck. Andrews has stepped up from set-piece guru to main man and, despite losing Bryan Mbeumo to United and Christian Nørgaard to Arsenal, he’s landed signature scalps over Liverpool, United and Newcastle. Early returns suggest Brentford chose continuity wisely. Not under threat unless the form nosedives.

13) Andoni Iraola — Bournemouth

Remember the outrage when Gary O’Neil was binned? Two seasons on, Iraola looks a coup. He’s taken Bournemouth into the top half, thumped United 3-0 at Old Trafford and did the double over runners-up Arsenal. Even after selling Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Ilya Zabarnyi, the Cherries are purring — with Antoine Semenyo leading the charge. If anything, the risk is someone else nicks him.

12) David Moyes — Everton

Back on blue soil and back to basics. Moyes steadied a listing Everton after a 10-point deduction left them staring into the abyss. With the Friedkin Group in charge and a 13th-place finish banked, optimism’s back. James Tarkowski’s talking Europe and a loan for Jack Grealish adds stardust. The Goodison groans have quietened — for now — and Moyes has credit in the bank.

11) Fabian Hürzeler — Brighton

The youngest permanent boss in Premier League history — 31 and change — and already an eighth-place finish to show. A 7-0 shellacking by Forest would have rattled sturdier souls, but Hürzeler parked it and pushed on. The next step is a cup run to match Palace’s recent high, but that may demand a touch more street-smarts. A keeper, not a candidate for the sack.

The verdict so far

This half of the table feels broadly secure, from serial winners to smart project builders. But the Premier League eats certainty for breakfast. A couple of dodgy weeks and even the safest seats start to squeak. The real jeopardy begins as we move toward the top ten of the sack race — where patience runs thin and the shadows of successors grow longer.