Premier League Sack Race: Who’s Sleeping Easy and Who’s Already Sweating?

Another Premier League season, another spin on the managerial merry-go-round. We all know how it goes: one bad month and the whispers begin, another and the vultures circle. The margin for error is razor-thin in this league, and even the biggest names aren’t totally immune. With the spotlight glaring and boardrooms twitchy, here’s my ranking from 20 to 11 of who’s safest — and who should be checking over their shoulder.

For those looking at odds and narratives as closely as the league table, have a browse of the latest markets via the top best betting sites — but here’s the pundit view first.

Ranking factors

Form and injuries, boardroom patience, transfer backing, fan sentiment and — crucially — whether results match the resources. Put simply: are you overachieving, par for the course, or running out of excuses?

20) Arne Slot, Liverpool (last season: 1st)

Safe as houses. Slot rode into Anfield and promptly delivered the 20th league title with four games to spare, then doubled down by starting this campaign with five wins from five. The recruitment has been ruthless and ambitious — Alexander Isak for a Premier League record fee, plus Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. The vibe? Klopp-era devotion with a fresh coat of paint. Barring catastrophe, Slot isn’t going anywhere.

19) Pep Guardiola, Manchester City (last season: 3rd)

It would have taken something seismic to shake Pep’s throne, and even a Rodri ACL nightmare and a faltering title defence didn’t do it. He’s penned an extension through 2027, Kevin De Bruyne has bid farewell, and there’s a new sporting director in Hugo Viana steering a refresh with Tijani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Aït-Nouri. City are transitioning, but Pep remains the project. Sack talk? Behave.

18) Mikel Arteta, Arsenal (last season: 2nd)

Not under threat today, but the clock’s ticking. Three straight near-misses in the league and a Champions League semi-final defeat to PSG keep the belief alive — yet patience in North London isn’t infinite. Injuries to Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz didn’t help, but with Declan Rice setting the tone and leadership chatter growing, it’s now about converting pretty football into a shiny pot. Another bridesmaid season and the mood turns sharp.

17) Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace (last season: 10th)

FA Cup winners. Palace — yes, Palace — finally have a major trophy in the cabinet. Glasner’s got them organised, fearless and awkward to play, and he even called out Guardiola’s system before proving his point on the pitch. Europe beckons via the Conference League and Steve Parish looks ready to back his man. Unless the wheels fly off, Glasner’s job is rock-solid.

16) Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth (last season: 9th)

The outcry when Gary O’Neil was moved on feels a lifetime ago. Iraola has the Cherries punching above their weight, with signature wins — a 3-0 at Old Trafford and a double over Arsenal — in the scrapbook. They’ve lost talent (Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid, Milos Kerkez to Liverpool, Ilya Zabarnyi to PSG), but Antoine Semenyo’s surge and a clear identity keep them competitive. Sacking risk is low; being poached might be the bigger threat.

15) David Moyes, Everton (last season: 13th)

Back at Goodison and back to basics: organisation, fight, and nasty to play against. Moyes steadied the ship after a 10-point deduction hangover and a relegation flirtation, and the mood on Merseyside has lifted. James Tarkowski’s talking Europe, Jack Grealish has arrived on loan, and after five games they’re 10th with two defeats — stable footing at last. The brief is progress, not perfection; Moyes has earned the board’s trust.

14) Thomas Frank, Tottenham Hotspur (last season: 17th)

He took Brentford to places they’d only dreamt of and now steps into the big-six pressure cooker. Replacing Ange Postecoglou — a trophy-winner, albeit one who left Spurs 17th — is no small gig. Early signs are punchy: heavy summer backing, more bite without losing the front-foot intent, and some statement results. Expectations are reset to top-half and beyond; if the trajectory holds, Frank’s seat stays cool.

13) Eddie Howe, Newcastle United (last season: 5th)

A cup in the cabinet and Champions League football secured again — Howe keeps delivering when it matters. The Carabao Cup run wasn’t soft either: Arsenal in the semis, Liverpool in the final. Selling Isak to Liverpool stung, but reinforcements in Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa fit the squad’s athletic profile. The owners demand momentum, and Howe’s still got it. No reason to reach for the Rolodex.

12) Régis Le Bris, Sunderland (last season: promoted)

Calculated gamble, spectacular payoff. Le Bris has blended clever coaching with a youthful core — Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham thriving — and added nous by handing the armband to Granit Xhaka. Among the promoted trio, Sunderland look the most Premier League-ready: physical, organised, and sitting seventh after four games. He’s earned time, and he’s getting it.

11) Ange Postecoglou, Nottingham Forest (last season: 7th)

Forest were last season’s shock package, then changed lanes again. Nuno’s fallout upstairs opened the door for Ange, a high-wire, all-action coach whose Spurs tenure brought a trophy and a 17th-placed finish. With a defence-built squad and an owner known for a quick trigger, this will be must-watch telly. The ceiling’s high, but the jeopardy is real — hence Ange sitting mid-pack in the sack race safety stakes.

There you have it — from bulletproof to merely bubble-wrapped. Check back soon for the top 10, where the temperature really rises and a couple of big names edge closer to the trapdoor.