The Sack Race: Who is under pressure early into the new season? | OneFootball

A new Premier League season is upon us and with just three games played many are already drawing early conclusions. Indeed, club owners may well be doing the same which could see some managers under pressure early on.

There have already been some managerial changes just before the season began. As well as those managers whose contracts expired, who resigned, or were sacked right towards the end of the season, we have some two resignations – Kieran McKenna and Eddie Howe – while Nottingham Forest sacked Vítor Pereira early in July.

But we're going to take stock from when a ball was first kicked and bookies' are quick to decide who they think is under pressure early on. So, let's take a look...

Álvaro Arbeloa Odds: 2/1

Three Premier League games and three defeats for the new Fulham manager sees him as the current odds-on favourite to be sacked first since the start of the current campaign.

The Cottagers were 2-1 up at half-time at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday but eventually fell to a 3-2 defeat. However, Arbeloa does have three new deadline-day signings he will be hoping can have a positive impact when they settle into the team.

Pierre Sage Odds: 5/1

The short odds on Sage are likely a hangover from Crystal Palace's two opening games of the season which saw them defeated 2-0 away to Everton before being brushed aside at home to Manchester City.

Saturday's comeback win over the Cottagers will be a boost to the French manager ahead of what should be a decent run of fixtures for Palace. However, doubts remain about this season's squad overall.

Roberto De Zerbi Odds: 6/1

Three Premier League games played and not a single goal scored for Tottenham Hotspur, although they did at least earn a point away to Nottingham Forest.

After rescuing Spurs at the back end of last season, there's no time to panic about De Zerbi especially with the turnover in squad in the summer. Eventually though, all that money spent on new players will have to translate into points on the board.

Unai Emery Odds: 10/1

If Aston Villa end up having a difficult 2026/27 season, it will be to put the blame on the manager for the most part. The Villa squad has undergone such a huge change this summer that teeth issues were always going to be likely.

Still, the Villans remain winless in the Premier League after three games and couldn't convert their superior possession into goals away to Hull City last weekend.

Oliver Glasner Odds: 10/1

No doubt the odds on Glasner may be more a reflection of Nottingham Forest and its owner rather than the job the Austrian has done early on.

Forest are one of the six teams yet to pick up a win in their first three games but had to sell their star player Elliot Anderson this summer. How well that cash has been invested remains to be seen this early in the campaign.